Sam Coward

Sam is a property litigator who acts for a variety of clients across the private, public, and social housing sectors on a broad range of property related disputes.

In particular, Sam regularly advises on landlord and tenant disputes, including on recovering rent and service charge arrears and enforcing lease terms.  Sam regularly provides strategic advice to developers and housing associations on securing vacant possession for redevelopment.   He has acted on numerous squatters cases.  Much of his work covers serving break notices, acting on disputed business tenancy renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and, in respect of residential property, evicting tenants in compliance with the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 and the various Housing Acts.

Sam is a well-known expert on housing and tenancy law advising clients on their tenancy agreements and policies and has a detailed knowledge of the Regulatory Standards for housing associations and the wider regulatory framework within which they operate.  He is also a leading expert in the residential leasehold management field, offering both contentious and non-contentious advice on a range of issues, including on leasehold enfranchisement and service charge recovery.

Further examples of the types of cases Sam has been involved with include: boundary disputes, residential disrepair claims, commercial dilapidations claims, misrepresentation claims, nuisance claims and rights of way disputes.  He also has a growing practice in health and safety law, specifically relating to fire and gas safety.

Sam was a contributor to the Handbook of Co-operative and Community Benefit Society Law, published 2014 (Chapter 4 – Disputes).  He is also a regular speaker at conferences and seminars hosted by the National Leaseholder Group and RICS.

Recommended in the Legal 500.