Generation Rent has welcomed the government’s decision to increase legal aid for tenants who are facing eviction.
The praise follows an announcement by the Ministry of Justice, which revealed it is implementing the largest increase in funding for housing legal aid fees in over three decades.
Despite this, it’s important to remember that most renters choose to leave rather than being forced out.
According to the English Housing Survey Private Rented Sector report for 2021–2022, around 77% of tenants ended their previous tenancy by choice rather than through eviction.
This context offers a broader picture of the rental sector and highlights that, while legal protections are vital, most moves are still voluntary.
A turning point for civil legal aid
The government’s new funding comes after a consultation on civil legal aid, aiming to strengthen support where it’s needed most.
Once fully in place, the plan will see an extra £20 million spent each year on legal aid for housing and immigration matters.
Part of this includes a significant 24% boost in overall spending dedicated to housing cases.
Legal aid providers will also see an increase in the fixed fee they receive for housing work, which will rise by 42% from £157 to £223.
The Ministry of Justice believes this investment will help more vulnerable tenants who are facing eviction to get timely legal advice and assistance.
Justice Minister Sarah Sackman KC MP commented on the changes, describing them as a “turning point” for civil legal aid.
She explained that this move is designed to build capacity across the legal aid sector, ensuring it can meet demand.
Sackman added: “This vital investment marks a turning point for civil legal aid by boosting funding to build capacity in the sector, helping to enable individuals, regardless of background or income, to uphold their legal rights.”
She further highlighted that, as part of the government’s broader ‘Plan for Change’, the aim is to help legal aid providers continue offering essential support.
Through these measures, the government hopes to reduce the barriers people face when trying to defend their housing rights.
Overall, the increase in funding is intended to strengthen the safety net for those most at risk of losing their homes.
While these changes focus heavily on housing, they also extend to immigration legal aid, reflecting wider areas of need.
The investment seeks not only to improve access to advice but also to make the work financially sustainable for legal aid professionals.
This move comes at a time when rising living costs and housing challenges mean legal support is becoming increasingly critical.
With these changes, ministers hope to ensure that people can get fair treatment and proper representation when it matters most.
Easier for people on lower incomes to access justice when facing eviction
On X, previously known as Twitter, Generation Rent welcomed the government’s decision to boost legal aid, although they stressed that it shouldn’t stop there.
The tenant campaign group described it as a “campaign win” and noted that this is the first time in three decades that legal aid on housing matters has seen an increase.
In their statement, they said: “This means it’ll be easier for people on lower incomes to access justice when facing evictions and homelessness.”
While acknowledging this positive step, they also added that more support will still be needed to fully address the challenges renters continue to face.
Overall, the group views the move as a promising start in making legal help more accessible to those most at risk.
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