Agent and landlords ‘face eviction delays and bigger bills’, solicitors warn
Evictions firm says a new government service to help tenants at risk of homelessness will hinder landlords.
Solicitors warn that a new government service to help potentially homeless tenants will mean delays and added cost for landlords.
Legal services group LegalforLandlords says that if there are legitimate grounds for eviction it will take longer and be more expensive for landlords.
The Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS), which was launched at the beginning of this month, offers tenants free legal advice including representation in court.
“While homelessness is a dreadful scourge, one consequence of the change is likely to be that landlords’ legitimate claims for repossession of their properties will take longer to complete, and therefore cost more,” LegalforLandlords says.
Lowest priority
Sim Sekhon, MD of LegalforLandlords (main picture), warns that backlogs in the courts will get worse.
“It feels like the landlord’s interests are always the lowest priority”
“Currently, it feels like the landlord’s interests are always the lowest priority. This change sounds worthy but, no doubt, it will delay the entire legal process,” he says.
Many landlords fear a ban on Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions proposed in the Renters Reform Bill will make it very difficult to gain possession of their properties.
The Legal Aid Agency, which set up the HLPAS service, says: “This service enables anyone at risk of losing their home to get free legal advice, and representation in court, regardless of their financial circumstances.”
Repair problems
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice has launched a new online checker designed to advise tenants on how to deal with repair problems.
The ‘Check how to get repairs done in your rented home’ tool points tenants to “how to get something fixed by your landlord or letting agent”, and “what to do if your landlord or letting agent are not responding to your requests”.
And as we know, this ultimately makes it worse for tenant, more expensive rents & less supply & lower earning tenants even harder. All cause they want to delay a Landlord getting his house back. Cause us pain. U cause the tenant much more pain.