Sonia Rai
- Called: 1998
- soniarai@fivepaper.com
Profile
Sonia is an experienced property, including housing, specialist and has experience in all aspects of Property Litigation as well as Landlord and Tenant.
Sonia undertakes work in all areas of property litigation with a particular interest in real property disputes involving restrictive covenants and easements, leasehold enfranchisement and service charges.
Sonia deals effectively with all property disputes and well known for her robust cross-examination and concise closing submissions.
She is a pragmatic litigator and will argue her client’s case while also ensuring that the best course of action is taken for her client.
Sonia does accept direct access instructions in appropriate cases.
Before she came to the Bar, she was a qualified pharmacist.
Expertise
Property Litigation
Sonia has acted for corporate and individual owners of commercial and residential property in a wide range of property litigation. The cases that she has been involved in include rights of way, parking issues, restrictive covenants and easements, boundary disputes, and obtaining injunctions against persons unknown.
Recent Work
Brent LBC v Malvern Mews Tenants Association Ltd [2020] EWHC 1024 (Ch). Sonia represented Brent LBC to resist a negative declaration as to an easement.
Lennon v Elliott and Elliott (2020) Luton County Court, successfully reached an agreement as to the ownership and the responsibility for repair of a boundary wall.
LB Haringey v Zone Gym (2020) Highgate Corner Magistrates Court, successfully appeared for a local authority to close a gym in breach of Covid-19 regulations.
LB Tower Hamlets v PU (2020) obtaining an injunction against persons unknown from the basement of a block of flats.
Westminster CC v PU (2020) obtaining an injunction against persons unknown that behave anti-socially, from a housing estate.
Advising a leaseholder as to the extent of a covenant to park in the communal areas.
Advising an individual as to the legal remedies available in relation to rights of way and restrictive covenants in relation parking and obstructions.
Landlord and Tenant
Sonia has acted for landlords and tenants of commercial and residential property both in the private and public sectors. Her recent work includes leasehold enfranchisement, service charge disputes, possession, injunctions, forfeiture, unlawful subletting, tenancy fraud, and disrepair and dilapidations.
Recent Work
Successfully acted for a landlord in forfeiting a lease due to non-payment of service charges.
Successfully acted for a tenant in the appointment of a manager in the Lower Tier Tribunal.
Advising a landlord in regard to a modification of a term in the lease in relation to service charges.
Further Info
Qualifications
• B.Pharm (Hons) (2:1), The School of Pharmacy, London.
• Common practice Examination (with merit) The College of Law, Guildford;
• Bar Vocational Course of Court School of Law (very competent)
Articles and Publications
Sonia Rai has had articles relating to accommodating children published in the Journal of Housing Law.
Professional Memberships
Sonia is a member of the Property Bar Association and Social Housing Law Association