“Having someone in your corner, even for one hearing, can make all the difference”
*Ahmed, a 33-year-old and a private renter in Wandsworth, came to court feeling completely lost. His landlord had served him with a Section 21 eviction notice and begun accelerated possession proceedings. Ahmed had tried to deal with the paperwork himself but couldn’t make sense of it, and by the day of the hearing, he believed eviction was inevitable.
To make matters worse, Ahmed’s landlord was represented by a solicitor who confidently argued that all documentation had been properly served and that the eviction should go ahead.
When our duty solicitor met Ahmed at court, they carefully reviewed his documents and quickly spotted something crucial: the landlord had failed to provide the current “How to Rent” guide — a legal requirement that must be met before serving a Section 21 notice. This small but critical error meant the possession claim was defective.
At the hearing, our solicitor explained this clearly to the judge, highlighting Ahmed’s compliance as a tenant and the landlord’s procedural failure. After reviewing the evidence, the judge dismissed the claim entirely, allowing Ahmed to remain in his home with no costs awarded against him.
“Cases like Ahmed’s show why duty solicitors are essential. Without legal advice, many people simply accept eviction because they don’t know the law or feel powerless to challenge it. Having someone in your corner, even for one hearing, can make all the difference,” said Shanice Danso, our duty solicitor who represented Ahmed.
After the hearing, our team explained Ahmed’s rights and what steps his landlord would need to take if he wished to start a new claim in the future. Ahmed left court that day with relief, confidence, and a renewed sense of hope.. knowing access to justice had protected his home.
The Law Centre’s duty scheme ensures that people like Ahmed, who might otherwise face court alone, have access to expert legal help when they need it most.
The cost-of-living crisis means more people than ever are at risk of eviction or homelessness, and often through no fault of their own.
South West London Law Centres have operated a court duty scheme for many years. We continue to offer free legal advice at the heart of the community, with offices in Croydon, Kingston and Wandsworth.
If your home is at risk, you are homeless, or your rented home is being neglected by your landlord and affecting you or your family’s health, do not suffer alone. Contact us now!
*Name has been changed