Lawyers have paid tribute to housing law giant and legal blogger Giles Peaker, who died last weekend following a short illness.
Peaker, admitted in 2008, was a partner at Anthony Gold Solicitors. He was one of the architects of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act, which came into force in 2019 to ensure rented houses and flats were ‘fit for human habitation’. The legislation empowered tenants to take action against their landlords to fix hazards that pose a serious threat to their health or wellbeing.
In 2018, he won the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award for housing. He told the ceremony that housing was the foundation for 'virtually everything', such as education, mental and physical health and employment. 'If you have not got a safe home, everything is at risk,' he said.
Peaker was also widely known for his popular housing law blog, Nearly Legal, which he set up in 2006.
Reposted with permission from Anthony Gold Solicitors:
We are deeply sorry to announce that one of our partners, Giles Peaker, passed away over the weekend of 18-19 April 2026. Our deepest condolences go to his family and friends at this most difficult of times.
Giles was a leading lawyer, renowned for his expertise in all aspects of housing law. He advised and represented leaseholders and tenants on build defects, fire safety issues, repossession, poor housing conditions and homelessness, dedicating his career to helping those most in need.
As well as his client work, Giles worked tirelessly to improve the rights of individuals to good housing. He played a major part in drafting the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, which provided a significant step forward in ensuring tenants have a right to healthy and safe housing.
Giles was also a regular commentator on housing law in the media and the founder and editor of ‘Nearly Legal’ – a specialist and much-loved housing law used by lawyers, judges, academics and members of the public alike.
Legal 500 described Giles as 'an outstanding lawyer – dazzlingly clever, persistent, highly effective and cares deeply about his area of law'. Chambers and Partners said he was 'fantastic' and 'hugely knowledgeable and enthusiastic'. But more important to Giles were the many glowing testimonials he received from his clients.
Giles’ colleagues knew him for his dry wit, immense knowledge and kindness, and as someone who was always willing to give his time to colleagues and to anyone who approached him with a problem.
He died following a short illness and is survived by his wife, Beth.
Andrew Brookes, the head of Anthony Gold’s housing department, said: 'Giles was an inspirational colleague who I worked with for 20 years. His knowledge was legendary and his passion for housing law unmatched. His Nearly Legal blog was both widely used and loved for its clarity, wit and breadth. He was instrumental in drafting the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation Act). He will be sorely missed by all of us at Anthony Gold and in the wider housing law world.’
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