East Midlands housing association to offer £300k contract to legal services provider

A leading social housing provider in the East Midlands is to appoint a single legal services provider to a contract worth £300,000 over four years.

East Midlands Housing Group is the landlord for more than 18,000 homes, working with over 40 local authorities.

It said the chosen provider would deliver legal services in relation to social housing and support. This will include:

• Tenancy related – ASB, Tenancy Agreements, Complaints, Rent & Service Charges, Access Issues, Arrears, Leaseholders;
• Property related - Right to Buy, Environmental, Disposals, Improvements, Disrepair;
• Health & Safety – Employees, Contractors;
• Care & Support – Agency Agreements, Licences, Support Agreements, Power of Attorney;
• Procurement - PCR, Contracts.

The contract will begin on 1 April 2017 and run until 31 March 2021.

The group said it was looking to engage “an established UK law firm, who are able to demonstrate provision of the required services to a number of Registered Housing Providers”.

It added: “You will be proactive and recognised in the Housing Sector - it is likely you have a team dedicated to our sector. Expiring contracts have achieved efficiency gains (internal improvements and cost reductions) for EMH Group and this is expected to be continually achieved.

“EMH Group are therefore looking to find good calibre providers who will encourage, through education and coaching, EMH Group staff to become more self-reliant and consistent across the Group in order to reduce the need for legal services and hence costs.”