Social Housing
Our unique combination of expertise and in-depth experience means we can provide you with an innovative solution to drive efficiency and quality, while reducing cost. Our highly rated Social Housing team advises on all aspects of housing law.
What is involved with social housing?
Across the Social Housing sector, many organisations are under real pressure to deliver more for less. Freeths’ unique combination of expertise and in-depth experience means we can provide you with an innovative solution to drive efficiency and quality, while reducing cost. Our highly rated Social Housing team advises on all aspects of housing law, using a seamless combination of specialists to deliver the right solution for you.
We can advise you on subjects including Affordable Housing tenures and requirements, Governance & Regulation, Housing and Asset Management, Nominations and Acquisition & Disposals.
Our social housing expertise
Our Real Estate team is highly ranked by clients’ guide to the legal profession, Chambers and Partners, with a number of lawyers who are ranked leaders in their field. So when you are looking for a service that offers you real solutions built on outstanding expertise, rather than just legal advice, talk to our team.
Some of our team have been on the board of, or worked in, social housing organisations. With over 100 years’ combined experience of acting for the social housing sector, we have a real understanding of the operational issues, aims, aspirations and challenges you may be facing.
Members of our team have presented to national housing bodies/organisations including the National Housing Federation and Building Research Housing Group and to a number of registered providers.
Key contact
Get in touch
Our accreditations
We are celebrating another year of accreditations and rankings.
Why choose our social housing team?
- We have in depth transactional expertise in Social Housing having worked for many providers for many years
- We are commercially-minded and good value for money
- You can trust us to know where you’re coming from, given our experience
Notable work
- Acting for Midland Heart on the acquisition of a site for land and build through a stage/monthly payment development agreement from Flightpath Limited. This was for development of 18 affordable housing units and required specific advice on the structure of the development agreement (combination of stage payments and monthly valuations) and the provision of collateral warranties from the Contractor, Sub-contractors and Professional Team.
- Working with Balfour Beatty Group Limited, the grant of 6 separate head leases, following variation of a 2011 Development Agreement, and provision of a care home via a separate JCT Contract. The project included a major refurbishment of an existing building and construction of 2 new blocks, significantly increases the social housing retirement dwelling provision on the site.
- Providing advice to a local authority in connection with obtaining possession of a property on the basis of non-occupation.
- Acted in the formation of a joint venture between the development arm of a registered provider and a local developer in the acquisition of land on the banks of the River Trent. This is for the construction of private and social housing with the social housing element being sold the registered provider on market terms. The profit generated by the development of private housing is being passed to the charitable registered provider.
- Acted for a registered provider in the purchase on a leasehold basis of part of a former laundry site. He is using the leasehold structure to eliminate risk arising from possible contamination of the underlying aquifer by the historic site use.
- Acting on behalf of a local authorities and registered social landlords in connection with a large number of housing disrepair claims.
- Acting for a purely-affordable developer on a conditional back-to-back purchase and sale to a housing association. The transaction was at golden brick, with a linked JCT. This is a transaction structure that Freeths has utilised many times, on behalf of landowners, developers and housing associations.
- Acting for Registered Providers of Social Housing in acquiring sites for development and acquiring units of affordable housing from house builders.
- Advising Nottingham Community Housing Association and Greensquare group Limited on affordable housing terms contained in section 106 agreements and negotiates deeds of variation where required.
AH
"...Freeths provides proactive, focus and practical advice, striking a balance between the requirements of managers in the dynamic environment of s...
Ashfield Homes
NCHA
"Their services have been of the highest quality and value for money. I have no hesitation in recommending Freeths solicitors."
Nottingham Community Housing Association
“We know we can rely on Freeths to deliver an excellent service.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Freeths handle matters very diligently, and are commercially minded when providing advice.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
LG
"...a one stop shop solution giving us a value for money service."
Longhurst Group
Meet the team
Patrick Adie
National Head of Housebuilding & Strategic Land
James Hart
Regional Lead for Real Estate in the Midlands – Partner in the Housebuilding & Strategic Land Team
Stephanie Gozney
Managing Associate
Gillian Mackintosh
Senior Associate
Contact us today
Whatever your legal needs, our wide ranging expertise is here to support you and your business, so let’s start your legal journey today and get you in touch with the right lawyer to get you started.
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