I am very sorry to announce that Giles passed away over the weekend. If and when there is further information that I can share, I will do so. For now, please take a moment to read the short obituary prepared by his friends, colleagues and Partners at Anthony Gold.
Justin Bates KC
Anthony Gold Partner Giles Peaker sadly passes away
We are deeply sorry to announce that one of our Partners, Giles Peaker, passed away over the weekend of 18-19 April 2026. Our deepest condolences go to his family and friends at this most difficult of times.
Giles was a leading lawyer, renowned for his expertise in all aspects of housing law. He advised and represented leaseholders and tenants on build defects, fire safety issues, repossession, poor housing conditions and homelessness, dedicating his career to helping those most in need.
As well as his client work, Giles worked tirelessly to improve the rights of individuals to good housing. He played a major part in drafting the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, which provided a significant step forward in ensuring tenants have a right to healthy and safe housing.
Giles was also a regular commentator on housing law in the media and the founder and editor of ‘Nearly Legal’ – a specialist and much-loved housing law used by lawyers, judges, academics and members of the public alike.
Legal 500 described Giles as “an outstanding lawyer – dazzlingly clever, persistent, highly effective and cares deeply about his area of law”. Chambers and Partners said he was “fantastic” and “hugely knowledgeable and enthusiastic”. But more important to Giles were the many glowing testimonials he received from his clients.
Giles’ colleagues knew him for his dry wit, immense knowledge and kindness, and as someone who was always willing to give his time to colleagues and to anyone who approached him with a problem.
He died following a short illness and is survived by his wife, Beth.
Andrew Brookes, the head of Anthony Gold’s housing department, said:
“Giles was an inspirational colleague who I worked with for 20 years. His knowledge was legendary and his passion for housing law unmatched. His Nearly Legal blog was both widely used and loved for its clarity, wit and breadth. He was instrumental in drafting the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation Act). He will be sorely missed by all of us at Anthony Gold and in the wider housing law world.”
We are extremely sad to read of Giles’ passing. He was simply outstanding. The NL blog has become something of a public service, educating and entertaining housing lawyers (and occasionally solving arguments) for years. Hopefully he knew how much his efforts were valued by the sector. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues. From all at Cobb Warren.
May his knowledgeable soul rest in peace. It’s like a somebody I know personally has passed though I only knew him because he made me a better housing lawyer. His legacy is that he made lawyers better at their jobs and gave the people a first class service. My prayers to his family, friends, colleagues and his fraternity of lawyers.
I’d just like to echo those sentiments from so many involved in tenancy relations and housing advice also. Giles’ insight and analysis were always so on point, but I think the motivation and inspiration he provided to others will be an even longer lasting legacy. He made housing law fun, and reading his posts was always so entertaining as well as educational. I only met Giles twice but I am devastated at his loss. I hope his friends and family can gain some comfort from the appreciation and affection felt for Giles by many thousands of people who might not have known him personally but who like me, will miss him immensely.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Giles and can only imagine the feelings being experienced by his loved ones and close colleagues, who are in my thoughts.
Giles’ posts were insightful and helped so many (including myself) navigate the ever-changing world of housing law. The humour and quips in some of the more light-hearted articles also provoked many a smile whilst reading.
This is a huge loss to housing law and wider legal community. Giles, thank you for everything.
Like you, I never met Giles. I only knew him through Twitter and bluesky. I’m a criminal lawyer but really enjoyed reading his articles because it showed that a love of the law is something you don’t lose. I’m tremendously sad fear of his untimely death. My condolences to his family and friends. He will not be forgotten.
Unlike you I did have the pleasure of meeting him once when he ran a seminar in Bristol. What a source of knowledge he had. He will be sadly missed along with his blog and I hope NL is able to find a replacement who will unfortunately always be in his shadow.
Well said AW, such sad news
I’m very very sorry to hear this. I followed Giles on Twitter for a long time and learnt a great deal from him – he had such a skill at clearly explaining legal complexities. He helped me be a better campaigner and generously responded to a message I sent him about a case I was interested in in 2013. He obviously gave so much of himself to the law and to justice in all its forms. Rest in power, Giles.
## Comment SPAM Protection: Shield Security marked this comment as “SPAM”. Reason: Failed AntiBot Verification##
It is so sad to hear this news. His demise is a great loss for the Landlords and tenants and legal fraternity. He will be immensely missed. Condolences to his family members. RIP.
