Housing
Ian has experience of all aspects of housing law, including possession claims, injunctions to restrain anti-social behaviour and disrepair.
He is an expert in homelessness and allocations law, regularly appearing in the County Court, the Administrative Court and the Court of Appeal.
He appeared (unled) in the Supreme Court in two cases – Nzolameso v Westminster City Council [2015] UKSC 22; [2015] 2 All ER 942; [2015] HLR 22 (concerning the scope of local authorities’ duties to secure accommodation in their own areas) and Samin v Westminster City Council [2016] UKSC 1; [2016] 1 WLR 481; [2016] HLR 7 (concerning eligibility for housing assistance). Most recently, he appeared in the leading Court of Appeal case of Ms Kaltun Bullale v City of Westminster Council [2020] EWCA Civ 1587; [2021] HLR 21 (concerning the test for settled accommodation).
Earlier in his career Ian played a part in the development of the concept (now abolished) of the “tolerated trespasser” in the case of Greenwich London Borough Council v Regan (1996) 28 HLR 469.
He is well versed in the development of housing law in the local government and social landlord sphere including knowledge of secure, secure flexible, introductory, demoted, assured, assured shorthold, starter tenancies, and contractual tenancies and licences.
Property
Ian acts in all manner of landlord and tenant disputes.
In relation to residential tenancies, he has appeared in possession claims based on rent arrears, on neighbour nuisance and on other grounds. He has acted in disrepair claims and claims relating to leasehold enfranchisement and in relation to disputes over service charges, the right to buy and the right to manage.
In relation to business tenancies, he has appeared in claims for a new tenancy under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and in claims for forfeiture and terminal dilapidations. He has acted in appeals arising from rent reviews and in relation to service charge disputes.
Ian has also appeared in mortgage possession proceedings.
Local Government
Ian has acted for and advised a number of local authorities in cases involving a wide range of issues. As well as housing cases, he has acted in cases concerning social care, education, data protection and the Equality Act 2010.
He was an elected member of a London local authority for 8 years and has a clear understanding of decision making in local authorities and of the constraints under which they operate.
Public Law, Equality & Human Rights
Ian has appeared in public law cases both in a housing context and in other contexts, including cases relating to education, social care and the firefighters’ pension scheme.
Inevitably, due to the nature of his practice, he has a thorough knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998.
Public Access
Ian accepts instructions on a Public Access basis in appropriate cases.
