Legal
Within the Governance Division, the Legal team provides professional legal advice and support to all areas of the Group through the Legal Officer and two Legal Assistants.
Property Law
Right to Buy and Right to Acquire: South Staffordshire Housing Association was set up through Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) of the housing stock from the Local Authority, all of its tenants at the time of the transfer retain the right to buy their property under Right to Buy legislation. The Legal team deals with all matters relating to the sale of these properties, liaising with purchasers and their solicitors and independent valuers.
Certain tenants will also have a Right to Acquire property purchased by the Association after LSVT.
Purchasing Properties: The Development programme allows the Group to add to its housing stock by purchasing properties on the open market. These properties are identified by the Development Section and the purchase is handled by the Legal team or in some cases an outside legal firm.
Close liaison with Allocations, Asset Management, Tenancy and Finance staff ensures that properties can be let to tenants as soon as possible after completion of the purchase.
Development of Land: The Legal team act in the purchase of large areas of open land which can be developed, e.g. for housing, administration buildings, etc. This work can be very complex as it involves overlapping areas of law.
Miscellaneous: The team deal with sales of open land, creation of easements, releasing covenants, etc.
Litigation in Courts and tribunals
Debts: The Legal team instigates legal action on behalf of other sections regarding debts, such as non-payment of rent.
Breaches of Tenancy Conditions: Under housing legislation, the Group can take legal action against tenants who are in breach of tenancy conditions and where other less formal approaches have failed to rectify the situation.
Anti-social Behaviour: The Group takes action against tenants who cause disruption, nuisance or harassment to other tenants or the public by their behavior. This can be noise, stalking, criminal acts, racial harassment or any other form of serious nuisance.
General Litigation: Any other court work e.g. breach of contract, claims of damage, etc.
General Advice
The Group is a large commercial organisation and legal advice and negotiation is needed over a wide area of law, e.g. contracts for the supply of goods and services, interpreting new legislation, new case law, etc.