Hampshire housing association launches tender for legal services

A Hampshire-based housing association with more than 20,000 homes under management has launched a tender for a legal services framework.

First Wessex Housing Association, which is also contracting on behalf of other authorities, plans to set up the following lots:

  1. Corporate: This will cover Corporate Governance and Constitution including new subsidiaries, future funding structures and joint venture arrangements; Corporate Advice including commercial purchasing issues, commercial litigation, contract law, data protection, human rights legislation, housing benefit regulations, support with fraud and other investigations; Other advice including compromise agreements, claims for unfair dismissal, pension and TUPE matters, employment & contractual advice, and any other employment legal advice and support as required.
  2. Finance: This will cover matters including loan documentation and financing, new subsidiaries, future funding structures and joint venture arrangements.
  3. Housing: This will cover housing management matters including actions for possession, anti-social behaviour injunctions, miscellaneous injunctions, disrepair, tenancy enforcement, possessions and demotions, and debt relief orders.
  4. Property: This will cover matters including the acquisition of freehold or leasehold land or buildings, the letting of building contracts, security charging, construction law, shared ownership, Right to buy, mutual exchanges, property disposals , rent reviews, and enforcement notices and appeals.

The contracts will last for 36 months, with the possibility of a further two-year extension.

The housing association said providers would “need to demonstrate relevant experience of delivering services to a Registered Provider (Housing Association); similar in size and complexity to First Wessex".