This is very sad news. Giles was such a font of knowledge and his insights and commentaries on Nearly Legal were always worthwhile and enjoyable to read – with a touch of humour. He is a massive loss to the world of housing law. He will be missed.
I am so sorry to hear this, sincere condolences to his family and friends
This is terrible news. Giles was a fantastic solicitor and a titan of housing law. He was also a funny guy. Thoughts and condolences to his friends and family. ❤️
Such horrid news. I was not a legal person pre-retirement but professionally involved in the Southwark Water palaver, and we corresponded online about that. His tweets, posts here and latterly BlueSky stuff was always welcome on any of my timelines. Go well Giles.
I am sure there will be many more and better tributes paid to Giles, but I wanted to add a little something now. Giles was a wonderful solicitor who clearly cared very deeply about his clients. He was also a tremendous communicator and explainer of the law, as this website (running for a frankly astonishing 20 years) demonstrates. If he encountered a problem, he did not just complain, but he found a way to fix it. Many of his clients will have benefitted from this, but many other people will also, because Giles was, as noted in the AG obituary above, instrumental in the drafting of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, an extremely important measure in addressing housing conditions and driving up standards. That drive to improve things can also be seen in resources on this site, like the s.21 flowchart and the archive of ‘How to Rent’ guides. He was also, quite simply, a lovely person. I distinctly remember his kindness and support when our paths first crossed in 2007/08, long before I had even started pupillage. He will, inevitably, be much missed and there will be much more to say about his personality and achievements over the coming days, but for now I just want to thank him for the encouragement and welcome he gave me before I could even call myself a housing lawyer.
I have been struggling to find the words to do justice to Giles. So ill echo all of that and add a few here.
First, I cant find an appropriate word that sums up the shock and sadness of Giles no longer being here. Such a loss. My condolences are with his family, friends and colleagues who loved him.
For someone with his knowledge, wisdom and profile he was such a humble, funny and lovely man. And so generous. The time he gave to everyone must be unparalleled, especially all the while running this site (on his own), having s busy practice and also finding the time to change the law, incredible.
Finally, he always tended to be right about most things. Such a rarity to combine the drive and expertise with sound judgment.
Thanks Giles.
So sorry to hear this news. My thoughts are with Giles’ family, friends and colleagues.
I am very sorry to hear this, I did not know Giles but his blog has been a constant companion and source of learning from the start of my trainee solicitor days to now, a decade later. Giles’ knowledge of housing law was mountainous and all encompassing. Nearly Legal is the go-to housing law blog, a source of exceptionally helpful information, commentary and accounts. I pass on my condolences to Giles family and friends, who must be devastated.
So sad to hear this news – Giles was a one of a kind and much respected. I loved following him on Twitter and having the occasional exchanges because it wasn’t just about law but also art and popular culture, and his photographs.
I am very sorry indeed to hear this, what an enormous loss of a wonderful housing lawyer and an absolutely decent and charming man. I respected him very much. I learnt such a large proportion of what I know about housing law from avidly reading Giles’s learned commentaries. We swapped a few messages over the years and I always learnt something new from our exchanges. A tremendous loss. My condolences to his family, his colleagues and his friends.
I am very sorry to hear this. What a loss to his family and friends but also to housing law.
It’s difficult to imagine working in housing law without Giles to refer to. As Rebecca Cobb posted Nearly legal is virtually a public service.
I worked with Giles on several cases down the years and will always treasure our off the record conversations which always made me laugh.
Thoughts with his family. A very sad loss
I’m so incredibly shocked and sad to hear this. You’ll be such a big miss Giles. Rest in peace, sending my best to his family, friends and colleagues.
Oh my goodness, how awfully sad, I had many a conversation with Giles and many a debate regarding housing law. His knowledge was immense and his ability to explain complex detail was incredible. I shall miss you very much indeed Mr P, rest in eternal peace.
I was terribly sad to learn of Giles passing. He was such a lovely person as well as being an outstanding lawyer and blogger. I have written a short tribute to him on my own blog and published an interview we did where he talks about getting the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act through Parliament which may interest people. https://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2026/04/20/giles-peaker-a-tribute-to-a-housing-law-pioneer/
He is a great loss to us all in housing law.
