HOUSING MATTERS: LANDLORD & TENANTS

We at Mang & Co Solicitors provide a fast and effective service in all housing matters. Whether you are a homeowner, a landlord or a tenant, it is easy for things to go sour and for you to end up is a dispute which you do not want to deal with.

We understand the challenges of the landlord and tenant relationship and have acted on both sides of disputes. We are experienced in all matters relating to housing law including:

• → Tenancy agreements: We will make sure that the terms of your tenancy agreement are drafted in accordance with the law and that your rights are protected by law.

• → Rent or mortgage arrears: If you are behind with payments of your rent or in mortgage arrears it does not mean that you will be evicted. Our housing Solicitors can help you negotiate a payment plan with your landlord or lender and negotiate a settlement before any possession proceeding is lodged.

• → Housing disrepair claims: Landlords have a responsibility to ensure that their property is kept in good repairs and if in breach of their repairing obligations, we can help you bring a disrepair claim against them.

• → Eviction and repossession: If you cannot pay your mortgage or rent and you are facing eviction or repossession of your home from your landlord or lenders, there are a number of avenues that we can assist you to explore before your home is repossessed or you are actually evicted.

• → Unlawful evictions and applications for re-entry: If you are a tenant who have already been evicted, we might be able to have reinstated back into the property and be compensated for the eviction. If you are a landlord being accused of illegal eviction our housing solicitors can also defend your rights.

• → Protection from Harassment /Anti-social behavior:  If your landlord is behaving in a threatening manner or visiting you without warning, we can assist you to apply for an injunction against them under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 to tackle harassment by a landlord, harassment by other people in the locality and discriminatory harassment.

• → Transfers, Allocations and Reviews of Local Authority accommodation: If you have applied for Council accommodation, our housing Solicitors can help guide you through the allocation scheme and we can assist you to request for the review of the suitability of the current temporary accommodation that is being provided for your household.

• → Homelessness applications: If you have been made homeless you will be able to apply to your Local Authority or Housing Association for housing. We will provide you with homeless advice, assist you with homelessness application and to challenge Local Authority decisions on reviews and appeals.

• → We can assist and represent you on the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014: enacted new provisions aimed at reforming the antisocial behaviour rules and tools previously available. It also repealed much other legislation around antisocial behaviour, including: 

1. Sections 1 to 4 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998: which create antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs), individual support orders and other less common orders. 
2. Part 1 and part 1A of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003: which allows for closure orders of premises where drugs are used unlawfully or which are associated with persistent disorder or violence and for social landlords to obtain antisocial behaviour injunctions against people causing a nuisance or annoyance which interferes with people living in or ‘engaged in lawful conduct in’ the neighbourhood, other accommodation owned by the landlord or the employees of the landlord.

Fees and Funding  

We provide advice, representation and practical help to resolve conflicts and our clients include private individuals and small businesses.  

As an essential element of its service, Mang & Co will advise you on the options available to you for funding your case.

Private Clients

Mang & Co operates a fair and reasonable pricing policy. We keep things as transparent as possible so that there are no hidden extras. 

At your first meeting you will be informed how we calculate our charges. Whenever possible we will give you a detailed breakdown of the estimated total costs, whether these are our own fees or for an external resource such as a barrister or expert. As with all Solicitors, Mang & Co Solicitors requires your authority to make these payments, known as disbursements, to other people on your behalf.

In litigation matters you may be able to recover your costs from the opposing party if you win your case. 

In all the privately funded cases, we aim to offer fair prices. If you are consulting us about Court proceedings, we can offer you a number of fixed fee packages.

Public Funding

At Mang & Co Solicitors we undertake work funded by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA). Public funding (formerly known as Legal Aid) is a system of government funding, administered by the LAA, for those who cannot afford to pay for legal advice and representation. Mang & Co currently hold Legal Aid Contract with the Legal Aid Agency in the area of Housing matters (excluding Residential or Commercial property matters).

Legal Aid is available for housing matters with merits and for those who satisfy the means test. Emergency legal aid can be applied on exceptional cases. 

Please contact us so that we can assess whether you satisfy the Legal Aid Merits Test and the Financial Eligibility Test, or to generally discuss your requirements.