Thomas is an experienced property dispute resolution lawyer with a primary focus on resolving complex conflicts. His work in property litigation spans a broad range of landlord and tenant issues for both residential and commercial property owners. He represents developers, retail businesses, property managers, homeowners, charities, trusts and social landlords facing disputes related to property rights or commercial property agreements.
Thomas also has expertise in obtaining injunctions, dealing with anti-social behaviour and tenancy breaches, pursuing rent arrears, as well as conducting residential possession claims and tenancy deposit disputes. He is regularly instructed on proceedings against squatters, commercial forfeiture proceedings, service charge disputes, lease renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, commercial dilapidations, adverse possession, and restrictive covenant disputes.
Thomas represents clients with property ownership disputes arising between business partners, family co-ownerships, co-habiting friends or couples including express declarations of trust, estoppel claims, and claims under Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA).
Thomas is our primary lawyer and ‘go-to’ person. His strengths in all areas of housing litigation and advisory work are of premier league standard. Thomas has excellent client care skills and puts his client first every time.
Housing Association, Tenancy and Housing Management
Terminating multiple commercial leases, this has been a new area for us, and it has been a pleasure to work with you on it – thank you.
Developer client, commercial lease dispute
Thomas has remained on hand and supportive throughout, ready and waiting to receive instructions or give advice whenever we have required it. Thomas’ client care towards us is of the highest standard and when some of our more complex matters require his involvement he is always committed to getting the desired outcome.
Housing Association, residential injunction and possession client
If you need an experienced and diligent property solicitor, you need Thomas. He is very courteous and attentive to his briefs. He uses his knowledge and experience to guide his clients through the complexities of impossible tenants and the law. He goes above and beyond to personally ensure that the interests of his clients are protected. With his service we were able to legally evict extremely difficult occupiers of our property in a very peculiar and complex case.
Mr OA, residential possession client
Expertise
Residential Property
- Adverse possession
- Possession claims
- Service charge arrears
- Forfeiture
- Tenancy surrenders
- Landlords & tenants
- Estates & trusts
- High-value disputes
Charity/Social Housing
Commercial Property
- Commercial property disputes
- Lease breaches
- Break notices
- Dilapidations
- Forfeiture
- Business lease renewals
- Redevelopment disputes
- Landlord & Tenant Act 1954
Property Ownership Disputes
- Property ownership disputes
- Co-ownership disputes
- Constructive trust claims
- TOLATA applications
- Beneficial ownership
- Orders for sale
- Insolvency-related property disputes
- Family-related property disputes
Experience
Residential Property
- Acted for an individual in respect of a complex adverse possession claim of a stretch of land behind his garden. The matter was heard at the First-tier Tribunal, and the client was awarded possessory title of the land as well as a costs order.
- Acted for the beneficiaries of an estate in bringing disputed residential possession proceedings involving various hearings and a number of defendants in relation to residential flats in a London building with a combined value of £1.5m.
- Successfully forfeited a residential long lease on behalf of a freeholder against a tenant of a flat for substantial service charge arrears.
- Obtained possession against an unauthorised occupier who refused to vacate a property owned by the trust set up for the benefit of a vulnerable individual with health challenges
- Successfully negotiated the surrender of a common law tenancy on behalf of a tenant in occupation of a £12m residential property in prime central London.
- Thomas regularly advises on and presents seminars on residential property disputes court procedures and changes in legislation.
- Thomas appeared on BBC Radio Oxford in April 2016 discussing letting agent fees, the Consumer Protection Act 2015 and its implication on residential tenancies
Charity/Social Housing
Commercial Property
- Acted for a family who owned substantial farmland with a value of £15m in obtaining vacant possession of their land for development, which was secured under the Agriculture Holdings Act 1986. This involved advising on the implications of an AHA tenancy against a Farm Business Tenancy, considering historic documents as no tenancy existed, considering the implications of succession in respect of the tenant and potential applications to the Tribunal, calculating compensation to the farmers and serving notices pursuant to Case B of the Act and in the alternative Section 6 of the Act.
- Acted for a landowner to terminate a complex commercial lease and sub-lease in time for a £2 million property sale to a developer. The tenant and sub-tenant of a car showroom failed to vacate at the date of termination. Was instructed to prepare notices and to advise on the termination and the removal of 150 cars in time for the sale to take place.
- Acted for former tenants of commercial premises in a million-pound dilapidations dispute.
- Acted for a landowner terminating multiple commercial leases of retail units in readiness for a £6m redevelopment project.
- Acted for a freeholder in relation to a dispute with a GP surgery over whether the surgery had acquired a lease under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 or if they had a licence.
- Issued numerous applications in the County Court in respect of opposed and unopposed business lease renewals pursuant to sections 25 and 26 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
- Acted for a well-known discount high-street store in relation to new non-compete clauses and restrictions, which the landlord had inserted into the new lease.
- Acted for a tenant in relation to an opposed lease renewal as the landlord had failed to provide evidence of their reliance on Ground (f) which went to trial.
- Acted for a tenant company in pursuing a claim for wrongful forfeiture and damage to business against their landlord.
Property Ownership Disputes
- Acting for a church in a dispute in the High Court with local trustees in relation to the ownership of a church chapel which involves historic deeds, a complex background of the church and its relationship with local trustees, use of the chapel for church purposes, Charities Act 2011, breach of trust and cy-pres schemes.
- Successfully granted a possession order against an occupier who claimed she had a constructive trust relating to alleged promises made by the deceased property owner.
- Advised on a property dispute between business owners who owned a £2m hotel equally and advised on applications to court under TOLATA. The parties decided to pursue mediation.
- Acted for a property owner in a co-ownership dispute with her ex-partner relating to a small property portfolio and was successfully awarded an order for sale of the properties as well as an order relating to the beneficial share and equitable accounting.
- Acted for a widow in relation to a beneficial ownership dispute with her mother-in-law over a £1m property which was owned by her deceased husband and mother-in-law jointly. The parties decided to pursue mediation.
- Acted for a trustee in bankruptcy seeking possession of a portfolio of occupied properties previously owned by the bankrupt.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Member of The Property Litigation Association
Career
Thomas qualified as a solicitor in 2011. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2025, he worked at the following firms:
- Blake Morgan
- Marsons Solicitors