Housing Referrals

What is the scope of your housing service?

We carry out all permitted work within the scope of our Housing Legal Aid contract, which includes:

1. Landlords seeking possession: We advise tenants and mortgagors from receipt of notice until warrant. We represent Defendants in possession proceedings where there are at least moderate prospects of success.
2. Homelessness: Where it is no longer reasonable for someone to reside in their home, we are able to provide advice, assistance and, where relevant, representation. We strongly urge referrals in these matters at the earliest stages as the time limits are incredibly short.
3. Disrepair: We advise, assist and represent tenants where there are disrepair/housing condition issues.
4. Illegal eviction: including landlord harassment.
5. Anti-Social Behaviour: Injunction/Committal Application Defences

How much capacity do you have to accept clients?

When a client is eligible for Legal Aid, and is within our geographical area, we do not turn away any case that falls within our Legal Aid contract

Where do you provide housing services?

We generally accept all cases from Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Wiltshire and the surrounding areas, although we do sometimes accept out-of-area referrals where providers lack capacity.

How much support should we provide before making a referral?

It would be easier for our team to ensure a consistent service if you could avoid assisting clients by drafting defences or applications to suspend warrants (unless the warrant is due to be executed in less than a week) or by providing homelessness casework (beyond sending an email to the local authority to request a review of any and all decisions made to date). Because access to the advice and representation of a qualified and experienced solicitor is free in most cases, we strongly encourage you to refer the above matters to us, for the benefit of your clients.

What notice period do you need to support a client?

When we receive a referral for a hearing that is less than a week away, we may not have capacity to offer an appointment ahead of the hearing and may refer the client to our Court Duty Advisers for advice and representation.

If the client qualifies for Legal Aid, and the matter is adjourned with directions, we will then apply to represent them in their matter.

What client information should we provide when making a referral?

When you refer a client, please send their name, email and phone number to us with brief background notes. It is helpful for us to have copies of the relevant documents, where possible.

We then obtain the client’s signatures and means evidence in order to assist them.

Where clients are vulnerable, we do request assistance in obtaining signatures and means evidence from the referring partner.