Housing: Legal Aid ‘Advice Deserts’

Wainwright & Cummins were concerned this week at the publication of a report from the Law Society regarding legal aid ‘advice deserts’ in housing, reported on at this link by the Law Society Gazette. Around a third of legal aid areas have only one law firm (or other provider) giving legally aided advice relating to housing; and three large areas (Surrey, Shropshire and Suffolk) have no provider giving legally aided housing advice at all.

 

Head of Wainwright & Cummins’ Housing Department, Grace Bovill, commented: ‘this report powerfully demonstrates the flaws in the Government’s approach to access to justice and legal aid funding. The shortage of housing providers in many areas does not come as a surprise to those of us who work in the sector: legal aid funding has been cut to the bone. We call on the Government to reconsider its approach to legal aid provision in light of this report.’

If you need assistance with a housing matter, please contact Wainwright & Cummins' Housing Department.