
Social housing
Social and environmental impact are at the top of our business agenda. At Browne Jacobson, we’ve always worked across business and society, and this expertise sets us apart. Active in the social housing sector since the 1990s, we’re proud of our heritage acting for housing providers across the country and our work helping to deliver much-needed affordable housing.
Our clients are not only housing associations and registered providers, but also private developers, local authorities, health providers, private equity firms and government agencies such as Homes England. This cross-sector experience benefits all our clients, particularly in an era of increased partnering and joint ventures. We understand who our clients work with and can draw upon that knowledge and experience to find solutions which enable the smooth the delivery of projects.
Many of our housing provider clients are longstanding relationships, and we’ve supported them as they’ve grown and evolved. Our clients include nearly 20% of the registered providers awarded Homes England ‘strategic partner’ status under the AHP 2021-2026 - those organisations alone are tasked with delivering more than 14,000 grant-funded new homes by March 2026.
But it is not only about housing delivery. We support housing providers across a range of areas — joint ventures, securitisation, housing management, planning, environmental issues and employment advice.
Related services and sectors
Key contacts

Gabor Taller
Partner

Barry Sully
Partner

Victoria Searle
Associate

Victoria Curran
Partner

Simon Brooks
Partner

Ben Standing
Partner

Ragene Raithatha
Legal Director
What others say...
"The team are really helpful, very quick and reactive.”
"They always give sound and realistic advice.”
“The growing national practice at Browne Jacobson LLP … works with a wide range of housing associations and local authorities, as well as advising private sector entities delivering affordable housing. [Gabor] Taller has expertise in social housing development and funding, while [Barry] Sully has impressive experience of residential development, regeneration projects and major joint ventures.”
You may be interested in...
Legal Update
The Supreme Court provides definitive guidance on the main housing duty, its performance and enforcement
Opinion
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Opinion
Are councils failing to tackle anti-social behaviour?
Legal Update
Higher-risk buildings – are you ready for 30 September 2023?
Legal Update
Retirement housing: A solution to our care and housing crises?
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The government’s anti-social behaviour action plan and the questions it poses practically
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Section 106 Agreements: I’m not dead yet
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UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson joins UKREiiF 2023
Legal Update - Public matters newsletter
Public matters - February 2023
Opinion
‘Awaab’s Law’- a significant amendment to the Social Housing Regulation Bill
Opinion
Will fixed recoverable costs in housing conditions claims see the light of day?
Online Event
Register your interest to join our next Home Delivery Academy
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advises Bromley Council on the first social housing initiative of its kind to tackle homelessness
Guide - Building Safety Act
How will the Building Safety Act 2022 impact buildings completed before the Act comes into force?
Guide - Building Safety Act
How will the Building Safety Act 2022 impact on the design and construction of buildings commenced after the Act comes into force?
Guide - Building Safety Act
How will the Building Safety Act 2022 impact on the ownership and occupation of higher-risk buildings?
Opinion
Homes England partners with local authorities to boost the levelling up agenda
Homes England, the government’s housing accelerator, has partnered with two local authorities, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Association of South Essex Local Authorities, in a new Strategic Place Partnership (SPP) which is designed to align with the government’s levelling up agenda by delivering new homes in the regions.
On-Demand - Building Safety Act
Building Safety Bill – what’s coming and how will it affect you?
Opinion - Building Safety Act
Building Safety Bill receives Royal Assent
Opinion
Update: building safety repairs pledge signed by over 35 major housing developers
On 14 February 2022, Secretary of State of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, announced proposals designed to pressure building developers and materials manufacturers to fund the remediation of unsafe properties.
Opinion - Building Safety Act
Building Safety Bill amendments
Press Release
Browne Jacobson’s private equity team advise Palatine Private Equity on its buyout of Midlands based developer of affordable homes
Legal Update
Levelling Up, Evictions, and the Implications for Property Professionals
The Government’s much-publicised ‘levelling-up’ programme brings with it a number of changes and challenges for property professionals which, without careful preparation, could see a steep rise in allegations and claims for professional negligence.
Opinion
Environmental Protection Act 1990 claims - the next big thing for claimant solicitors?
Over the last few years, our local authority and housing association clients have reported a significant increase in the number of claims received, usually from one of a specific group of claimant solicitors acting on behalf of tenants alleging a breach of their landlord’s repairing obligations.
Published Article
National Disability Strategy - a comprehensive, concerted plan or a missed opportunity?
What does the National Disability Strategy seek to achieve from a housing perspective, and what will it mean for housing providers?
Opinion
The Debt Respite Scheme and its implications for creditors
The Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space Moratorium and Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 is due to come into force on 4 May 2021. It’s a snappy title but what exactly is it?
Legal Update
Ceasing discretionary functions and powers – some key issues for public bodies to consider
The key legal questions for public bodies to consider before deciding to cease exercising a discretionary power due to limited resources or other reasons.
Legal Update
Robust decision-making - how to reduce the scope for an irrationality challenge
Public bodies must understand the scope of ‘irrational’ or ‘unreasonable’ challenges so that proactive steps can be taken to reduce the likelihood of successful judicial intervention.
Opinion
Developers: disregard restrictive covenants at your peril
The Supreme Court has decided a significant appeal on the Upper Tribunal’s power to discharge or modify restrictive covenants pursuant to section 84(1) of the Law of Property Act (“1925 Act”).
Legal Update
Taking a pragmatic and common sense approach to Housing Disrepair during COVID-19
The resolution of disrepair issues will not always be straightforward for landlords in the new world in which we find ourselves. The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has therefore released Guidance for Landlords and Tenants.
Legal Update
Can a Welsh registered social landlord who is not a public body for Office National Statistics be the subject of a judicial review when it delivers a public function?
A Registered Social Landlord is a hybrid public authority. It is therefore capable of exercising both public and private functions.
Published Article
Rent regulation for all
The Rent Standard 2020 defines rent increases, aligning regulation of all registered providers of social housing, including councils for the first time.
Published Article
Negligence in performance of statutory functions
The Supreme Court decision in Poole Borough Council v GN and another [2019] UKSC 25 addresses key legal principles in relation to duty of care connected with the performance of statutory services by public bodies.
Legal Update
Stanning v Baldwin and another [2019] EWHC 1350 (Ch)
Issues about prescriptive rights of way and drainage arose on the redevelopment of dominant land.
Press Release
Reaction: Supreme Court rules no duty of care in negligence in Poole Borough Council v GN and another
Press Release
Browne Jacobson advises Ealing Council on regeneration scheme to deliver 500 new homes
Ealing Council have signed an agreement with Peabody to deliver 500 new homes at ‘The Green’ in Southall, West London. Browne Jacobson advised the Council on the project.
Legal Update
Tenant consultation in housing regeneration
This article, the first in a series for public matters looking at housing law issues in a regeneration context, seeks to outline some of the key consultation requirements that should be in a local authorities’ contemplation when they are looking to regenerate, and additional considerations in London.
Legal Update
Court makes example of developer for breach of restrictive covenant
In a recent decision of the Court of Appeal in Alexander Devine Children’s Cancer Trust v Millgate Developments Ltd and others [2018] EWCA Civ 2679, developers were given a somewhat unwelcome reminder of the risks of ignoring restrictive covenants during development.