The guy was a legend. I’m just an ex long-term tenant who read this entire blog and learned so much about mine, my children’s, my colleagues’ and my friends’ rights as renters. Giles never represented me professionally, but he did his best to represent every tenant who was hard done by a rogue landlord. There are good landlords and bad tenants but the power is usually skewed towards the former. The work Giles did has left a foundation for change that I hope will see fruition. So sad.
Very sad to hear the news of Giles’s passing. I never had the pleasure of meeting in person but I always greatly admired and trusted his views on housing law, with the NearlyLegal blog being an important reference point when trying to find the answer to some complex housing question. My condolences to his wife, family and friends. He will be truly missed.
Indeed a huge void has been created in Housing Law with the passing of Giles Peaker may his memroy be a blessing on those he left behind.
indeed, such a void. As a homelessness professional of 30 years, Nearly Legal had become my essential tool for updates. And although not currently employed it had remained that, with it resulting in regular contact with former colleagues, to update them.
Giles’ passing is obviously a big loss for family, friends and colleagues, and is also so for the Housing sector. He shall be so missed.
Countless people owe the fact they are in decent housing, have kept a roof over their head, or managed to secure access to their statutory rights to housing to Giles Peaker.
The fruits of his labour, this blog, were instrumental in the journeys of many housing lawyers. For me, along with Defending Possession Proceedings, this was the resource I turned to learn the craft. It made housing law accessible for everyone.
Judges and practitioners alike have relied on Giles’ intellectual rigour channeled through his contributions to get it right.
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) legislation empowered the marginalised and ignored to get their repairs done.
It is genuinely difficult to imagine housing law without him. I never met the man; but his work touched my life profoundly.
He was respected by opponents and colleagues alike.
May his memory be a blessing.
This is indeed very sad and shocking news. Giles was an extremely knowledgeable lawyer on whose writings I often refer to when I need to clarify aspects of housing legislation during the course of my work and I always followed his NL blog. Moreover, despite his senior position and no doubt demanding and busy job, he provided individual clarity and guidance to myself and other landlords in the past.
I will miss reading his NL blog every week and extend my deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
I was deeply saddened and honestly shocked to read this news. Giles’s writing and expertise have been immensely helpful to me over the years, and I have learned so much from Nearly Legal. His clarity, insight and enthusiasm made a real difference, and his loss will be felt very keenly. My heartfelt condolences to his wife, family, friends and colleagues.
Such sad news. Like most, I never met Giles, but he became part of my life through his Nearly Legal blog. Every time one popped into my inbox I knew I was in for another insightful learning experience. It’s not often that you look forward to reading emails from other lawyers, but these were the exception!
Thank you Giles
## Comment SPAM Protection: Shield Security marked this comment as “SPAM”. Reason: Failed AntiBot Verification##
How very sad to hear.
What an amazing man and incredible mind. The time and work he put in to helping others in need should be a lesson to us all. I’m sure he will be terribly missed by friends and family (I never met him unfortunately), but he will also be greatly missed by those in need of his expert housing advice. His attention to detail and knowledge was unmatched.
## Comment SPAM Protection: Shield Security marked this comment as “SPAM”. Reason: Failed AntiBot Verification##
As a regular reader of Nearly legal blog I wanted to say how sad I was to read this news. This morning, as with many mornings, the nearly blog message was the first place I clicked as I could guarantee it would contain clear and engaging accounts of the latest developments in housing law presented in an accessible way from someone who had a real appreciation of the importance of this area of law, as well as an invaluable archive of cases which were not reported elsewhere.
Richard Westlake – Cartridges Law, Exeter
I am so very sorry to read this today, first and foremost i would like to offer my sincere condolences to Giles family, friends and colleagues. I am not sure that i can think of anyone else who has done more than Giles to ensure that the housing law family have been kept up to date with changes in the law in what is a complicated and ever changing area of practice. I had the pleasure of meeting Giles only on one occasion at a LAG event and i was in awe of not only his knowledge but also how accommodating he was to very junior lawyers like myself and how he was able to explain complicated things in easy speak thus benefiting so many of us and in turn benefitting countless thousands of tenants most of whom are now experiencing a better quality of life. Thank you Giles.
Incredibly sad news. I’m sure he will be greatly missed by friends and family of course (I never met him unfortunately)…… But Giles will also be missed by those who followed the incredible information and advice he gave to anyone in need.
