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About

For a number of years, Chambers and Partners ranked Andrew in Band 1 for Social Housing (Northern Bar). Over the years, they have described him as "well prepared and a strong advocate both in court and on paper", someone who "expresses the essential points lucidly and... is a good negotiator", "a really good advocate, a walking encyclopaedia of housing law", "the walking, talking dictionary of housing law who never stops working", "efficient with paperwork and will[ing to] go the extra mile" and has having "a solid, commercial style with a very good reputation".

In addition to being a barrister, Andrew is a director of a residential management company where he has been responsible for resolving a series of complex issues arising from historical building defects and significant fire safety issues, along with the usual management of a leasehold building.

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Property Law

Andrew's primary area of practice is property law. He can provide specialist drafting, advice and advocacy to public bodies, lenders, landlords, property owners, borrowers, tenants and other occupiers in all aspects of housing/landlord and tenant law. He has extensive experience, both at first instance and on appeal, of dealing with:

  • Anti-social behaviour possession cases, injunction applications and committal applications;
  • Rent possession claims;
  • Housing disrepair claims;
  • HMO issues;
  • Trespass claims;
  • Tenancy deposit claims;
  • Unfair tenancy terms and the Consumer Rights Act 2015;
  • Housing related public law matters;
  • Housing related human rights matters;
  • Housing related Equality Act matters;
  • Homelessness and allocation matters;
  • Unlawful eviction and harassment claims;

Cases where the tenant or occupant either lacks capacity or is experiencing mental ill-health (including hoarding);

  • Right to buy disputes;
  • Succession to tenancy and failed succession cases;
  • Lease disputes and forfeiture applications (including relief from forfeiture);
  • Order for sale applications; and Mortgage possession claims (including undue influence).

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Additional Areas

Andrew has a small personal injury practice. From time to time, he has also practised criminal law and general civil litigation.

Testimonials

Andrew is admired by those he has assisted pro bono for his ability to immediately establish a rapport with, and reassure, vulnerable clients. He is very thorough in his work and flexible in nature, giving his client a level of attention well beyond expectations.

Bar Pro Bono Finalist 2010 Andrew Byles spent several months working alone in a small Louisiana town... Byles visited all 1,200 prisoners being held on remand in the local jail, to assess the quality (or absence) of their legal representation. He became a local hero when his work resulted in the release of more than 50 people who had been held without trial (and often without seeing a lawyer) longer than the maximum sentence that could have been imposed.

The Times He is the walking, talking dictionary of housing law who never stops working. Excellent knowledge and then did everything he could above and beyond from the court work.

Chambers and Partners 2015 His style is very clear and concise. He expresses the essential points lucidly and he is a good negotiator.

He’s a really good advocate, a walking encyclopaedia of housing law.

Chambers and Partners 2016 He has a solid, commercial style with a very good reputation.
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