Catherine Watkins
Cwmbran NP44 1UG
Social welfare and housing Solicitor Cwmbran
29 years of experience
Does not accept legal aid
Catherine Watkins is an experienced family and property lawyer based in Cwmbran & Barry and cover South wales & Bristol, with 29 years of legal expertise. Fluent in both English and Welsh, Catherine is a key member of...
What does social welfare & housing involve?
- Homelessness assistance: Applying to local authorities for housing support, challenging unsuitable temporary accommodation, or appealing a homelessness decision.
- Housing benefit and Universal Credit: Disputing eligibility or payment amounts, and navigating appeals processes if a claim is refused or reduced.
- Social housing rights: Understanding your rights as a tenant of a council or housing association, including security of tenure and succession rights.
- Disrepair and maintenance: Holding social landlords accountable for unsafe or unhealthy living conditions, and seeking compensation where necessary.
- Evictions and possession proceedings: Addressing rent arrears, anti-social behaviour allegations, and legal defences to prevent unlawful evictions.
How can a solicitor help with social welfare & housing, and what does it cost?
A specialist solicitor or housing adviser can:
- Provide advice and representation: Explaining your entitlements, filling in forms, and challenging negative decisions from councils or benefit agencies.
- Negotiate with landlords and local authorities: Seeking repairs, preventing eviction, or improving living conditions through dialogue or mediation.
- Appeal in court or tribunals: If negotiations fail, a solicitor can present your case before a judge or tribunal, ensuring legal procedures are correctly followed.
Costs vary based on the complexity of your case and whether legal aid is available. Some individuals qualify for legal aid, which can cover part or all of a solicitor’s fees in housing matters. Otherwise, rates typically range from £100–£300 per hour, though some firms may offer fixed-fee or reduced-fee arrangements for certain cases. An initial consultation—often free or at a low cost—can help you understand your options, likely expenses, and the best steps to secure safe, stable housing.
5 Solicitors (domaine de droit rattaché pour Social welfare and housing)
James Tomkins
London NW10 4UA
Social welfare and housing Solicitor London
32 years of experience
Does not accept legal aid
James Tomkins is a highly experienced litigation and dispute resolution lawyer based in London, with 32 years of expertise in civil, commercial, and employment law. He is a Director at Hodders Law Limited and leads the firm's Litigation...
Peter Fisher
Guildford GU1 2AB
Social welfare and housing Solicitor Guildford
35 years of experience
Does not accept legal aid
Peter Fisher is a highly experienced lawyer based in Guildford with over 35 years of practice in the legal field. As the founder of C P Law Associates, established in 2014, he leads a team known for providing...
Dr. Donald Macfarlane
London EC4V 5EF
Social welfare and housing Solicitor London
22 years of experience
Does not accept legal aid
Dr. Macfarlane represents all sizes of business covering all their corporate and commercial needs. Whether it is contract reviews or an acquisition of or for your business. As a trusted adviser he brings experience, technical, governance and compliance...
Aldijana Hoad
Nottingham NG2 4GT
Social welfare and housing Solicitor Nottingham
16 years of experience
Does not accept legal aid
With 16 years of experience, Aldijana Hoad specializes in immigration law. Fluent in Croatian, English, and Serbian, she provides expert legal services in both corporate and personal immigration matters. With a law degree from Nottingham Trent University and...
Elizabeth Middleton
Reading RG5 4AE
Social welfare and housing Solicitor Reading
21 years of experience
Does not accept legal aid
Visiting a solicitor should be, welcoming and friendly experience, which is why I pride myself on offering a sympathetic, professional environment, based on listening and empathy. It’s important to me that clients have time to explain their problems...
