Jenny trained at TV Edwards LLP and has worked for the firm since 2011. Jenny specialises in a variety of areas of housing law, including homelessness cases (such as challenging gatekeeping by local authorities, conducting reviews and county court appeals of negative decisions by the local authority and challenging the suitability of accommodation), disrepair claims, possession proceedings brought on grounds of rent arrears, sub-letting and nuisance and anti-social behaviour injunctions (including committal proceedings).
Jenny also undertakes Community Care work including assisting people with physical and mental health difficulties in obtaining Care Act assessments and challenging cuts to care packages, support homeless families with children, and challenging the suitability of asylum support accommodation. She enjoys undertaking work for young people in order to ensure that they are receiving appropriate support from the local authority under their Children Act duties. Jenny has a developing mental capacity practice where she undertakes challenges to unlawful deprivations of liberty under section 21A Mental Capacity Act 2005, welfare decisions and deals with disputes over capacity.
Jenny’s particular area of interest is possession proceedings or anti-social behaviour injunctions where the person requires care and support and ultimately the case may need to go to the Court of Protection. Jenny is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor on cases where clients lack capacity to provide instructions in these matters and due to her specialism in all three areas of law, she is able to see the case through from beginning to end. The provides invaluable oversight to the case at an early stage.
Notable cases
- R on the application of Turley v. London Borough of Wandsworth: Jenny acted for the Appellant, Ms Turley, who was the long-term partner of the sole tenant of a four-bedroom property. The tenancy was a secure tenancy under the Housing Act 1985, and the landlord was the London Borough of Wandsworth, the First Respondent. In 2010 there was a breakdown in the relationship between the Appellant and the tenant, and in December of that year he moved out of the property. He returned in January 2012 but by then he was seriously ill, and he died in March 2012. Since the Appellant did not meet the relevant conditions to succeed the tenancy because she had not been living with the tenant for 12 months prior to his death, the local authority served her with a Notice to Quit. Jenny brought a challenge to that decision on behalf of the Appellant based on articles 8 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (‘ECHR’): the right to respect for private and family life. This was on the basis that the difference in treatment between spouses/civil partners and cohabiting partners was not justified. The Appellant’s appeal was dismissed by the High Court, and she appealed to the Court of Appeal. Ultimately the Court of Appeal found that the difference in treatment between spouses and common law partners was justified.
- R on the application of MD v London Borough of Waltham Forest: Jenny acted for MD in a claim for judicial review against the local authority’s decision that MD was not entitled to accommodation and support under section 20 Children Act 1989 and subsequently when she turned 18 during the course of the judicial review to support as a former relevant child under the care leaving provisions. The matter went to a final hearing but settled at Court on the day where the local authority accepted that they should have accommodated MD under section 20 Children Act 1989, agreed to exercise their discretion to treat her as a former relevant child and pay costs.
Panel memberships
- Housing Law Practitioners’ Association
- Young Legal Aid Lawyers
Languages
- Conversational Spanish
Recommendations
“Jenny Mansell is an exceptional solicitor. She is hard-working, intelligent, and very determined. She has particular experience in representing clients who lack capacity and is often instructed by the Official Solicitor.”
– Legal 500 UK Solicitors Guide 2022
“I would like to say a great big thank you to TV Edwards and in particular Jenny Mansell- acted brilliant in our case and now me and my two daughters can live a healthy lifestyle again so soon with your help.”
“Always very helpful and understanding.“