Such a knowledgeable and incredible mind with such detention to detail…… His desire to help others should be a lesson to us all.
Thank you Giles.
Never speak into a phone 🙄…..attention to detail of course!
I’ve never met Giles personally, but his writing on NL has influenced my career in homelessness, renters rights etc. almost since this blog was started. He has made me and the countless colleagues I have insisted sign up to NL, better at our jobs. Housing law is an astonishingly complex area, and NL has always been my favourite source for updates.
Thank you Giles for you service to us and to tenants everywhere. You will be sorely missed.
## Comment SPAM Protection: Shield Security marked this comment as “SPAM”. Reason: Failed AntiBot Verification##
An outstanding solicitor and writer and a tremendous loss to the legal profession
Condolences to Giles’ family and work colleagues. Giles did some wonderful training for our company on leaseholds. His nearly legal blog always a reliable source will be missed as well.
I’m so sorry to hear this vary sad news. I wasn’t lucky enough to know Giles, but as others have said, his brilliant legal updates were always something to enjoy. Thank you Giles, for bringing a smile to my face even on a stressful day. Condolences to all who loved him.
Like many others, I’ve never met Giles personally, but his NL posts helped my legal understanding no end when it came to housing enforcement cases. His wit and humour shone through and what lead me to value those emails that came through! My condolances to Giles’s family, and thank you for all those hours supporting the sector.
I am shocked and saddened to hear Giles has passed. He truly was a great humanitarian and wickedly funny too
He helped me so much in dealing with rogue landlords and tricky local authorities to advocate for my clients with severe mental heath issues
I shall miss him dreadfully and my deepest sympathies to his family , friends and close colleagues
Farewell you wonderful man x
This is shocking and sad. I wish I had the opportunity to thank him personally for his monumental contributions to my professional development. He represented a Real Intelligence. Passionate, humourous with a depth of knowledge that left one comforted and reassured when trying to untagle various aspects of Housing Law. In an attempt to follow his humour I will say he was unwittingly responsible for 90% of my CPD points in the last 2 decades of my career. My thoughts and condolences are with his loved ones.
This is such sad news, Giles was such an inspiration and kept my love for housing law alive. My condolences to his family and friends
So sad to hear this. I’ve followed this site for many, many years and always found Giles’ ability to dissect and explain complex caselaw to be absolutely invaluable.
If not for Giles I never would have learned that the Allotment Act 1950 gives every tenant the inalienable right to keep rabbits and chickens, and its precisely that mix of information and humour that will be sorely missed.
Condolences to his family.
I am very sorry to hear that Giles has died, and my thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues. For me, NL has been a reliable source of information and insight for almost a decade, as a non-legal professional working in a related field. I hope that these messages of support and condolence will act as some comfort for those who loved him, to understand how well regarded he was across many walks of life.
What a terrible shock for his family, friends and the housing law community. I feel lucky to have attended talks given by Giles to the District Bench over the years and am (like many of my colleagues) an avid follower of this blog. A terrible loss of an obviously caring, gifted and highly regarded individual. I will also miss his landscape picture and other light-hearted posts on Bluesky.
I am very sad to hear about Giles’ passing. I am a long term tenant that has lived through a complex array of difficult tenancy related issues and Giles’ blog has been a tremendous help in understanding and getting me through everything. He will be sadly missed by so many and he leaves a substantial legacy. Rest In Peace Giles.
What a loss to the world of housing. He’s blog was an oasis of sensibility to those in the sector. Having had the pleasure of his wit and wisdom, all I can say is he’ll be missed. Condolences to his family. RIP Giles Peaker
Giles represented me for a number of years and I trusted him implicitly. He could explain complex and bewildering issues so well, was incredibly balanced, straightforward and honest. Giles was always responsive when I contacted him and understood the deep emotional impact and importance of housing on the people he worked with. Giles was also a charming, funny, calm and unforgettably warm person. Rest in Peace Giles and thank you for making such a difference in my life and that of many others
A true professional and a thoroughly decent person. Always put his clients first and fought tenaciously (but always within the rules) for their interests. Prepared to call out sharp practice whether from government eviscerating legal aid, claims farmers ramping up costs, bullying landlords or other lawyers. A voice of reason in an increasingly polarised legal world. Housing law owes him a huge debt and will be poorer for his absence.
