Law Society state housing court proposals require careful consideration

Law Society state housing court proposals require careful consideration

The Law Society has stressed that vulnerable people should not be excluded from access to legal advice following yesterday’s proposals for a new housing court.

Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference, Sajid Javid stated that the government would consult with the judiciary on the introduction of a new court to assess whether current processes could be improved. The Communities and Local Government Secretary stated that a further aim would be to reduce both time and money spent when dealing with disputes.

As well as bringing benefits to both landlords and tenants, Mr Javid mentioned a reduction in dependence on legal representation, with a focus on encouraging arbitration. He said that the government would explore the proposals in depth and consider whether a new housing court could potentially achieve these aims.

However, the Law Society has stated that this will need careful consideration in order to ensure access to justice is improved. Whilst it made clear that it welcomed the streamlining of the existing housing court system, it stressed that any new legislation surrounding this would require in-depth scrutiny.

In a response to the announcement, Law Society president Joe Egan stated: “Solicitors can provide advice at an early stage of a housing complaint about the merits of the claim to prevent matters escalating. Professional legal advice also helps clients to understand and comply with procedural requirements, thereby speeding up legal processes and reducing costs for all parties. It is vital the most vulnerable in our society are not excluded from accessing legal advice.”

Georgia Owen

Georgia is the Content Executive and will be your primary contact when submitting your latest news. While studying for an LLB at the University of Liverpool, Georgia gained experience working within retail, as well as social media management. She later went on to work for a local newspaper, before starting at Today’s Conveyancer.

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