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Housing & Social Welfare

Homelessness

Every Local Housing Authority has a duty to provide accommodation for homeless persons.

You are considered as homes if:

  • You have been evicted, or due to be evicted from your home

  • Your home is not suitable for occupation due to disrepair

  • You live in overcrowded conditions

  • You have left your home due to domestic violence

  • Your circumstances have changed (eg: family breakdown)

 

We are able to assist you if you have become homeless due to the following reasons.

  • You are homeless

  • You did not become homeless intentionally

  • You are eligible for assistance

  • You have priority need

  • You have local connections

 

In the event that the local housing authority rejects your application, you have the right to ask for a review of that decision. If the review decision also is against you, you are entitled to appeal to a county court on a point of law.

Our caseworkers have extensive experience in dealing with homeless applicants. We will advise you in relation to your entitlements, nd assist you in the review process by gathering evidence and making representations. In the event that the review decision is not in your favour, we will advise you of merits of appealing to the county court on a point of law. We will also advise you of the options available to you in the event that the local authority fails to provide interim accommodation while your application is being considered.

We provide the following services:

  • Assisting with application to the Local Housing Authority

  • Seeking a review if your application has been refused

  • Appealing to county court on a point of law

  • Appeals to Court of Appeal and Supreme Court

  • Judicial Review of failure to provide interim accommodation

  • Emergency applications to the court for urgent remedies

 

You may be entitled to legal aid, subject your particular circumstances and your financial means.

Possession Proceedings

For tenants
Being evicted from your home, or the prospect of being evicted, can be an extremely stressful experience. Our experienced caseworkers will assess the evidence and advise you in relation to defending possession proceedings. We may be able to arrange representation for you in court. Alternatively, we may be able to negotiate an arrangement satisfactory to you and the landlord or building society/bank, without having to lose your home.

In the event that you do not have a defence, and the court makes a possession order against you, we may be able to assist you in an application to court for an order suspending possession. The court could allow you to continue living in your home, subject to certain conditions. This option is of great importance to you, particularly if you are protecting the equity of your mortgaged home.

For landlords
Our expert solicitors will advise you how to take possession of your house, effectively and with minimum hassle. Please speak to a housing solicitor for advice on:

  • How best to proceed with possession process

  • What your costs are

  • How long the legal process is

 

For home owners
If your fail to keep up with your mortgage repayments, you are at risk of losing your home.

It is not just losing your home. You may lose thousands of pounds you invested in purchasing and maintaining your home. You may have sentimental values attached to your home. An order for possession will adversely affect your credit worthiness.

Our housing solicitors may be able to assist you in protecting your home, even when you do not have a defence. If the court decides that you do not have a defence, we could assist you to make an application to suspend the order, so that you may continue to live in your home, subject to certain conditions. This is an important option, especially if you are protecting an equity tied up in your home.

Please speak to our housing team for advice on options available to you.

Disrepair

All tenants are entitled to live in a home, which is in good repair. If you are a tenant in a home which is in poor state of repair, you are entitled to see that adequate repairs are carried out. Our caseworkers will advise and assist you of the remedies available to you in the event that the landlord has not complied with his/her duties to carry out necessary repairs.

We work with a team of experienced barristers who will assist through the court proceedings, and who will represent you in court.

You may be entitled to legal aid, subject your particular circumstances, your financial means and the severity of disrepair.

Antisocial Behaviour & Closure Order applications

If you are accused of antisocial behaviour, the local authority and/or the police could evict you from your home and prevent you from entering it. We will advise you in relation to defending

  • In an application in the magistrates’ court for a closure order

  • In a claim in the county court for possession due to antisocial behaviour

 

We will assess the evidence and advise you of the strengths and weaknesses in your defence. We are able to arrange solicitor or barrister to represent you in court in court.

You may be entitled to legal aid, subject your particular circumstances and your financial means.

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