This blog, Giles’ Twitter and Bluesky feeds and emails were a huge help for me and others. That was all given for free to help other people. People passed on his insights and knowledge, so the reach of his work was remarkable.
I am so sorry for his family and friends; loss is always horribe. I hope there is some comfort in knowing that he made a difference and made things better for lots of people he never met.
Yes what a terrible shock and condolences to his family and friends. Nearly Legal was ground breaking and essential reading for us all. What a great man!
I am so sad to hear this news. I had the pleasure of meeting Giles and cannot imagine housing law without him. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
I was very saddened to hear about Giles’ passing. Giles was not only an exceptionally talented lawyer, but also someone whose unwavering dedication and expertise touched everyone who had the privilege to work alongside Giles. Giles’ legacy and professionalism have left a lasting impression on us all. My thoughts are with Giles’ family and friends during this difficult time.
I am deeply saddened by the loss of Giles. Although I never met him in person, I had brief interactions with him on LinkedIn, and he would always take the time to respond. I have learned so much from him and would hang on every one of his posts. He will leave a huge chasm in this area of law that cannot be filled, which speaks volumes about his intelligence and expertise. What truly shines through is how much Giles cared, particularly for the most vulnerable in our society. This reflects the kind of man he was. I cannot begin to imagine the impact he had on his family, friends and colleagues, and I am devastated for them. They should be incredibly proud to have known and loved a man of such standing. A true great.
This is so sad to hear, what a loss. I’ve been reading Nearly Legal since I started housing advice in 2005 and it’s been such an invaluable source of advice, help and information. I last spoke to Giles at the HLPA conference in December and he was his usual self, full of ideas and opinions and always worth listening to. I’m really saddened by this news and hope and pray that his wife, family and loved ones know the deep esteem and respect that Giles was held in by the whole sector. Rest in peace.
I am so incredibly sorry to hear this news, and I would like to offer my condolences to Giles’s family, friends, and colleagues. Whilst I was never lucky enough to know Giles personally, his work was a genuine source of inspiration for my own interest in housing law – and motivated me to write my dissertation on the topic and apply to train at Anthony Gold. What really struck me was that, despite Giles’s prominence, he was kind enough to reply to my messages and wish me luck on these endeavours.
This reflects the dignity, respect, and utmost humility for people which was evident in Giles’ contribution to making the world of housing law a better place for all. I hope it provides solace knowing that his contribution to this world has directly, and indirectly, had a remarkably positive influence on people’s lives in so many different ways.
Rest in Peace, Giles.
I was extremely shocked and upset to hear the news of Giles’ passing. Giles was always so supportive of the Property Tribes community and myself and was so knowledgeable about the law – always commenting with precision and clarity. Giles helped me with a couple of leasehold issues and always freely gave of his time. He was approachable, always willing to help, and was fiercely passionate about the law. I have so much respect for him as a lawyer but also as a human being.
The last interaction I had with him was a few years ago when he posted a picture of the view from his new home by the sea on X. I replied saying what a wonderful view it was and that I hoped he would be very happy in his new home. It gives me some comfort to know that he had a few years of waking up every morning to that amazing view.
I send compassionate thoughts and love to all those who knew him who are feeling his loss, as I am.
Family and friends should take comfort in knowing that Giles made a positive impact during his life and he leaves the world a better place because of this. Rest in love Giles. We miss you.
Everyone at Housing Reviews is greatly saddened to hear of Giles’ passing. Whilst only meeting Giles on one or two occasions his influence on our work has been immense. He was the go to person for everything relating to housing law. He had great skill to make complex law and case law simple and influenced so many of our decisions. Everyone working in housing has lost a legend. Rest in peace Giles.
I echo this hugely. Giles’ support and knowledge was tremendous and Nearly Legal was my go to for housing case law. Rest in eternal peace.
The world is a poorer place without him. A fine intellect, endless generosity of spirit and a passion for redressing wrongs: what better legacy could a person leave? My favourite quote of his: ‘Never leave the house without having a housing lawyer with you’ or variations on the theme! Sincere condolences to his family and friends for what is such a profound loss.
A true professional and a throughly decent person. Giles fought with fearless determination and tenacity for his clients (but always within the rules). His clients interests came first. He was even-handed in calling out injustice and sharp practice whether by the government eviscerating legal aid; bullying landlords; clams farmers and “housing advisers” ramping up costs; or those milking the system. Housing law benefited enormously from his input and will be poorer for his absence. An objetive voice in an increasingly polarised sector.
