In recognition of the importance that Dickinson Dees attaches to housing issues, and particularly those in the social or affordable housing sector, we established our Social Housing Group in 1990. This has enabled us to focus on the elements of social housing work undertaken by members of the firm over the past 40 years, and to concentrate the complete range of social housing related service in a specialised team of lawyers.
The team has well over 25 core RSL clients including some of the largest national and regional RSL’s such as the Places for People Group, Sunderland Housing Group and Home Housing Group. In addition the Social Housing Group provide a comprehensive service to Local Authorities, Almshouse associations, housing co-ops, ALMO’s, housing charities, developers and funders. Dickinson Dees are also one of only five full panel national firms of solicitors providing legal advice to the Housing Corporation.
Areas upon which the Social Housing Group provides advice include:
• Annual RSL Development Programmes, (including site acquisition and assembly and unit disposal)
• Funding agreements
• LSVTs, ALMOs, inter-association stock transfers and trickle transfers
• Local Authority regeneration and joint venture projects
• Establishment and administration of RSL group structures
• Tenancy and Management Agreement drafting and enforcement
• Landlord and tenant litigation including obtaining possession orders, injunctions and behavioural actions including ASBO’s
• Housing management, policy and procedures advice
• Charity Law and RSL Law and procedure
• Hostel, Community Care, Nursing and Extra Care Homes and Special Needs projects
• PFI and PPP initiatives
• Self-build, co-operative and community based schemes
• Data protection issues and commercial contracts
• Negotiation of construction contracts and professional engagements
• Conveyancing services in relation to RTB/RTA and all other home ownership schemes including Social Homebuy
Related Services