Justin Bates KC

Call: 2003

Silk: 2024

Justin's practice covers all aspects of housing, property and local government law.

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Justin Bates
Barristers

Justin Bates KC

Practice summary

Property

Public and Administrative

Cross-practice

Practice Summary

Justin's practice covers all aspects of housing, property and local government law. He is the Deputy General Editor of the Encyclopaedia of Housing Law and is the author or co-author of a number of other books and annotated statutes.

In recent years, Justin has given evidence on housing law reform to the All Parliamentary Committees on both Legal Aid and the Private Rented Sector; the Welsh Assembly on the Renting Homes (Wales) Act; and the House of Lords on housing and the Equality Act 2010. He co-drafted the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 for Karen Buck MP and continues to provide legislative and policy support to the Shadow housing team. He has appeared on various BBC news and current affairs programmes discussing housing law. In 2019/20, he worked on the Right to Manage reform proposals produced by the Law Commission.

Justin is an active supporter of Advocate (the Bar Pro Bono Unit) and, in 2020, was nominated for the “Pro Bono Junior of the Year” award.

Property

Justin is recommended for property and housing law in both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. He is a “Star Individual” in the present edition of Chambers & Partners and has been since 2016. He is a leading junior in the Legal 500 and has been since 2011. He is the Deputy General Editor of the Encyclopedia of Housing Law, the co-author of Leasehold Disputes and various other works. He is has written legislation, given evidence to Parliament and the Welsh Assembly and worked with the Law Commission on the leasehold reform programme.

He is particularly familiar with the work of the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal/First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and has appeared in a number of reported Lands Tribunal/Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and Court of Appeal cases concerning leasehold disputes, including most of the major Right to Manage cases.

Public and Administrative

Justin has acted in Supreme Court cases for both occupiers and landlords in major human rights cases. He recently gave evidence to the House of Lords Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and regularly appears in the High Court on Housing Act 2004 judicial review challenges. He is also regularly instructed in relation to judicial review claims against the Upper Tribunal. His public law work usually overlaps with property law.

Justin is also the co-author of Homelessness and Allocations.

Justin specialises in the regulation of housing, which inevitably covers both public law and property law issues. Recent work includes the intersection of asylum seeker accommodation and HMO regulation (both for providers of such accommodation and local authorities seeking to regulate the same); advising the Secretary of State on the regulation of costs under shared ownership leases; a judicial review claim in respect of a Part 2/3 Housing Act 2004 licensing scheme.

Public Interest Litigation

Specialisms

Building Safety

Housing

Leasehold Enfranchisement and Right to Manage

Public Sector and Local Government Property issues

Residential Leasehold Management and Disputes

Residential Tenancies

Specialisms

Judicial Review

Local Government including Local Government Finance

Property Judicial Review

Social Security

Housing and homelessness

Specialisms

Public Interest Litigation

"
Truly exceptional."

Legal 500

Firm Logo 3 UK included new silk 2025 1 Pro Bono Pledge Logo No Background ERMAS 2023 WINNER Property and Housing Junior of the Year Chambers UK Bar 2023 shortlisted Real Estate Junior

Personal Highlights

Qualifications and achievements

Qualifications

  • BA (Oxon); LL.M (Toronto)
  • Pupil supervisor

Awards

  • 'Barrister of the Year' at the Enfranchisement & Right to Manage Awards (ERMAs) 2023
  • Shortlisted for the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2023 Property and Housing 'Junior of the Year'
  • Shortlisted for the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023 Real Estate 'Junior of the Year'

Publications

Recommendations

  • "Justin Bates knows leasehold law inside and out. He is fully aware of the latest developments in housing and property law and gives clear advice." "Justin Bates knows the law in respect of lease disputes better than almost anyone." "Justin Bates has an encyclopedic knowledge of housing law. He is an excellent and strong advocate. A KC in the making."

    Social Housing, Chambers and Partners, 2024

  • "Justin has an encyclopaedic memory for all things Housing Law." "Justin is without question the leading barrister on residential landlord and tenant matters. He is a very popular choice amongst clients. His commercial awareness and ability to translate complex legal points into understandable language is a joy to behold." "A star in the field of long leasehold disputes. Clients are very impressed by his knowledge and approach."

    Real Estate Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2024

  • "Justin is a bright light in social housing."

