Training on helping with housing issues.

As HLPA is the professional association for those working in housing law – solicitors, barristers, and advisers – we are well aware that MPs’ constituency surgeries are facing increasing numbers of constituents presenting with housing problems.

The pressures on housing in London and the widespread, though inaccurate, belief that legal aid is not available for housing advice have contributed to this rise.

Housing law is often complex. There is no simple way to establish the obligations of landlords, local authorities and housing associations. It is not easy to find the best way help people with their issues or to give them the best route to find help for themselves.

To help with the growing demand for housing advice and assistance, HLPA is offering free training courses for London MPs’ constituency staff to help navigate the maze of housing law. The half day course will cover the main kinds of housing issues likely to come up in constituency work, and give training in diagnosing problems, when to refer onwards and when legal aid is available.

Training contents

The training sessions will cover:

1. Homelessness

2. Repairs

3. Possession and Evictions

4. Unlawful Evictions

5. Council Waiting lists

The sessions will be for a half day, at one of the venues in the list below. The training will be given by experienced housing solicitors, well aware of the kind of problems that arise in each region.

A full list of participating solicitors will be provided, as a guide for further help and referrals.

We have arranged training sessions for North, East, South and West London, with local housing law experts. All sessions are open to people from any constituency, but we have tried to provide enough sessions in each region. Each session is for 10-12 people in total and is on a first come first served basis.

Booking for each session is by the contact for that session in the list below.

Any other queries should be sent to giles.peaker@anthonygold.co.uk

We hope that you find these training sessions of use in your constituency work and that HLPA can be of help to you and your constituents in the future.

Giles Peaker

Chair. Housing Law Practitioners Association