Litigation & Housing Law Fees

At Gordon & Thompson Solicitors, we provide legal advice and representation in relation to litigation and housing disputes for individuals, landlords, tenants, businesses, and property owners throughout England and Wales.

We are committed to providing clear and transparent information regarding our fees in accordance with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Transparency Rules.

Our Litigation & Housing Services

Our litigation and housing services may include:

  • Landlord and tenant disputes

  • Housing disrepair claims

  • Possession proceedings

  • Rent arrears matters

  • Breach of tenancy disputes

  • Civil litigation

  • Contract disputes

  • Property disputes

  • Injunction applications

  • General contentious matters

How Our Fees Are Charged

Most litigation and housing matters are charged on a time spent basis. The total costs will depend on the complexity of the matter, the amount of work involved, and the level of experience of the legal professional dealing with your case.

Our estimated legal fees generally range between:

Standard Litigation & Housing Matters

£399 – £10,000 plus VAT

Complex Litigation Matters

£2,500 – £10,000 plus VAT

VAT is currently charged at 20%.

We will provide you with a personalised cost estimate and details of the likely overall costs at the outset of your matter.

Information regarding the qualification and experience of the solicitor or legal professional handling your case, together with their hourly charging rate where applicable, will be provided in your client care documentation.

What Determines the Cost?

The exact fee will depend on several factors, including:

  • The complexity of the factual and legal issues

  • The number of documents involved

  • Whether court proceedings are contested

  • The number of parties involved

  • Whether expert evidence is required

  • The number of hearings required

  • The conduct of the other party

  • The urgency of the matter

  • Whether settlement negotiations are successful

Disbursements

Disbursements are payments made to third parties in connection with your case. These are payable in addition to our legal fees.

Typical disbursements may include:

Disbursement Typical Cost Range
Court fees £35 – £10,000+
Barrister’s fees £500 – £5,000+ per day plus VAT
Expert report fees £250 – £5,000+ plus VAT
Medical report fees £150 – £1,500+
Enforcement agent fees £75 – £1,500+
Process server fees £75 – £250+
HM Land Registry fees £3 – £455
Search fees £5 – £300

Disbursements will vary depending on the nature and complexity of the matter.

Where possible, we will inform you in advance of any anticipated disbursements and obtain your authority before incurring significant third-party costs.

We usually handle payment of disbursements on your behalf to help ensure a smoother process.

Counsel’s Fees

If it is necessary to instruct a barrister (Counsel), Counsel’s fees for attending hearings typically range between:

£500 – £5,000 per day plus VAT

The exact fee will depend on:

  • The complexity of the case

  • The length of the hearing

  • The experience and seniority of Counsel instructed

  • The urgency of the instruction

What Is Included In Our Fees?

Our fees generally cover work relating to the following stages of a matter:

  • Taking your initial instructions

  • Reviewing documents and advising on the merits of the case

  • Preparing claim or defence documentation

  • Reviewing documents received from the other party

  • Correspondence and negotiations

  • Exploring settlement opportunities

  • Preparing schedules of loss where appropriate

  • Preparing for and attending preliminary hearings where required

  • Instructing Counsel where appropriate

  • Preparing hearing bundles

  • Taking witness statements and preparing witness evidence

  • Reviewing and advising on the other party’s evidence

  • Preparing chronologies, lists of issues, and case summaries where appropriate

  • Preparing for and attending final hearings

  • Liaising with the court, tribunal, experts, and Counsel throughout the matter

The precise stages involved will vary depending on the circumstances of your case. If certain stages are not required, the overall fee may be reduced.

We can also provide limited-scope or “unbundled” legal services if you wish to handle parts of the matter yourself.

Factors That May Increase Costs

The following factors are likely to increase costs:

  • Complex legal or factual disputes

  • Urgent injunction applications

  • Multiple parties or witnesses

  • Large volumes of documentation

  • Multiple hearings

  • Expert evidence requirements

  • Amendments to claims or defences

  • Appeals

  • Enforcement proceedings

  • Allegations of fraud, discrimination, or serious misconduct

  • Failure by another party to cooperate

If circumstances arise which are likely to increase costs, we will discuss this with you as soon as reasonably possible.

Timescales

The timescale for litigation and housing matters depends on several factors, including:

  • The complexity of the dispute

  • Court or tribunal availability

  • The conduct of the parties

  • Whether settlement is achieved

  • The number of hearings required

As a general guide:

Matter Type Estimated Timescale
Straightforward matters Approximately 3 – 9 months
Complex matters Approximately 18 – 24 months

Some matters may conclude more quickly through settlement negotiations, while others may take longer if contested proceedings are necessary.

We will provide a more accurate estimate of likely timescales once we have reviewed your matter in detail.

Funding Options

Depending on the nature of your matter, we may offer:

  • Hourly rate billing

  • Fixed-fee arrangements

  • Staged fee arrangements

  • Limited-scope retainers for specific parts of the matter

Funding arrangements will always be discussed and agreed with you before work begins.

Our Litigation and Housing Team

Our team brings together over more than 10 years of combined experience in delivering high-quality legal services in all aspects of residential and commercial conveyancing. We have particular expertise in advising on high-value property purchase and sales. Your matter may be handled by any one of four team members, all of whom operate under the supervision of Raphael Newton, Director and Head of Residential and Commercial Conveyancing.

Raphael Newton – Director |COLP | COFA

Raphael Newton leads the department and has over 10 years of experience in litigation. Since qualifying in 2016, he has supported hundreds of individuals and families through the litigation process. Raphael Newton holds an Honours degree in Law from South Bank University. He completed her training contract at A.Vincent Solicitors and joined our firm in 2018, becoming a Director in 2018. He continues to develop his expertise through ongoing professional training in litigation and housing. He is also fluent in French, allowing him to assist a diverse range of clients.

O Rahim – Solicitor

O. Rahim qualified as a solicitor in 2025, having studied his LLB at the University of London, Birbirk College at Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course at London Metropolitan University. A longstanding member of our conveyancing, housing, family Teams, Rahim has extensive experience with complex residential and commercial conveyancing, having handled over a 100 such matters. He is also fluent in Yoruba, allowing her to assist a diverse range of clients.

Folake Coker – Director | Senior Solicitor

Folake has been part of our housing team since qualifying as a solicitor in 2017. She holds a LLB Law degree from the London Metropolitan University of Sheffield and completed her legal training at the London Metropolitan University. Before joining us, Rahim gained experience in  many areas of law including litigation, housing, residential conveyancing, probate, immigration, and commercial property. Since qualifying, he has successfully advised on over 100 housing and residential and commercial matters and continues to build his specialism in this field.

Important Information

The information on this page is intended as a general guide only and does not constitute legal advice.

Every case is different, and the total costs and timescales will depend on the individual circumstances of your matter.

We will provide you with a tailored estimate and full details of likely fees, disbursements, and timescales before substantive work commences.

Contact Us

For further information or to request a tailored quotation, please contact Gordon & Thompson Solicitors:

Telephone: 0207 183 6547
Email: admin@gordonandthompson.com
Website: https://gordonandthompson.com