Legal Aid changes ‘will deny justice to most vulnerable’ says housing charity

The housing and homelessness charity said it has “grave concerns” about proposals put forward by the Law Society of Scotland to remove some aspects of housing law from Legal Aid cover.

According to the charity, which offers the Shelter Scottish Housing Law Service (SHLS), housing law impacts disproportionately on the most vulnerable families and individuals and removing housing from the portfolio of protection would deny access to justice to those most in need.

The charity is calling for an urgent rethink of the proposals to ensure protection and justice for all.

The charity also claims that instead of saving public money the proposals to remove housing law from Legal Aid is likely to cost the public purse more, not less.

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, (pictured) said: “In 21st Century Scotland justice should be afforded to all, not just those who can afford it.

“We have grave concerns about the proposal to remove housing law from the scope of civil legal assistance. In Shelter Scotland’s experience housing law impacts disproportionately on the most vulnerable in society and this proposal would remove protection currently offered to them.

“What’s more, it is a false economy to assume a saving to the public purse in not providing legal aid to those experiencing housing issues. In fact any apparent savings would likely be outweighed by the costs of increased homelessness or the negative health implications of a lack of or poor housing on families and individuals.”

Mr Brown added: “Housing law is an extremely complex issue and as such appropriate specialist advice from qualified legal professionals should and must be made available to everyone who needs it.”

Shelter Scotland said it opposes the proposals in the strongest terms but that in the eventuality that housing law is removed from the scope of civil legal assistance, there must be a guarantee of sufficient funding to those who need legal assistance with housing issues.

The charity wants to see funding for advice agencies providing representation on all aspects of housing law.

The charity is also calling for assurances that all parts of Scotland will have suitable access to advice agencies, including some of the most rural areas of Scotland.