Gateway Community Law
Community Legal Clinic

Opening the door to justice

Gateway Community Law provides expert legal support in civil law, housing rights — including leasehold and freehold — access to justice, and alternative dispute resolution.

Practice Areas

Where we stand for you

We specialise in the areas of law where people most need expert, independent support — delivered with precision and purpose.

01
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Access to Justice

We believe the law should be open to everyone. We remove barriers — financial, institutional, and procedural — that prevent people from exercising their legal rights.

  • Civil rights advice and representation
  • Judicial review assistance
  • Appeals and tribunal support
  • Public law challenges
02
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Housing Law

Expert advice on leasehold and freehold property rights — protecting your home, your tenure, and your interests against unlawful demands and breaches.

  • Leasehold enfranchisement & extension
  • Freehold acquisition & boundary disputes
  • Service charge & forfeiture challenges
  • Right to Manage proceedings
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Alternative Dispute Resolution

Resolving disputes through mediation, arbitration, and negotiation — saving the time, cost, and adversarial burden of court proceedings for all parties.

  • Civil & commercial mediation
  • Property & landlord-tenant arbitration
  • Neighbourhood & community disputes
  • Pre-action protocol compliance
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Civil Law & Legal Advocacy

Robust civil law advice and representation across contract disputes, discrimination, debt, and civil rights — with advocacy grounded in principle and evidence.

  • Contract and consumer disputes
  • Discrimination & Equality Act claims
  • Debt recovery & creditor defence
  • Civil court representation
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“Justice is open to all — like the Ritz Hotel.”
— Lord Justice Mathew, satirising unequal access
Access to Justice

The law belongs
to everyone

We exist to close the gap between legal rights on paper and legal rights in practice. Removing systemic barriers is the foundation of everything we do.

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Civil Rights Enforcement

We advise and represent individuals whose civil rights have been infringed — including by public bodies, employers, and institutions.

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Judicial Review & Public Law

Challenging unlawful decisions by councils, housing authorities, and government bodies. We hold public institutions to account.

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Tribunal & Appeals Representation

Full representation at the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, and relevant appellate courts — thoroughly prepared and confidently argued.

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Case Assessment & Strategy

We assess each case rigorously and build a clear, evidence-based legal strategy — no vague reassurance, only substantive counsel.

Housing Law

Your property. Your rights.

Whether you hold a leasehold or freehold interest, Gateway provides principled, expert advice on the full scope of your property rights — and how to enforce them.

Statutory Lease Extension

Advising leaseholders on their right to extend under the Leasehold Reform Act, calculating fair premiums, and negotiating directly with freeholders.

Service Charge Disputes

Challenging unreasonable or unaccounted service charges before the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), including retrospective challenges.

Forfeiture & Breach of Covenant

Defending leaseholders against forfeiture proceedings and advising on alleged breaches of leasehold covenants — protecting tenure and property value.

Right to Manage

Guiding residents through the collective statutory process of assuming management of their building from the freeholder under the CLRA 2002.

Leasehold & Freehold Reform Act 2024

Authoritative advice on rights introduced by the 2024 Act — including ground rent abolition, extended enfranchisement rights, and valuation changes.

Administration Charges & Fees

Scrutinising and challenging excessive administration charges levied by freeholders and managing agents — from consent fees to assignment charges.

Collective Enfranchisement

Advising and representing groups of leaseholders in collectively acquiring the freehold of their building — from eligibility assessment through to completion.

Boundary & Title Disputes

Resolving contested ownership boundaries, adverse possession claims, and title registration disputes at HM Land Registry and in the courts.

Restrictive Covenants

Advising on the enforceability, discharge, and modification of restrictive covenants burdening freehold land — before the Upper Tribunal if necessary.

Easements & Rights of Way

Establishing, defending, and resolving disputes over rights of way, rights of light, and other easements — including prescriptive and implied rights.

Freehold Ownership Disputes

Resolving disputes between co-owners of freehold property, including trusts of land applications (TOLATA) and contested ownership claims.

Developer & Builder Disputes

Claims against developers and builders for defective construction, failure to complete, and breach of contract on freehold new-build properties.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Resolving disputes without court

Court proceedings are costly, slow, and adversarial. Where appropriate, ADR offers a faster, less combative route to resolution — and we are experts in all its forms.

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Mediation

A neutral mediator facilitates structured negotiation to reach a mutually agreed settlement. Confidential, without prejudice, and often conclusive in a single session.

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Arbitration

A binding decision from an independent arbitrator — faster and more private than court, with outcomes enforceable as a judgment under the Arbitration Act.

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Negotiation & Settlement

Direct negotiation supported by our advocates, with formal settlement agreements drafted to be legally binding and enforceable — without formal proceedings.

1
Initial Assessment

We assess the dispute and advise on the most appropriate ADR method.

2
Preparation

We prepare your position, evidence bundle, and statement of case.

3
The Process

We represent and support you throughout the mediation or arbitration.

4
Resolution

We formalise any agreement and advise on enforcement where necessary.

Civil Law & Legal Advocacy

Your voice, amplified

Legal advocacy is at the heart of what we do. We speak for those who cannot speak the language of the law — forcefully, precisely, and without compromise.

01 — Civil Litigation
Contract & Consumer Disputes

Drafting letters before action, pre-action protocols, and county court claims for breach of contract, consumer rights violations, and unfair trading practices.

02 — Equality Law
Discrimination Claims

Advising on and pursuing claims under the Equality Act 2010 across all nine protected characteristics — in employment, services, housing, and education.

03 — Debt
Debt & Enforcement

Recovering debts for individuals and defending clients against disproportionate creditor action, unlawful bailiff conduct, and county court judgments.

04 — Public Law
Judicial Review

Challenging unlawful decisions by public bodies — councils, housing authorities, the DWP — through judicial review and statutory appeals in the Administrative Court.

05 — Representation
Tribunal Advocacy

Representing clients in the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, Employment Tribunal, and Property Chamber — with rigorous preparation and principled advocacy.

06 — Rights
Human Rights Claims

Advising on and pursuing claims under the Human Rights Act 1998 where public bodies have acted incompatibly with Convention rights — including Articles 6 and 8.

Contact

Your case begins
with a conversation

Every enquiry is treated with complete confidentiality. There is no obligation and no jargon. Tell us your situation and we will set out your options clearly.

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Strictly Confidential

All communications are protected by legal professional privilege from the moment of first contact.

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No Obligation

An initial enquiry carries no commitment. We will assess your position and set out your options clearly.

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Direct & Substantive Advice

We provide clear, actionable legal counsel — not vague reassurance. You will leave knowing exactly where you stand.

Send an Enquiry

All information submitted is strictly confidential and protected by legal professional privilege.