Housing possession statistics
News and Star, Yahoo! UK and Ireland, Times and Star and Whitehaven News cover the Law Society’s calls for rental reform, as new figures show rising numbers of landlord and mortgage possession orders, leaving countless at risk of homelessness.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “The cost-of-living crisis has meant that renters are increasingly at risk of losing their homes. When faced with repossession, renters should be entitled to legal representation and access to justice.
“However, an underfunded justice system has denied renters a fair chance in court due to lack of legal aid.
“It is critical that the government invests in the legal aid system, so that renters have the help they need to avoid losing their homes.
"Labour must recognise that only a well-funded justice system can protect renters' rights.”
Disability History Month
Law360, Today’s Family Lawyer and Today’s Wills and Probate cover our new guidance on disability terminology to mark Disability History Month.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “People and organisations can be so fearful of saying the wrong thing that they say nothing and do not address the barriers to improve disability inclusion.
“This is why we’ve created our guide to disability terminology and language to ensure the profession is using the right words, phrases and acronyms when talking about disability.
“The guidance advises people to remember that individuals will have their own preferences as to how they would describe themselves, and how they would wish to be described. Identity is extremely personal.
“We urge the profession to listen, educate themselves, learn and politely ask about preferences if they’re in doubt.”
Legal aid
Today’s Wills and Probate and Today’s Family Lawyer report that new legislation has been laid to disregard certain compensation payments from the financial eligibility tests for civil and criminal legal aid.
Law Society President Richard Atkinson said: “It is a step in the right direction that these specified payments may be disregarded from the legal aid means assessment making legal aid accessible to more people.
“We look forward to working with the Ministry of Justice to progress the means test review further to help ensure everyone can access justice regardless of their means.
“We would encourage the government to look urgently at the legal aid thresholds which are currently so restrictive they exclude many living below the poverty line.
Legal aid is a vital public service that must be invested in.”
Social housing
Guardian, Yahoo! UK and Ireland and MSN UK report on social housing cases and the gap in protection protections for deceased tenants’ families.
Ian Bond, member of the Law Society’s wills and equity committee said: “Most local authorities allow those entitled to claim probate access without the official grant to deal with the clearance and to locate important papers.”
Times newsletter
Former president I. Stephanie Boyce is featured in the Times newsletter ‘The Brief’ (£) discussing whether the roles of Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary should continue to be merged or separated in future.
Also worth a read:
- Consumers willing to pay a little extra for law firms to use TPMAs – Legal futures
- Firm denies profiting from Post Office victims’ misery – Gazette
- Whiplash tariff set to rise 15% as Mahmood finally publishes review – Legal Futures
- Sidhu sees off some misconduct charges - but others remain – Gazette
- Slapps used to silence whistleblowers should be outlawed, says group of MPs - Guardian
- Captain Tom Foundation faces £1m legal bill to get cash from family – Times (£)
- Rushed UK leaseholder law contains ‘flaws’, ministers warn – Financial Times (£)