Home arranges free legal advice for thousands of customers

Published by Alison Rose for Home Group in Housing

Affordable housing provider, Home, is to open the door to independent legal services for its customers in the region, thanks to a link-up with Community Legal Advice, the free and confidential advice service funded by legal aid.

The service has specialist advisors who can assist with a variety of matters including family, debt, housing and homelessness, benefits and tax credits, education, and employment problems.

The service can be accessed by calling a helpline, which is 4p per minute from a landline, via their website or through a link on Home’s website. They also offer a ‘call back’ service for anyone who is worried about the cost of a telephone call, callers just text ‘legalaid’ and their name to 80010 and they will be called back within 24 hours.

People who are eligible for legal aid – normally those who live on low income or benefits – can receive immediate specialist legal advice over the telephone. For those who do not qualify for legal aid, callers will be given information to assist them with their problem, or referred to another source of help.

Community Legal Advice can be contacted via Home’s website www.homegroup.org.uk, www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk or telephone 0845 345 4 345

Johanne Pederson, Solicitor with Home Group, said: “Home has over 50,000 homes in England and wanted to be able to provide an enhanced legal service to our customers and clients so we linked up with Community Legal Advice to provide an independent source of help and advice.”

John Sirodcar, National Relationship Director for Legal Services Commission, the organisation that runs Community Legal Advice, said: “Legal Aid is marking its 60th year during a nationwide recession. It is as important as ever that we ensure we get legal services to those that need it most. By working with Home Group, we hope to continue to make sure those who need legal help are able to access it.”