Andrew Lane

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Andrew Lane
Daryl Hughes, Deputy Senior Clerk
> People > Barristers > Andrew Lane

Andrew Lane’s practice focuses on social housing, local government and public law, and he works primarily for local authorities and housing associations.

Before coming to the Bar, Andy spent over 10 years working in the statutory and voluntary sector in the field of housing, debt and benefits advice. He also had a spell as a local authority councillor, and held a number of portfolios during that time, including Chair of the Housing Committee. This background has meant that Andy is very approachable, comfortable in a variety of settings and able to articulate his advice and casework in a manner that is both attractive and compelling.

Though Andy has extensive experience in matters ranging from housing possession and injunction trials, homelessness appeals, housing licensing, judicial review claims and Upper Tribunal age assessment challenges through to appellate advocacy in the higher courts, clients have also increasingly instructed him to advise on policy matters, housing allocation scheme reviews, compliance with statutory duty questions, tenancy agreement revisions and the impact of and fall-out from primary and secondary legislation, and government direction.

The legal directories have consistently recognised Andy as one of the leading practitioners at the Bar in the Social Housing field by placing him in the top-ranking category:

‘All round excellent barrister, always a few steps ahead, prepared for all eventualities, his high level of experience and knowledge.’ (Legal 500,2025)

‘He is calmness personified and his attention to detail is fantastic, as is his cross-examination.’ (Legal 500, 2024)

‘Andrew Lane has always provided excellent client care and sound advice, and is very easy to work with.’ (Chambers & Partners, 2024)

‘Andrew Lane is an exceptional, excellent barrister.’ (Chambers & Partners, 2024)

‘Andrew Lane is very good and a massively safe pair of hands.’ (Chambers & Partners, 2024)

‘Andy Lane remains an outstanding barrister and a wonderful person.’ (Chambers and Partners, 2023)

‘Andrew provides good, strong advice and speaks in a way clients understand easily.’ (Legal 500, 2022)

‘Fiercely intelligent, a formidable opponent, yet friendly, down to earth and approachable.’ (Legal 500, 2021)

‘His knowledge is exceptional, and his advocacy and written services have been consistently at a very high standard.’ (Chambers and Partners, 2021)

He is also ranked in the Legal 500 2024 Local Government field.

He is the author of Cornerstone on Social Housing Fraud and has set up a blog to encourage the free flow of information on this topic.

His recent appearances in the higher courts include: Hussain v Newham LBC [2024] H.L.R. 10, R(AB) v Westminster City Council [2024] H.L.R. 30, Hertfordshire County Council v Davies [2020] EWHC 838 (QB), R (Z and anor) v Hackney LBC and anor [2020] 1 W.L.R. 4327, Stanley v Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council [2021] H.L.R 12, R(LYB) v Kent County Council [2021] EWHC 663 (Admin), Milton Keynes Council v Wilsher [2022] EWHC 578 (QB), London & Quadrant Housing Trust v Stokes [2022] EWHC 1120 (QB), Clarion Housing Association Ltd v Carter [2022] H.L.R. 10, Metropolitan Housing Trust Ltd v TM [2022] 1 W.L.R. 2161,  R(ZK) v Havering LBC [2022] H.L.R. 47, (Gomes) v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea [2023] EWHC 778 (Admin),R(SO) v Thanet District Council [2023] EWCA Civ 526, Saint Sepulchre v Kensington and Chelsea RLBC [2023] EWHC 2913 (Admin), Hussain v Newham LBC [2023] UKUT 287 (LC) and R (AB) v Westminster City Council [2024] EWHC 266 (Admin).

 

 

Expertise

    Andrew Lane is an exceptional, excellent barrister.

    Chambers UK Bar (2024)

    He is calmness personified and his attention to detail is fantastic, as is his cross-examination.

    Legal 500 (2024)

    Andy Lane remains an outstanding barrister and a wonderful person.

    Chambers UK Bar (2023)

    He is simply outstanding. He has an amazing ability to remember facts and he is hugely confident in court in a way that keeps the judges really happy.

    Chambers UK Bar (2022)

    He is one of the best social housing barristers out there.

    Chambers UK Bar (2022)

    Andrew Lane is THE tenancy fraud barrister. What he doesn’t know you could write on a cat’s whisker.

    Katrina Robinson MBE

    All round excellent barrister, always a few steps ahead, prepared for all eventualities, high level of experience and knowledge.

