Buying, selling or financing a property is one of the most significant financial decisions most individuals and families will ever make. Whether you are purchasing a Prime Central London home, acquiring an investment property, refinancing a portfolio, securing development land or buying a country estate, specialist legal advice can help protect your investment and ensure your transaction progresses smoothly.
At Streathers, our Residential Real Estate team advises homeowners, entrepreneurs, investors, developers, family offices, private banks and international clients on a broad range of residential property matters across London and throughout England.
Led by Partners Laura Owens and James Danaher, our team combines decades of experience with a practical, commercially focused approach. We regularly advise on high-value and complex residential property transactions involving sophisticated financing arrangements, development opportunities, challenging title issues and premium residential assets.
Residential Property Expertise Tailored to Your Needs
Our team advises on:
- Freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposals
- Prime and Super Prime Central London property transactions
- Country houses and rural estates
- Residential development opportunities
- Property finance and refinancing
- Investment property portfolios
- Leasehold enfranchisement and lease extensions
- Lease variations and licences for alterations
- Title and Lease rectifications and corrections
- Ground rent investments
- Shared ownership transactions
- Auction sales and purchases
- High-value transactions for UK and international clients
From family homes to multi-million-pound acquisitions, we help clients navigate every stage of the property lifecycle.
The Hidden Risks in Residential Property Transactions
A property can appear perfect during a viewing, but legal investigations often reveal issues that would not otherwise be obvious.
Common concerns include:
- Defective leases
- Unauthorised alterations
- Restrictive covenants
- Rights of way
- Boundary disputes
- Listed building restrictions
- Planning and building regulation issues
- Unregistered land
- Management company concerns
- Complex lender requirements
The key is not necessarily avoiding these issues altogether, but understanding them fully and ensuring the right protections are in place before contracts are exchanged.
Prime Central London Property Specialists
The Prime Central London market presents unique opportunities and challenges.
Many transactions involve:
- Listed buildings
- Short lease issues
- Complex ownership structures
- Development potential
- Bridging finance
- International purchasers
- Tight transactional timetables
Our team understands the level of discretion, responsiveness and technical expertise required to successfully complete transactions in one of the world’s most competitive property markets.
James Danaher, Senior Partner
As Senior Partner of Streathers, James Danaher is one of the firm’s most experienced residential property lawyers and a trusted adviser to high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, investors, developers and private banks.
Having joined Streathers as a trainee in 2001, James qualified into the Property Department and became a Partner in 2010. He was appointed Senior Partner in 2021 and also serves as the firm’s Anti-Money Laundering Compliance and Reporting Officer and Compliance Officer for Legal Practice.
James advises on:
- Prime Central London acquisitions and disposals
- Residential investment portfolios
- Site acquisitions and development projects
- High-value residential purchases
- Remortgages and refinancing
- Ground rent investments
- Exclusivity agreements
- Lease variations
- Auction acquisitions and disposals
Recent Experience
James has recently advised on:
- The £50 million acquisition of a substantial London property.
- A £20 million acquisition of a new family home for a successful entrepreneur.
- Site acquisition, development and sale of prestigious properties throughout the Home Counties.
- The acquisition of a large portfolio of new-build investment properties for a buy-to-let investor.
- Lending arrangements for private banks financing high-value London property acquisitions.
- The acquisition and subsequent auction disposal of a substantial ground rent investment portfolio.
James is known for providing practical and commercial advice that extends beyond the legal documents, helping clients make informed decisions throughout the transaction.
Laura Owens, Partner and Head of Residential Real Estate
Laura Owens specialises in prime and super-prime residential property transactions.
She advises high-net-worth individuals, investors and developers on:
- Prime Central London acquisitions and disposals
- High-value freehold and leasehold transactions
- Development site acquisitions
- Residential investment transactions
- Property finance matters
- Developer sales programmes
- Unregistered land
- Title rectification and registration issues
Laura’s practice is built around the principle that complex transactions should be presented clearly and managed efficiently.
Recent Experience
Laura has recently acted on:
- The £4.4 million acquisition of a Grade II Listed Mews House within the Hyde Park Estate.
