Social Housing
BTO’s Social Housing team "understands the wider housing association sector and... where our risks are. The advice is concise, thoughtful and very clear." They are “good at speaking in simple language to explain what we need to do.” (Chambers UK).
BTO is one of the few firms in Scotland with a team of specialists offering a full range of services to Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), funding institutions, local authorities and quasi-public bodies.
If you have any questions, please contact any of our team members featuring in the Team section below.
Experience
- Acquisitions for RSLs
Brownfield sites, linked to associated acquisition by private developers and design and build contract with the developers; multi-million pound acquisition of development sites linked to previous acquisition of “off the shelf” new build flats; commercial premises for land banking purposes with related commercial lease work.
- Rules and constitutions for RSLs
Advice on Rules and constitutions for RSLs and their subsidiaries as well as joint ventures; including charity law considerations, where appropriate.
- Training relevant to RSLs
Delivering training on matters relevant to RSLs, such as:
- For charitable RSLs: Duties of committees / boards as charity trustees
- Procurement
- Health and Safety
- Rent arrears
- Governance and regulatory matters
Advice on governance and regulatory matters, including SHR (housing) and OSCR (charity) regulation, and on policies for RSLs to demonstrate compliance with good governance and regulatory requirements.
- Employment Matters
Advising RSLs on the full range of employment matters that can arise for an RSL employer.
- Disposals
Acting for a Local Authority in the disposal of development sites.
- Advising lenders
Ranging from standard security work to security trustees and syndications.
- Advising re EU Procurement Regulations
Regularly providing general legal advice on all matters from EU Procurement Regulations, State Aid, incorporation and group structures, contract law, finance arrangements, to regulatory regimes (including OSCR), as well as business advice on law changes, new regulations, guidance or other relevant schemes.
- Tenant issues
Securing and advising on Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, interim orders affecting problem tenants and recovery of Factoring arrears. Also representing a large RSL in complex Arbitration proceedings.
- Design and build disputes
Advising and representing RSLs on a variety of disputes arising out of design and build contracts, development issues and tenancy matters.
Team
Testimonials
Do you need a Data Protection Officer (DPO)?
If so, Really Good Data Protection (RGDP LLP) provides DPO services to businesses and organisations that choose to outsource all or some of their data protection requirements. Working in close association with our data protection team in BTO Solicitors, RGDP provides a high quality and cost effective DPO solution to the demands of DPA 2018 and GDPR. If you need a DPO, we would urge you to consider outsourcing and strongly recommend that you contact Claire Beckley for more information:
Claire Beckley
Data Protection Officer
RGDP LLP
T: 0131 222 3239
M: 07935 008316
W: www.rgdp.co.uk