This is truly awful news. My deepest sympathies and condolences to his family and friends, I hope they can take some comfort from the lovely tributes on this page. Giles used his extensive knowledge and expertise to make a positive difference to peoples’ lives, there is no better legacy to leave. Our paths crossed when I worked in the House of Commons Library churning out papers for MPs and others, it’s an understatement to say I was thrilled when Giles referenced them in his blog on occasion. I had the privilege of meeting him when he provided training to MPs’ staff on housing law, as others have said, he gave his time generously and his sessions were such fun. The world is poorer for his passing.
This is incredibly sad to read. A huge loss to the housing law world. He taught and inspired me so much about housing, landlord, and tenant legislation when I worked in Parliament. We exchanged messages as recently as last month. He was always sincere and exceptionally knowledgeable. We have lost a gentleman and a great legal mind. Rest in peace. ⚖️ 🏡
An untimely loss. A huge void has been left in Housing law. RIP Giles. This blog was an invaluable source of knowledge for the best part of two decades. My thoughts and condolences to his family and friends
I was shocked and very saddened to hear this news. It’s as if we knew him personally. I echo everything that’s been said. It was always a pleasure to read his blog, from the point of view of legal updates, clarification of complexities – and laugh out loud. And he was always right! I don’t know how he found the time to write his excellent blog, promote new legislation, reply to messages and be the brilliant solicitor he was. For most human beings, just practising housing law is enough in the day. What a huge loss to the housing world and my deep sympathies to his family
Such very sad news. I’m so sorry to hear this and would like to extend my sympathy and condolences to the family, colleagues and many friends Giles leaves behind him. His wisdom, which he so generously shared with all via this site, was always delivered with a healthy dose of wit.
a most excellent person
So sorry, and rather shocked to learn of Giles’ death. An unfillable void in housing law has just been created. My deepest sympathy goes to his family, friends and colleagues. I can’t speak for all the District Bench, but I know that his wisdom, clarity and brilliance of thought will truly be missed by so many of us.
Very sad indeed to hear this awful news. Like many commenting here, I never had the pleasure of meeting Giles but he was kind enough to follow me on social media and we often popped up on each other’s threads, and I always loved chatting with him. Condolences to his friends, colleagues and all who loved him: I’m sure there are many who did.
As with many who have already left tribute above, I never had the opportunity to meet Giles in person, yet I feel moved to share my condolences with his family, colleagues, and his wider legal family. As a newish DDJ, starting out and having to remind myself and learn about possession claims, housing disrepair and other connected housing matters, his blog was an invaluable source of knowledge and support. His humanity, love of and grasp of the law, and wit came through in spades. He will be much missed. May he rest in peace.
I am so sorry to read that Giles has gone . He was a quite brilliant communicator , utterly committed to his clients and to housing law. He came up to Manchester for a NWLPG Conference and was entertaining , thought provoking and very helpful . It was always a pleasure to see him often at LALY award ceremonies and his support when I won an award there meant a lot . We had e-mail and DM discussions a lot and picking his brains was always a joy – he will be so much missed by all housing lawyers and advisers . The fitness legislation is a testament to him . Condolences to his family and friends – with Bryan McGuire Q.C , Spike Mullings – another housing lawyer taken far too early from us.
What a shock to read and am aghast as his NL work was so uplifting and to the point.
Having had a 6 year nightmare of trying to deal with a botched s21 notice served out of time and incomplete and withdrawn and followed by another s21 notice currently being appealed, Giles’ website was a lifesaver as I battled ill health and the arrogance of lawyers refusing to comply with the law or deal with my defences and judges being misled intentionally by solicitors.
Giles work was and is an invaluable resources and it is a pity rather too many lawyers place earning fees over their duty to be honest and assist the court per the SRA and BSB Codes.
He has literally been a life saver as far as I am concerned
The fact Giles gave evidence to Parliament on the Renters Rights bill, and s21 Notices will be banned in just another week adds to the poignancy of his loss to many good loyal tenants (where agents misadvising naive overseas landlords wholly reliant on their agents), who have no idea who to thank for this new legislation.
As I said, a lifesaver
Very sad news. Such a great loss to the world of L&T.
