Legal Help Unavailable for Repossession Cases
There has been a large increase in the number of cases being brought to court for repossession orders and in many cases, the individuals concerned are not receiving adequate legal representation to which they should be entitled, according to the national forum for financial inclusion, Transact.
Many borrowers who are in an arrears situation with their home loan or mortgage and are facing the prospect of a possession hearing in court, do not qualify for legal aid and yet, given their financial situation, can not afford to pay for the legal assistance they need to defend their case.
There are a number of law centres around the country which offer free legal advice and help with possession cases, but many of these organisations can no longer manage to handle the ever increasing number of requests which they are receiving, as demand has become that high.
One such firm in London has provided help for 146 clients from January through to March this year, as opposed to 77 over the same period last year, an overall increase of 90%. The same story is happening all over the country, with Law centres in Leeds and Sheffield both reporting an increased workload of up to one hundred percent over the past twelve months on repossession cases.
A solicitor working for a law centre in Chapeltown, Leeds said “someone who gets advice at the door of the court, or no advice at all is more likely to see a possession order granted, which takes them a step closer to losing their home.”
It seems clear that those facing an appearance in court for a possession order need legal representation, but with many individuals unable to pay for such assistance and the free services which exist, already over burdened, something needs to be done sooner rather than later to help those who need it most, otherwise we are likely to see a further increase in repossessions.
