Introduction
Chris Bevan is Associate Professor in Property Law, Durham Law School. Prior to entering academia, Chris practised as a common law barrister specialising in matters of land, housing and family law. Chris graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2007 with degrees in both Modern Languages and Law and was awarded his MA (Cantab.) in 2012. Chris has experience as a Tutor on the BPTC (the barrister professional training course) and maintains strong connections with the world of legal practice. Chris is Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy; author of the acclaimed textbook, Land Law (2nd Edn published March 2020); won ‘Lecturer of the Year’ in 2017 and, in 2015, was awarded the prestigious Lord Dearing Award for outstanding, world-class contribution to enhancing the student experience. Chris is an invited member of the esteemed Academic Panel at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square Chambers, London and, in 2018, was nominated to Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts.
Chris’ research interests are situated on the intersection between land, housing and social welfare law. Chris has published widely on matters of domestic land law, social housing, housing legislation in its broadest sense and homelessness. Chris’ scholarship has appeared in leading law journals including The Modern Law Review, Law Quarterly Review, The Cambridge Law Journal, The Conveyancer and Property Lawyer and Child and Family Law Quarterly.
Specialisms
Land Law and Property
Housing & Homelessness Law and Policy
Trusts and Equity
Publications
Authored books
Bevan, Chris (2020). Land Law (2nd Ed), Oxford University Press.
Chapters in book
Bevan, Chris (2015). Challenging Home as a Concept in Modern Property Law post-Stack and Kernott. In Modern Studies In Property Law Volume 8. Barr, Warren Hart.
Journal Articles
Bevan, Chris (2021). Governing “The Homeless” in English Homelessness Legislation: Foucauldian Governmentality and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. Housing, Theory & Society
Bevan, Chris (2021). Reconceptualising Homelessness Legislation in England. The Modern Law Review
Bevan, Chris, & Darlington, Elizabeth (2019). Challenging a TR1 Express Declaration of Trust: Setting the Record Straight. Family Law
Bevan, Chris (2019). Improving Housing Conditions in the Private and Social Rented Sectors: The Homes (Fit for Human Habitation) Act 2018 ‐ Fit for Habitation but Fit for Purpose?. The Modern Law Review 82(5): 897-921.
Bevan, Chris (2019). Opening Pandora's box?: recreation pure and simple: easements in the Supreme Court: Regency Villas Title Ltd v Diamond Resorts (Europe) Ltd. Conveyancer and Property Lawyer 83(1): 44-59.
Bevan, Chris (2019). The search for common intention: the status of an executed, express declaration of trust post-Stack and Jones. Law Quarterly Review 135: 660-681.
Bevan, Chris (2018). The Doctrine of Benefit and Burden: Reforming the Law of Covenants and the Numerus Clausus 'Problem'. The Cambridge Law Journal 77(1): 72-96.
Bevan, Chris & Laurie, Emma (2017). The Housing and Planning Act 2016: Rewarding the Aspiration of Homeownership?. The Modern Law Review 80(4): 661-684.
Bevan, Chris (2016). Overriding and over-extended?: actual occupation: a call to orthodoxy. Conveyancer & Property Lawyer 2: 104-117.
Bevan, Chris & Cowan, Dave (2016). Uses of Macro Social Theory: A Social Housing Case Study. The Modern Law Review 79(1): 76-101.
Bevan, Chris (2015). The Damages Dog and its Horrible Bite: Statutory Damages for Unlawful Eviction. The Conveyancer & Property Lawyer 442-450.
Bevan, Chris (2014). The Localism Act 2011: The Hollow Housing Law Revolution. The Modern Law Review 77(6): 964.
Bevan, Chris (2013). Disclosure of sexual abuse in private family proceedings: reconciling the irreconcilable? Re A: a casenote. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 35(3): 379.
Bevan, Chris (2013). Interpreting Statutory Purpose - Lessons fromYemshawvHounslow London Borough Council. The Modern Law Review 76(4): 742.
Bevan, Chris (2013). Living ‘together’ apart: s.176 of the Housing Act 1996. The Conveyancer & Property Lawyer334-344.
Bevan, Chris (2013). Self-represented litigants: the overlooked and unintended consequence of legal aid reform. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 35(1): 43.
Bevan, Chris (2013). The Role of Intention in Non-marriage Cases post-Hudson v Leigh. The Child and Family Law Quarterly 80-95.