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said: “I’m deeply saddened at the tragic loss of Giles Peaker. Giles was not only an exceptionally talented housing lawyer but a real force for good in the world who played an integral role in the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act. My heartfelt condolences to all who loved him.” What a pity that Matthew Pennycook is not responding to requests from Housing Law Practitioners Association to restore Legal Aid for housing disrepair claims and in particular damages claims – cut by the previous Government during austerity. Without Legal Aid tenants are not able to enforce their rights under the Homes(Fitness for Human Habitation)Act. What a fitting tribute it would be to Giles for the minister now to restore Legal Aid for housing disrepair.
So sad to hear the news about Giles – a formidable force in L & T. Condolences to his family. Tony Kent, Mackrell LLP
Giles Peakers’ loss is felt deeply. His sharp, generous writing lit the way for frontline workers like me and for so many homeless people. I’m grateful for his voice, and so sad it’s gone. Chantelle Hyde – Housing Officer Braintree District Council.
All my thoughts with Giles’ friends and family. I wonder if like with many of us, if his friends and family are outside of the legal sector, they might not realise what he actually did, and not until now fully appreciate the scale of what he did and who he was professionally. Nothing will ever make the pain of loss easier, but I hope that his family have an opportunity to see what a legacy he has left for us all and how missed he will be by so many strangers. Rest easy, Giles.
Thank you Rosie. This is absolutely the case. I’m Giles’ sister and I had no idea what an incredible impact he had on the world of social housing law. Thank everyone for writing so generously and enlightening me. It really does mean a lot!
My deepest condolences to Giles and his family. He blogged on a couple of cases in which I represented landlords as the rogue landlord legislation bedded in. The profession will be a much lesser place without this gifted and brilliant man. RIP. Julian Hunt, Chambers of Julian Hunt
Used the website for most of its lifetime and won several tribunals on the back of Giles excellent work. I think the tributes do some justice to every facet of his work but in respect of Nearly Legal itself I do think it’s worth noting again a tone which rejoiced in both the law and the absurdity of the attempts of others to subvert it. Being accurate and right is one thing. Seeing the funny side of it and gently deflating both the law and its many and varied participants is entirely another. How many of us have a category of client or work titled “The Naughty Step” because of Giles.
Even more than that gently mocking humour, there was such value in his ability to simultaneous recognise that complex stuff should be explained as being complex but that complexity in itself does not provide any excuse for failing to translate it into plain English.
What a man Giles was! A solid moral compass and a fantastic brain. He will be sorely missed by all who have ever crossed paths with him or who have ever read his blog posts. Humour and compassion in the highest degree. Please do ensure his family knows the outpouring of love and sadness which follows his untimely passing. Goodbye Giles, Requiescat in Pace
Dreadful news. Terrible loss to the housing law world but to the world generally. Go in peace Giles.
Checking Nearly Legal to see if Giles had analysed or even expressed a view on a tricky issue had become a essential part of legal research on housing issues. I was an avid follower of Nearly Legal even though Giles’ posts sometimes left me with a vague sense of inadequacy. I was relieved to read somebody who worked with Giles describe him as having a sparkling intellect. He added huge value to the housing law arena and will be greatly missed even by many who never had the good fortune to meet him in person.
Bad news travels slowly to Bristol, so I have just come onto the blog and read the above, rather than being entertained and educated on an issue in housing law which I know Giles would have known more about than I do. I’m shocked to hear the news, and heartened to read some of the tributes to him above. I want to add my own, as I didn’t see many posts from opponents.
I knew Giles principally from the other side of housing litigation, but that perhaps makes my respect for him all the greater. He was one of the very few lawyers whose view on a difficult housing point I would always want to know, even when I expected to disagree with it, so NL has been for many years one of my best sources of commentary on challenging points of law. NL was, and remains an extraordinary public service (and hopefully will continue to provide commentary, if anyone has the dedication to keep it up?). Giles had the rare gift of combining encyclopaedic knowledge with clarity, humour and judgment. He also cared deeply for tenants and was no friend of sharp practice, whether by landlords, lawyers, or claims farmers. Fortunately, I was only ever against him on a few cases, but we were in touch occasionally, principally about the funding of disrepair claims a subject about which we agreed.
On a personal note, when tenants came to me needing help with London housing issues, I would refer them to Giles and Anthony Gold without hesitation.
Housing law is much poorer without him. My sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.