Social housing

The social housing sector has undergone rapid and radical evolution in recent decades. We have played a full part in that evolution, developing a deep understanding of the culture in which you operate, and assembling a team of lawyers with expertise in every area of the law affecting your aims, strategy and operations.

We advise some of the UK's largest and most active registered social landlords (RSLs), including Anchor Trust, Genesis Housing Group and Hanover Housing Association. We provide a full range of services, from simple conveyancing in a land purchase to co-ordinating and driving forward large and complex transactions involving many parties.

It is in these more complex projects that our experience is of greatest benefit to our clients. A great deal of preparatory work can be required, including finding a structure for the transaction, negotiating with other partners and carrying out due diligence on any land, property or other assets which the RSL may be acquiring. All of these factors bear significantly on the outcome of the deal.

We advise on fundamental strategy, helping you decide the best corporate structure for the delivery of your objectives and setting up your organisation in the most appropriate fashion. Equally, we advise on a huge range of operational matters, from construction contracts to employment issues and dispute resolution. We also have a specialist dispute resolution team for property matters.

Because we have worked on so many social housing projects, and with such a variety of clients, we come to the table with an understanding of the different ways to structure any particular deal, and a good initial idea of which one may be most appropriate. We can also advise you on the best use of financial options and funding arrangements, through our social housing finance unit.

We have a unique view and experience of the public-private interface, as our development lawyers also work with some of the largest homebuilding companies in the country. This understanding of both sides allows us to progress the project we are advising on, to everyone's benefit.

To which end we can incorporate our specialist planning and environment team, and construction team to advise on their discrete areas. We can also utilise our commercial team, with their knowledge of commercial contracts and public procurement, as well as the outsourcing and infrastructure teams, should the project require such advice.