Giles Peaker

About Giles Peaker

“I help people to uphold their rights, no matter who against. That is what I am here for.”

Named the 2018 Housing Lawyer of the Year, Giles Peaker, who is based in our South London offices at Elephant & Castle, is one of the most prominent property and housing disputes solicitors in the UK.

Giles advises and represents leaseholders and tenants on build defects, fire safety issues, leasehold disputes, repossession, disrepair claims, poor housing conditions, and homelessness.

When you first speak to Giles, you will be struck by his friendly nature. He believes good housing provides the base for people’s lives, and without safe housing, all other aspects of a person’s existence are precarious. Upholding the rights of tenants and leaseholders to live in decent homes has absorbed Giles throughout his career. He played a major part in drafting the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 which provides a significant step forward in ensuring tenants have reasonable housing.

The Legal 500 describes Giles as ““An outstanding lawyer – dazzlingly clever, persistent, highly effective and cares deeply about his area of law”. Chambers and Partners state he is “fantastic” and hugely knowledgeable and enthusiastic”.

Clients can rely on Giles to always be frank about their situation and what can be achieved with the law. He places great value on trust and honesty. He regularly obtains awards of tens of thousands of pounds for clients in disrepair and unlawful eviction cases and achieved a settlement of £250,000 for a buyout of a protected tenancy.

Cases

R(Attfield) v London Borough of Barnet

Judicial review of Barnet's increase in parking charges for controlled parking zones. Barnet held to have acted unlawfully by setting the charges for the purpose of raising funds. Case went to Court of Appeal for permission to bring judicial review.

Herelle v South London Family Housing Association

Tenant's claim for failure to repair. Trial judge's finding on the extent of disrepair appealed to the High Court on the unusual basis of new evidence. Permission given by the High Court, leading to settlement of the case.

R(Small) v City of Westminster

Judicial review of Westminster's refusal to provide accommodation in a homeless matter based on a decision that Mr Small was intentionally homeless from a place where he had rejected the tenancy on the same day it started some years before.