Housing law is complex, and getting the wrong advice, or no advice, at the wrong moment can be costly. The good news is that there are several sources of
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Housing law is complex, and getting the wrong advice, or no advice, at the wrong moment can be costly. The good news is that there are several sources of free or subsidised legal advice for tenants in England. We set out what is available below.
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice has offices in most towns and cities in England, and offers free, independent advice on housing matters including:
- Threatened or actual eviction
- Disrepair and repairs disputes
- Homelessness
- Benefits affecting housing costs
- Tenancy deposits
You can contact Citizens Advice online, by phone (0800 144 8848), or by visiting a local office. Availability and depth of advice varies by location.
Shelter
Shelter is a housing charity that provides free advice, support, and legal representation for people facing housing difficulties. Their services include:
- Online advice pages: detailed guidance on most housing law topics
- Shelter's helpline: 0808 800 4444 (free, seven days a week)
- Local Shelter services: some areas have Shelter offices providing face-to-face advice and representation
Shelter also has a national network of housing lawyers who can take cases to court in appropriate circumstances.
Legal aid
Legal aid provides government-funded legal advice and representation for people who meet the financial eligibility criteria. Housing legal aid is available for:
- Eviction cases (if you are facing possession proceedings)
- Homelessness applications and appeals
- Some housing disrepair cases linked to serious health risks
Legal aid is means-tested, you must have a low income and limited savings to qualify. Not all solicitors offer legal aid; you must use a firm with a legal aid contract. Find one at solicitors.civillegalaids.gov.uk or via the Law Society website.
Law centres
Law centres provide free civil legal advice and representation, primarily to people who cannot afford a solicitor. They are staffed by qualified solicitors and legal advisers. Law centres handle housing cases, including eviction, disrepair, homelessness, and discrimination.
Find a law centre at lawcentres.org.uk.
No-win, no-fee solicitors for housing disrepair
For housing disrepair claims specifically, many solicitors work on a no-win, no-fee (Conditional Fee Agreement) basis. This means you pay nothing upfront, and the solicitor's fees are recovered from the landlord if the case is won. This is how Support for Tenants operates.
No-win, no-fee arrangements are not available for all housing matters, they are most common in disrepair claims where there is a realistic prospect of recovering compensation.
Local authority housing advisers
Some councils have housing advice teams that can give general guidance on tenant rights and signpost to specialist help. Quality and availability vary significantly.
When should I contact Support for Tenants?
If your home is in disrepair and your landlord has not fixed it, call us for a free initial conversation about whether you have a claim.
Call us on 0800 030 4669. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.
Sources
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 June 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.
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Still stuck?
Call us free or start a claim online. We'll tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.