CARA acts for individuals only and does not act for landlords or mortgage lenders. We are able to advise anyone living in The UK-wide. We are planning to attain the Legal Services Commission's 'Quality Mark' at the Specialist Help level for housing law.

We will advise both tenants and owner-occupiers about their housing rights. We provide help for individuals facing possession actions, evictions, harassment, disrepair, rent arrears and housing benefit problems related to their housing situation. We also offer advice on homelessness, housing allocation by social landlords, transfers and nuisance issues.

Our advisers are particular experts in representation and advocacy at the Court. CARA has also written a range of leaflets on common housing rights matters. These can be downloaded from this website or collected from our office. If you need an interpreter please let us know so that we can arrange for one to be present any interview.

Duty possession scheme

CARA's housing team plans to start running a duty Solicitor advice and representation scheme at the Court.

The Court normally lists housing possession cases in blocks on particular days. We attend these sessions and offer free advice and representation to individuals who do not already have representation. The help is available to tenants and owner-occupiers, but not to landlords or mortgage providers.

The Legal Services Commission funds the scheme, but, unlike standard public funding for legal advice and representation, access to the scheme is dependent upon the urgent circumstances that housing possession actions can produce rather than the individual's financial position. There is no means test, although details of income and savings are recorded as a part of assessing the pilot scheme.

After the hearing CARA writes to the individual and explains what has happened, including details of what the Court decided or ordered and outlining any need for further advice. CARA may advise the individual further on the matter as a part of its other work, or may refer the client to another Solicitor or advice agency as appropriate.

CARA continues to recommend that individuals should seek advice as early as possible when faced with a possession action and should avoid relying on the availability of the duty scheme to get advice.

Housing team members

Mr Abdilahi Dahir NUR, DipSW BA LL.M. - Community Legal Adviser

Mr Abdi has been advising in most areas of housing law. He is a well-respected expert in housing benefit law and how it impacts upon tenants when defending possession actions. He also has wide experiences of advising vulnerable, sick and disabled people across the range of housing law.

Mr Jean-Paul LAWRENCE TAMPU-EYA, BA LL.B. LL.M. PhD (Res.) - Community Legal Adviser

Mr Tampu-Eya has specialised in housing law for many years. He has a broad experience of representation in the County Court in all forms of possession actions and counter claims. Mr Tampu-Eya has a particular knowledge of housing law as it affects tenants of social registered landlords such as Council and housing associations.