Local Government and Social Housing

"Exchange Chambers is an extremely strong and well-managed set"

The Legal 500 2024

We have an enviable history of leading the way in the provision of legal services to the local government and social housing sectors in England and Wales.

We advise on contentious and non-contentious matters and appear in all levels of court, up to The Supreme Court. Our members represent local authorities, social housing providers and private landlords, across areas as diverse as:

  • Anti-social behaviour – criminal conduct, witness intimidation, gang violence, vulnerable witnesses, special measures, mental health and public law issues
  • Court of Protection – welfare decisions, disputed capacity and deprivation of liberty
  • Criminal – all types of prosecutions including trading standards, health and safety, environmental crime and welfare benefit fraud
  • Employment – internal policies, equality obligations, workforce restructuring and TUPE
  • Family – child protection and care proceedings
  • Governance and policy issues
  • Homelessness
  • Housing law and housing management – all aspects of residential landlord and tenant law
  • Human rights
  • Issues under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Equality Act 2010
  • Personal injury – highway claims, employer’s liability and public liability, stress at work
  • Planning – planning and listed building consent applications, environmental assessment, appeals and ‘call-ins’, enforcement and preparation of development plans, town and village green registration and compulsory purchase.
  • Procurement
  • Public law and judicial review
  • Regulatory

We have seventeen barristers in chambers appointed by Attorney General’s Panel Of Counsel for central government work, and have been appointed to all local government and social housing panel counsel schemes which operate in the North. Our members work alongside other specialist departments within chambers to ensure that they provide the highest level of client care.

The department runs the largest annual sector specialist training event of its kind for the local government and social housing sectors.

“Chambers is fortunate to have many barristers who are masters of their craft.”
Tier 2 Leading Set – Social Housing (Northern Circuit), The Legal 500 2023

“This specialist department is independently acclaimed as ‘first class’ and boasts an enviable record advising and representing local authorities and social housing providers across the country on the full range of issues faced by such organisations.”
Leading Set – Local Government and Social Housing (Northern Circuit), Chambers and Partners 2023

The Team