Lewisham Homes is seeking to establish arrangements with legal service providers that will support its business and deliver highly customer focussed, effective and efficient services. The main areas in respect of which legal advice and guidance may be sought under each of the 3 Lots. Lewisham Homes expect an increase in savings over the term of the contract. Contract term is 3 years with the option to extend by a further 2 years.

The successful supplier will be expected to supply services to Lewisham Homes in the areas of:

Housing Possession for a number of breaches of tenancy including:

— ASB;

— Hoarding and poor condition of property;

— Failure to provide access for repair or safety checks;

— Where the Council decides that a temporary tenant is not in need of housing under s184 of the Housing Act 1996;

— Successors who are required to move but fail to do so;

— Tenancy fraud, non-occupation and abandonment;

— Anti Social Behaviour Injunctions/ Injunctions to Prevent Nuisance and Annoyance;

— Injunctions to access properties in cases where a possession order would not be appropriate;

— Injunctions to remedy breach of lease including injunctions to force leaseholders to carry out repairs or to gain forced access where the leaseholder does not comply with the terms of the injunction;

— Home Ownership.

The Service Provider will provide support to LH's in-house legal officer for Home Ownership Services in more specialist cases which may include:

— Application for dispensation of s20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985;

— Clarification of leasehold/ lessee responsibilities under the demise schedule of the standard lease;

— Introduction of new services;

— Consultation requirements;

— General queries relating to any aspect of leasehold, RTB and shared ownership legislation;

— Recovery of leaseholder service charge arrears.

Additional areas — advice may also be sought on other areas of housing management including:

— Non-occupation;

— Assured tenancies;

— Assignment;

— Succession;

— Termination;

— Unauthorised occupants and squatters;

— Homelessness assessments;

— Boundary disagreements;

— Temporary accommodation;

— Dangerous dogs.

The successful supplier will be expected to:

— Produce Receipt of letters of claim;

— Advise LH on compliance with disrepair protocol;

— Advise LH on whether to accept or reject liability;

— Agree settlement of costs;

— Defend claims;

— Represent LH in defended matters.

The successful supplier will be expected to:

— Quality check legal referrals for which the bulk will be for possession, fixing dates for possession and bailiff warrants;

— Prepare and advise on witness statements plus file and serve these;

— Prepare bundles for hearings including liaising with Income Officers for additional information and instructions;

— Liaison with the client such as providing advice on cases;

— Liaison with the defendant's solicitors;

— Liaison with the County Courts;

— Represent client at Court for possession claims (including re-listed claims at adjourned hearings), stay hearings (including adjourned stay hearings) and fixing dates for possession where a hearing is required;

— Provide Court outcome reports and recommendations;

— Complete other legal work such as applying for permission to enforce orders over 6 years old, applications to re-enter, variation orders, consent orders, re-listing possession hearings, work regarding adjourned possession and stay hearings, amendments through the ‘slip’ rule and N244 applications.