- The £6.75 million acquisition of an Edwardian terrace comprising 18 flats, involving bridging finance and simultaneous security arrangements to form the core asset in a family office investment portfolio.
- The £8.5 million acquisition of a landmark residence in Notting Hill.
- Representing a high net worth family in connection with their acquisition of a £9.4 million new build residence in Knightsbridge with structuring considerations for non-UK residents
Janine Gibbs, Senior Associate
With more than 20 years’ experience, Janine Gibbs advises clients on:
- High-value residential acquisitions
- Refinancing projects
- Development transactions
- Freehold and leasehold matters
- Complex title issues
- Prime Central London property
Janine is recognised in the Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide and is valued for her commercial approach and attention to detail.
Sarah Buttleman, Consultant Solicitor
Sarah brings more than 35 years’ experience as a property lawyer and was previously a Partner at a respected West End law firm before joining Streathers as a Consultant Solicitor.
She specialises in:
- Residential property acquisitions and disposals
- Residential development matters
- Freehold and leasehold property
- Investment property transactions
- Refinancing arrangements
- Complex title issues
Sarah is known for her practical, client-focused approach and deep understanding of the residential property market. Her expertise has been recognised through Streathers’ inclusion in The Legal 500, where she is specifically mentioned in relation to the firm’s residential property practice.
Recent Experience
Sarah recently advised on the purchase of a £1.75 million leasehold apartment where significant issues arose concerning the lease structure, management arrangements and financing requirements. Through detailed investigations and practical problem-solving, she helped guide the transaction through to a successful completion.
Claire Joseph, Solicitor
Claire Joseph has more than 20 years’ experience advising individuals on residential property matters.
She acts on:
- Sales and purchases
- Remortgages
- Transfers of equity
- Lease extensions
- Deeds of variation
Claire also specialises in Wills, Probate and Lasting Powers of Attorney, allowing her to advise clients where property ownership intersects with estate planning and family wealth considerations.
Clients particularly value her warm, down-to-earth approach and ability to make complex matters straightforward.
Akaliya Balakrishnan, Solicitor
Akaliya Balakrishnan joined Streathers in 2024 and advises individuals and lenders on a broad range of residential property matters.
Her work includes:
- Freehold sales and purchases
- Leasehold sales and purchases
- Remortgages
- Transfers of equity
- Residential conveyancing
- Property finance transactions
Akaliya combines technical expertise with a proactive and responsive approach, ensuring transactions progress efficiently and clients remain informed throughout.
Recent experience
Akaliya recently assisted with a residential development opportunity in Surrey involving land with the potential for eight new homes.
The matter required investigation of:
- Access rights
- Restrictive covenants
- Development constraints
- Option arrangements
Her work helped provide the client with a clear understanding of the risks and opportunities before proceeding.
A Team Built Around Your Objectives
At Streathers, we understand that a property transaction is rarely just about buying or selling a property.
Our clients are often thinking about:
- Long-term investment growth
- Family wealth planning
- Future development opportunities
- Portfolio expansion
- Refinancing strategies
- Succession planning
By understanding these wider objectives, we can provide advice that supports not only the transaction in front of us but also our clients’ longer-term goals.
Why Choose Streathers?
Our Residential Real Estate team have a wealth of experience across the market, with your appointed advisor dealing with your transaction from initial instruction to completion with a focus on providing advice directly and accessibly via written reports and in person meetings.
We combine technical excellence with commercial awareness, ensuring clients receive clear, pragmatic advice tailored to their circumstances.
Whether you are buying your first home, acquiring a Prime Central London residence, expanding a property portfolio or pursuing a development opportunity, our team provides strategic guidance at every step.
Speak to Our Residential Real Estate Team
For advice on:
- Residential conveyancing
- Prime Central London property
- Luxury home acquisitions
- Residential property finance
- Property investment
- Development opportunities
- Leasehold property matters
- High-value residential real estate
please contact James Danaher, Laura Owens, Janine Gibbs, Sarah Buttleman, Claire Joseph, Akaliya Balakrishnan or a member of the Streathers Residential Real Estate team.
