A law centre that lost two of its biggest court duty schemes after 16 years following a procurement process for revamped housing legal aid contracts says its ‘unwavering dedication’ to serving the needs of its community remains stronger than ever.

Under the old housing possession court duty scheme, South West London Law Centres provided emergency advice to tenants facing eviction at Croydon, Wandsworth and Kingston county courts.

The old scheme was replaced by the housing loss prevention advice service (HLPAS) last month. While SWLLC will continue to provide court duty services in Kingston under the new scheme, its bids for Croydon and Wandsworth were unsuccessful.

The centre said it had gained invaluable insights from its court duty experience at Croydon and Wandsworth. The biggest lesson: addressing housing issues at their root is pivotal.

‘Our journey has shown us that legal challenges aren’t isolated, they’re threads interwoven into the lives of individuals,’ the centre said. ‘From housing woes to financial struggles, benefits, employment issues to immigration concerns, these facets are intricately connected. Building on this understanding, we’re expanding our work to include new services to tackle these complexities comprehensively before they reach a state of emergency.’

The centre is redesigning its intake process so it can meet clients at an earlier stage in their case. Grant funding from Wandsworth and Merton councils has enabled the centre to recruit two paralegals to staff a weekly housing advice line and provide early legal advice.

Chief executive Patrick Marples said: ‘While our physical presence in some courts may alter, our commitment to helping people facing housing difficulties and other legal problems will never waver. Our goal remains unchanged – helping local people access the justice they deserve, safeguarding their rights, and being part of their process to unlock sustainable stability.’

The new HLPAS contracts, which came into force on 1 August, run until 31 August 2024. Providers were procured in 101 of the 105 Legal Aid Agency areas. The current list of providers shows no providers for Crewe, Hull and Isle of Wight. In-court services are available at Birkenhead and Wigan until 31 October. The agency told the Gazette it is working with local courts and legal aid providers to secure provision in areas yet to receive compliant bids.

Information on the procurement timeline for HLPAS from September 2024 will be published this autumn.