EXPERTISE

Business & Property

Vilma regularly appears in the Business and Property Courts in the North East dealing with the following:

  • contractual disputes
  • business tenancies
  • landlord and tenant (commercial and residential)
  • covenants and easements
  • rights of way
  • boundary disputes
  • nuisance
  • trespass
  • real property matters

Housing 

Vilma is a recognised specialist in Housing Law in the North East and across the North, with a client base that includes most major housing associations and local authorities. She also acts for tenants and private landlords in housing related matters.

Vilma’s housing practice is varied including:

  • possession claims
  • Anti-Social Behaviour injunctions against both adults and minors
  • Closure Orders
  • succession claims
  • right to buy
  • homelessness
  • allocation
  • unlawful eviction
  • disrepair
  • tenancy fraud
  • assignment
  • committals

In relation to possession claims, Vilma has a particular specialism in cases involving discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, public law defences (including human rights) and capacity issues.

In addition to this, Vilma has extensive experience in dealing with matters in the First-Tier Tribunal in relation to appeals against Civil Penalty Notices, Improvement and Prohibition Notices, and other enforcement measures under the Housing Act 2004 and the Housing and Planning Act 2016. She also deals with claims arising out of the Land Compensation Act 1973.

Where housing matters give rise to judicial review challenges or appeals to the Administrative Court, Vilma has been able to provide her clients with representation in these areas too.

APPOINTMENTS

  • 2021 - appointed as a Deputy District Judge on the North Eastern Circuit.
  • 2019 - appointed to the First-Tier Tribunal as a Fee-paid Tribunal Judge, deployed to the Social Entitlement Chamber.

LECTURES & SEMINARS

Vilma regularly lectures to solicitors and other professionals on all aspects of her practise areas. She provides, on request, tailored in-house seminars. Most recently, she provided a local authority team with bespoke training on the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) hearing of appeals concerning Improvement Notices and Civil Penalty Notices.

EDUCATION & AWARDS

  • University of Leeds LLB Law
  • Mars-Jones Award, Gray’s Inn
  • Start Cunningham Macaskie KC Award, Gray’s Inn
  • Prince of Wales Scholarship, Gray’s Inn

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Vilma is Direct Access registered and happy to accept instructions from the public.

Clerking team

Steve Walker

Lead Civil Clerk

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0191 245 9589

Civil & Criminal Silks' Clerk

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0113 3235 955

Lead Employment Clerk & Civil Clerk

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0191 300 9359

Civil Clerk

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0191 245 9556

Clerk

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01642 247 569
  • "Vilma is well prepared, confident and very thorough in her preparation of a case"

    Social Housing, Chambers & Partners 2025

  • "A practical and knowledgeable junior"

    Social Housing, Legal 500 2025

  • "Vilma Vodanovic is a remarkable advocate. Pleadings are always on point and she has an encyclopedic knowledge of housing law." "... is an excellent advocate. She is very approachable." "Vilma Vodanovic is great with clients. She understands the issues of a case very well"

    Social Housing, Chambers & Partners 2024

  • "Vilma gets to grips with the facts of a case quickly. She has a serene yet confident approach to dealing with matters, and explains issues in a very client friendly way"

    Legal 500 2024

  • "Vilma comes across very well to the client, has a good grasp of the instructions and the issues involved, and gets a good outcome"

    Social Housing, Chambers UK 2023

  • "Vilma is knowledgeable, and her advice is excellent: detailed and diligent. Ranked: Tier 1 "

    Social Housing, Legal 500 2023

  • "A go-to counsel for complex housing litigation. Exceptionally efficient and knowledgeable, she is an asset to have in any defence team"

    Chambers & Partners 2022

  • "A razor-sharp advocate"

    Legal 500 2021

  • "An expert in disability and public law issues arising in housing cases. Her work includes possession and disrepair claims, as well as disputes relating to HMOs"."She is an excellent advocate and exudes determination"

    Chambers & Partners 2021

  • "The service she provides is exemplary and she is great to deal with"

    Chambers & Partners 2020

  • "She has formidable advocacy skills and comprehensive legal knowledge"

    Legal 500 2018

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