Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support is available to homeowners who cannot afford legal representation in disputes with housing (a) developers and (b) associations over structural defects.

There are a range of options to support homeowners who cannot afford legal representation in disputes with housing developers and associations over structural defects. Advice organisations, such as Citizens Advice and Shelter, may be able to provide advice or signpost to further support, and leaseholders may be able to get support from organisations that specialise in leasehold issues, such as the Leasehold Advisory Service. Alternatively, ombudsman services may be able to provide support with resolving a dispute.

There are also a variety of ways to fund or support some types of legal action, which may include disputes. These include insurance policies, and homeowners should check whether their insurance policy includes Legal Expenses Insurance, which may provide coverage for certain legal expenses and costs. Homeowners may also be able to fund a legal case through a ‘no-win, no-fee' conditional fee agreement. This is a means of funding litigation, usually entered into by claimants, where the lawyer agrees not to take a fee if the claim fails.