9:37 AM, 1st August 2023, About A year ago 27
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Tenants facing eviction in England and Wales can now get free legal advice – and access to a lawyer in court – from a new government-backed scheme.
Designed to help tenants avoid losing their home and from going through stressful and expensive court proceedings, renters can access the service when they receive a written notice from their landlord.
The service is also being offered to mortgage holders facing repossession from their mortgage lender.
Both the tenant and homeowner can have a lawyer represent them in court, regardless of how much money they have.
The 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 scheme also covers housing, debt and welfare benefit matters, including help with claiming benefits, reducing debts or accessing support services to improve health and wellbeing.”
The government is investing an extra £10 million a year into housing legal aid to provide this wrap-around care.
It is expected to help about 38,000 people a year to keep their homes and improve their lives.
Felicity Buchan, the Minister for Housing and Homelessness, said: “I want to ensure we are giving households all the help and support they need to stay in their homes.
“That is why we are spending £1 billion through the Homelessness Prevention Grant which can be used to work with landlords to prevent evictions.
“At the same time our Renters’ (Reform) Bill will give tenants more security in their homes by abolishing Section-21 ‘no fault’ evictions.
“This new service allows us to go even further and ensure tenants are getting the right legal help and support – all part of our wider work to prevent homelessness before it occurs.”
Propertymark’s chief executive, Nathan Emerson, said: “Propertymark recognise the UK Government is seeking to support people facing hardship or eviction, however, there needs to be an equitable system in place which is responsive, fair and progressive for all parties involved.
“We encourage the government to work more closely with landlords and agents to provide support or at least take measures to reverse the primary causes which sees many landlords selling and having to potentially evict tenants from their homes in the first place.”
He added: “It is also vital to consider the flip side of the coin whereby many landlords are also dealing with increased costs making it challenging to operate.
“Any new system must prove fair, sensible and workable for landlords, agents and tenants equally.
“We welcome the idea of having procedures that address concerns, keep pace with fast moving legislation and bringing swift resolutions on an individual basis.”
The Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service aims to prevent homelessness and improve the quality of the private rented sector by supporting responsible renters and landlords.
The scheme is part of the wider government agenda to reform the rental market through the Renters’ (Reform) Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.
The Bill will end the practice of ‘no-fault’ evictions, giving renters more security and confidence to challenge poor landlords without fear of losing their home.
For more information about the scheme and how to access it, visit the dedicated webpage.
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Martin Hicks
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Sign Up8:58 AM, 5th August 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 04/08/2023 - 18:55
Surely the problem is that even a good and long term tenant can suffer a change of circumstance and find themselves struggling to pay rent and other bills. Landlords are then seen as harsh for seeking possession, especially if the tenant is elderly or regarded as vulnerable. The tenant may not have been regarded as either at the commencement of the tenancy.
GlanACC
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Sign Up9:24 AM, 5th August 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by Martin Hicks at 05/08/2023 - 08:58
Absolutely 100% correct, I have actually had this happen. In my case I had to give the chap a bit of leeway as I had nothing to lose in doing so as it would have taken me 10 months or so to get him out (he had been a tenant for 5 years). He did get a new job after 4 months and I increased the rent a bit, but in the end wrote off 2 months rent - this was pragmatic solution as it was basically the cheapest option for me .
LaLo
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Sign Up9:52 AM, 5th August 2023, About A year ago
I rent out at below market value so tenants know they’re getting a bargain and stay put. I feel this is better than risking void periods - loss of rent - council tax payout - advertising costs - therefore less headaches!
john thompson
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Sign Up12:24 PM, 5th August 2023, About A year ago
So now the latest, costly, utterly moronic government handout scheme. Do the government actually realize most landlords want to keep good, law abiding, regular paying, long-term tenants, they are our customers, we like them! The ones we want rid of are anti-social scumbags, druggies, thieves, vandals and nonpayers. thats who we usually evict, or try to. Now the government's going to spend the fortune giving these scumbags, a free pass into court paid for by the taxpayer and landlords, which means most facing eviction will use this. It will likely drag on for months if not years, and who's in stress then? not the scumbag tenant having a right laugh! no it's the landlord, with more than likely no money coming in, somehow having to pay mortgages, insurance, repairs a maintenance. So does that mean the government will pay out for us landlords being in stress financially and mentally and give us a free court pass? of course they bloody won't. The good guys and taxpayers lose out as usual, and all the handouts go direct to the scumbags. This government is run by an absolute bunch of morons. That's definitely it now, the biggest nail in the coffin yet. I've got good tenants I want to keep, when they leave, the for sale board is going up ASAP. So another rental property less for your huge list of desperate and homeless tenants,
along with thousands more no doubt....Sunak, your stupidity knows no bounds.
LaLo
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Sign Up14:47 PM, 5th August 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by john thompson at 05/08/2023 - 12:24
Everything you say is so true but it goes further. L.L.s don’t evict for no good reason and the government must be aware of this. They are simply dumping their problem on to us as it gets it off their backs. God help us when the new legislation comes in and it won’t end there! L.Ls have no power/unions - action speaks louder than words but that’s not going to happen!
Stella
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Sign Up17:59 PM, 5th August 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by john thompson at 05/08/2023 - 12:24
Absolutely the rot started with George Osborne and has accelerate ever since culminating in this totally unjust and unfair Renters Reform Bill.
A friend complained to me and was upset about how an elderly lady was given a section 21 notice because the owner decided to sell all his rental properties and get out of the business.
Joe public do not have a clue and we are labelled the bad guys when the finger should be pointing at this Government.
PH
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Sign Up18:21 PM, 5th August 2023, About A year ago
Reply to the comment left by john thompson at 05/08/2023 - 12:24
Same here, "I'm Out" as soon as my current good tenant moves out or dies.