    Social Housing, Legal 500, 2024

  • "His knowledge and expertise in this field is remarkable and second to none. He is like a walking encyclopaedia on all things relating to residential landlord and tenant. He is able to explain what are often complex legal issues to lay clients and easily gains client confidence."

    Property Litigation, Legal 500, 2024

  • "Justin's ability to connect with clients is a rare gift. This, combined with his acute legal mind, makes him a firm favourite among clients." "He has an encyclopedic knowledge." "Justin will absolutely go the extra mile. He is very bright and can find new arguments."

    Real Estate Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2023

  • "Justin is the go-to barrister for complex leasehold claims. His level of expertise is second to none, and his tactical awareness is extremely good." "Our clients like the fact that Justin is one step ahead and able to provide practical and legal advice on complex areas in a way which is easy for them to understand."

    Social Housing, Chambers and Partners, 2023

  • "The leading junior in leaseholder matters, Justin’s knowledge of housing and landlord and tenant law is encyclopaedic. His advice is both practical and where required, he takes a creative approach to resolving the particular issues of a case. Clients place their trust in his confident and attractive advocacy style."

    Property Litigation, Legal 500, 2023

  • "Justin knows leasehold, social housing and property matters like few others. He is balanced, and trusted by tenants and landlords alike."

    Social Housing, Legal 500, 2023

  • "He is very much in demand, extremely friendly, a good speaker and he can convey complex concepts. He is well received by clients." "His advocacy is a model of incisive concision."

    Real Estate Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2022

  • "He is recognised as being one of the go-to people if you have a difficult case and he is a genuine enthusiast for the law." "Justin is extremely experienced. I doubt there is any barrister who knows more about leasehold issues. He is extremely clear in his advice to clients."

    Social Housing, Chambers and Partners, 2022

  • "Knowledge of the field and the law is second to none. Very quick to appraise a potential case, strengths and weaknesses. Not afraid to argue a novel point of law. Advice is eminently clear and considered. Gains the confidence of clients instantly."

    Property Litigation, Legal 500, 2022

  • "Justin is a brilliant advocate. He manages to simplify complex legal arguments to a level which the lay client can follow. He really is a Q[K]C in the making."

    Social Housing, Legal 500, 2022

  • "Clients are very fond of him and like using him." "Simply excellent." "Very solid on service charges."

    Real Estate Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2021

  • "He is a brilliant advocate and manages to simplify complex legal arguments to a level which the lay client can follow. He is very knowledgeable and committed to doing the best for his client."

    Social Housing, Chambers and Partners, 2021

  • "He is a walking encyclopaedia. He knows the law inside out and always has the answer."

    Real Estate Litigation, Chambers and Partners, 2020

  • "A fantastic lawyer who is an encyclopaedic source of knowledge and has been instrumental in many cases of housing law." "He is incredibly enthusiastic and he has a real passion for the sector." "On leasehold matters he is absolutely excellent – his knowledge is formidable."

    Social Housing, Chambers and Partners, 2020

  • "He is a brilliant advocate and manages to simplify complex legal arguments to a level which the lay client can follow. He is very knowledgeable and committed to doing the best for his client.” “Clients are very fond of him and like using him." "Simply excellent." "Very solid on service charges."

    Chambers and Partners, 2020

  • "The go-to person for anything relating to leasehold and shared ownership disputes." "Has fantastic technical knowledge." "Wonderfully clear-headed and persuasive in service charge disputes.” “He really pushes the boundaries and goes the extra mile."

    Chambers and Partners, 2019

  • "Distinguished by the depth of his experience… his knowledge of the law is second to none." He is a "walking encyclopaedia of service charge and leasehold law."

    Chambers and Partners, 2018

Practice Managers

Contact our friendly and helpful Practice Managers for more information about our barristers and services or to make an enquiry.

Mark Ball

Practice Director

Harry Feldman

Practice Manager

Connor McGilly

Practice Manager

Ruby Sims

Assistant Practice Manager
Mark Ball new

Mark Ball

Practice Director

020 7421 1308

Harry Feldman

Harry Feldman

Practice Manager

020 7421 2485

Connor Mc Gilly new

Connor McGilly

Practice Manager

020 7421 1304

Ruby Sims new

Ruby Sims

Assistant Practice Manager

020 7421 1337

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