A government scheme to restore free expert legal advice for people facing eviction or home repossession has gone live from today. The Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service expects to help some 38,000 people a year.
The advice will be available from the moment a written notice, which could be in the form of an email or letter, is received by a tenant or homeowner. Individuals will also be able to have legal representation in court, regardless of their financial circumstances, which will be offered on the day of hearings, the Ministry of Justice said.
The scheme is funded under an additional £10m a year promised last year for housing legal aid.
Justice minister Lord Bellamy said: ‘Having access to the right legal advice at the earliest point possible is crucial for those who face losing their home, to ensure they have the support and help they need. We are creating this new service so that fewer people lose their home and can get help with their finances and resolve issues before they escalate.’
The Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service has been designed to support wider government work to reduce homelessness and improve the private rented sector for responsible renters and good faith landlords through the Renters’ (Reform) Bill.
Executive director of public impact at the National Housing Federation Rhys Moore said it was ‘positive to see the government providing legal support for people facing eviction or repossession’.
He added: ‘Access to advice and support as early as possible is crucial to helping people navigate the legal system at a time of immense stress and difficulty.’
The Law Society 'in principle' supports the scheme, president Lubna Shuja said, adding: 'It is also a welcome recognition of the value of early advice and the need to address a client’s problems holistically. We cannot overestimate the value of early legal advice as it can help address problems before they escalate, preventing cases from going to court unnecessarily.'
'However, we have continuing concerns as to whether the system will be effective, and about the increasing legal aid advice deserts caused by long-term underfunding of the system. The scheme is provided by solicitors and therefore contingent on the number of solicitors able to do the work. With rising legal aid advice deserts, there are fewer and fewer legal aid practitioners able to give legal advice.
'Those facing eviction will not be able to access vital legal advice if there is no legal advice provider in their area,' Shuja said.
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