    Legal 500 (2025)

About Andrew

  • Directory Quotes
    • Social Housing – “He is consistently brilliant and a real pleasure to work with.” “He provides clear and thorough advice.” “Andrew looks at the bigger picture and is always a few steps ahead.” “He has a very calm manner and his clients like him.” “Andrew Lane is an experienced advocate.” “He is also very approachable and provides really thorough and simple-to-understand advice.” “Andrew is a specialist in homelessness law.” “Always happy to talk matters through and very client-friendly.” “Andy is great to work with.” Chambers and Partners 2025
    • Social Housing – “All round excellent barrister, always a few steps ahead, prepared for all eventualities, his high level of experience and knowledge.” Legal 500 2025
    • Social Housing: Star Individual – “Andrew Lane is an exceptional, excellent barrister.” “Andrew Lane is very good and a massively safe pair of hands.” “Andrew Lane has always provided excellent client care and sound advice, and is very easy to work with.” Chambers and Partners 2024 
    • Social Housing – “He is calmness personified and his attention to detail is fantastic, as is his cross-examination.” Legal 500 2024
    • Local Government – “A smiling assassin – his advocacy style is very effective” Legal 500 2024
    • Social Housing – “Andy Lane remains an outstanding barrister and a wonderful person.” Chambers and Partners 2023
    • Social Housing – “Andrew provides good, strong advice and speaks in a way clients understand easily.” Legal 500 2023
    • Social Housing – “Andrew Lane is a talented advocate who is praised for his unwaveringly dedicated approach, regardless of whether he is handling high-profile cases in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court or more routine County Court possession claims. His practice encompasses all areas of social housing law, including welfare reform, housing fraud and advisory work for registered providers. He is further known for his strength in handling disrepair claims. Lane also has a growing policy practice and is able to assist housing associations draft allocation and rent reduction schemes.” Strengths: “He is simply outstanding.” “He has an amazing ability to remember facts and he is hugely confident in court in a way that keeps the judges really happy.” “He has a fantastic brain and an encyclopedic knowledge of housing. He’s great with clients and makes complicated matters straightforward. He is one of the best social housing barristers out there.”
      Recent work: Represented Hackney London Borough Council in a challenge to the decision of Agudas Israel Housing Association to only allow allocations (via Hackney’s allocation scheme) of Agudas’s available properties to Orthodox Jewish households. The Supreme Court held this did not constitute unlawful discrimination. Chambers and Partners 2022
    • Social Housing – “Andy always gives direct and realistic advice and is excellent in cross-examination and putting submissions clearly and precisely.” Legal 500 2022
    • Social Housing – “Talented advocate who is praised for his unwaveringly dedicated approach, regardless of whether he is handling high-profile cases in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court or more routine County Court possession claims. His practice encompasses all areas of social housing law, including welfare reform, housing fraud and advisory work for registered providers. He is further known for his strength in handling disrepair claims. Lane also has a growing policy practice and is able to assist housing associations draft allocation and rent reduction schemes. Strengths: “His knowledge is exceptional, and his advocacy and written services have been consistently at a very high standard.” Chambers and Partners 2021
    • ‘Fiercely intelligent, a formidable opponent, yet friendly, down to earth and approachable.’ Legal 500 2021
    • “He really puts people at their ease and, beneath that, he is a steely market-leading expert.” “He has exceptional people skills and is a great advocate for the lay client.” Chambers and Partners 2020
    • “He only raises sensible points and is incredibly knowledgeable” Legal 500 2020
    • “He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of housing law, is very good on his feet and does an all-round fantastic job.” “A firm favourite of clients, he explains even the most complex of issues with great simplicity, putting clients at ease while realistically managing expectations.” Chambers and Partners 2019
    • “One of the most practical, down-to-earth and talented people at the Bar, he is completely unflappable and exudes confidence.” “He is really strong on housing management and leases, and has excellent client care skills.”  Chambers & Partners 2018
    • “He simplifies the law and court process and puts clients and witnesses at ease.” Legal 500 2017
    • “He’s got a very good presence in court, affable but very able.” Chambers & Partners 2017
    • “Excellent client skills and very good on his feet. He’s particularly good with vulnerable residents who require a more sensitive form of cross-examination.” Chambers & Partners 2017
    • “Without doubt, one of the best social housing juniors out there.” Legal 500 2016
    • “He has a great eye for detail.” Legal 500 2016
    • “When he’s in front of a judge, you are in awe. His management of the case and the way others defer to him is wonderful to watch. You’re always glad to have him on your side.” Chambers & Partners 2016
    • “Nobody disagrees that he’s brilliant; he always wipes the floor with the other side.” Chambers & Partners 2016
    • “Highly regarded for his expertise in tenancy fraud and nuisance actions.” Legal 500 2015
  • Services

    Andy is a regular speaker at internal webinars and seminars, as well as at conferences organised by external providers, on a range of topics. Most recently he has spoken on allocation schemes, homelessness, domestic abuse and joint tenancies, and the public sector equality duty.

    He is always happy to co-tutor in-house and has long offered informal advice to clients where appropriate.

  • Associations
    • Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association
    • Property Bar Association
    • Social Housing Law Association
    • Chartered Institute of Housing
  • Publications
  • Notable Cases
  • Events
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