30th
Nov 2021
The government is pondering over whether tenants facing eviction should be given extra legal aid to improve/enhance the present free ‘on-the-day’ legal help through the HPCDS (Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme).
The Ministry of Justice has just uploaded a statement that says the HPCDS’ crucial role means “the continuation of the service is of paramount importance”.
The MoJ is now undertaking a new consultation process that will end in the New Year and is proposing that the following changes are made to the HPCDS which are:
- to remodel and rebrand it to become a new Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS), incorporating both the existing service of advice and representation at court but also early legal advice before court;
- expanding the scope of legal aid so that HLPAS providers can offer early legal advice on social welfare law matters to individuals facing procession proceedings;
- contracts for individual courts rather than larger geographical areas;
- allowing providers to claim for the court duty fee in addition to a Legal Help fee for follow on work;
- introducing a set attendance fee for all schemes, replacing the existing nil session payment.
This follows the MoJ’s first consultation before Covid reared its ugly head which was stopped as the government radically changed possession proceedings because of the pandemic.
Richard Merrick of PIMS, says: “Possibly another attempt to delay proceedings on the day and of course another tax burden to be shouldered.”
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