Victoria Smith

Partner

Areas of expertise

Victoria acts for landlords in both England and Wales, advising on a wide range of housing management matters, including housing conditions claims, complex possession proceedings and anti-social behaviour matters involving intricate vulnerabilities and Equality Act considerations.

Victoria has expertise in advising RSLs on obligations set out within the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, accompanying regulation, and the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

Victoria regularly assists social landlords with drafting tenancy agreements and occupation contracts, along with updating policies and procedures in light of evolving housing legislation and regulation. She also advises social landlords on matters involving the Ombudsman and provides advice and training on a range of topics including Awaab’s Law, the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 and the Crime and Policing Act 2026.

In addition, Victoria provides specialist advice and support with tackling tenancy fraud and assists landlords with obtaining possession orders and substantial Unlawful Profit Orders.

Experience

Victoria started her legal career in Wales, before relocating to London. Over the years, Victoria has gained extensive experience advising social landlords in both England and Wales.

Victoria has a passion for tenancy fraud and has successfully assisted a number of large RPs with obtaining Unlawful Profit Orders. One of which, was for over £145,000, said to be the second largest of its kind at the time. Others have been in excess of £75,000.

Publications

Victoria regularly writes articles for online publication and contributes to our Housing Management Brief, as well as heading up our Housing Management Brief for Wales.

Victoria has featured in Inside Housing, writing on topics including the Housing Ombudsman and Renting Homes Wales.

Victoria appeared on the Housing Ombudsman’s Podcast, interviewing Richard Blakeway on the Housing Ombudsman’s Spotlight Report on noise complaints.

Conferences

Victoria regularly speaks at events and conferences, as well as presenting webinars and delivering client training. Recent examples include:

Chairing a webinar on ASB, interviewing speakers from the APPG and Resolve.
Delivering training to Echelon on the Housing Ombudsman’s Spotlight Reports
Speaking on tackling tenancy fraud at the National Investigations Conference and Shires Fraud Forum.
Organising and speaking at a Housing Fraud Conference, held in partnership with HTFI.

Professional memberships

Victoria is a Wales Committee Member for the Social Housing Law Association (SHLA). SHLA is a non-commercial organisation which aims to further the interest of social landlords and promote and develop better solutions to the legal problems faced by social landlords.

Notable cases

Victoria assisted in the matters of Coastal Housing Group Ltd & Others v Mitchell & Others [2024] EWHC 2831 (Ch) and Beacon Cymru Group Ltd & Others v Mitchell & Others [2025] EWHC 2477 (Ch) where complex issues of statutory interpretation, unjust enrichment and landlords' rights under Article 1 of Protocol 1 (A1P1) of the European Convention on Human Rights were addressed.

Victoria acted on behalf of a large social landlord in possession proceedings against a tenant who had unlawfully sublet their home. Following a successful trial, a possession order was secured, along with costs and an unlawful profit order in excess of £145,000.

Acted on behalf of a Registered Provider within possession proceedings brought against a tenant who had been unlawfully subletting their home for numerous years. At trial, we obtained an outright possession order, money judgment, costs and an Unlawful Profit Order of over £78,000.

Worked in partnership with a Council to obtain a without notice injunction order with an exclusion against two individuals who had taken over the homes of vulnerable council tenants. The offence, known as cuckooing, saw the two individuals coerce at least four vulnerable tenants into being allowed into their homes, using violence and abusive and intimidating behaviour. Shortly after the injunction order was granted one of the individuals breached the injunction order which resulted in them receiving a suspended prison sentence.

Client Testimonials

“Huge thanks Vicky – Thank you for handling a tricky case very effectively.”

“I just wanted to write to say thank you for all the help we have received from Vicky and the team. The feedback from everyone who has worked with them has been exceptional. [Their approach has been] collaborative, pragmatic and dynamic.”