Housing Law is becoming increasingly important in society today – with more people renting, increasing pressure being put upon landlords by their own lenders, and more mortgage companies than ever seeking possession of properties.

Our Housing Department is headed by Director Jonathan Leach who is a solicitor with a special interest in housing law, and a Legal Aid Agency Supervisor.

Legal Aid

We are one of the few law firms in the north that can assist tenants with public funding, both Legal Help and full funding certificate from the Legal Services Commission for eligible clients. These allow us to undertake all elements of a case from initial instructions to representation before the courts. An assessment is made of every potential client at the beginning of a case to ensure that we can assist all eligible people.

Tenants

Tenants can require assistance for number of reasons ranging from disrepair to wrongful eviction. We are aware that many problems arise in a rental situation due to an inability to pay the rent – be it down to losing a job or issues with housing benefit.

We are able to assist many people in dealing with the problems that arise in their rental situation and in may cases can avert court action. Where court proceedings are inevitable we aim to ensure that the judge hears your side and where possible to reach feasible and amicable settlements with your landlord to allow you to remain in your home.

Landlords

In addition to helping tenants at Carters we are fully geared to seek possession of properties for landlords. Most cases arise due to rental arrears and we are able to assist landlords recover their properties either by negotiating a surrender of the tenancy or by the issue of court proceedings. Sometimes a letter is all you need!

Home Owners

In the current financial climate mortgage and secured loan companies are more keen than ever to make sure that they recover money – and will follow through to repossession proceedings if necessary.

We act for home-owners seeking advice when they fall into arrears, or when the bank has issued court proceedings. We can assist clients in negotiations with their lenders, ensure the lenders adhere to the governments Pre-Action Protocol and in certain cases assist clients in their application for money from a number of government schemes to help them avoid repossession.

We are able to assist certain clients even after the courts have ordered that they give up possession of their home. It is possible to obtain a suspension to those orders where a home owner can demonstrate that they can repay the arrears on their account within a reasonable time.