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Housing problems can be overwhelming. You do not have to face them alone

Practical housing advocacy across Essex.

*We are not an emergency accommodation provider. If you are homeless tonight, contact your council’s emergency homelessness service.

What can Essex Legal Link help me with?

Housing problems can involve confusing letters, deadlines and different organisations. We help people understand what is happening, organise the information they need and help you take the next practical step.

Our support may include communicating with councils and housing providers, progressing complaints, preparing an Ombudsman complaint or finding appropriate legal or support services.

Reviews and Complaints

Help raising or pursuing complaints involving councils, landlords and housing providers.

Examples include delays, poor communication, unsuitable accommodation, failure to consider evidence and failures to follow the proper complaints process.

Housing support

Help understanding correspondence and communicating clearly with housing organisations.

We help organise documents, prepare correspondence, follow up enquiries and help you prepare for meetings.

Legal Referrals

Help identifying appropriate legal advice

We cannot provide legal representation, but we can help you find services where legal advice or representation may be needed.

Who We Support

We primarily support people who live in Essex, have been placed in Essex, or are dealing with an Essex council or council housing provider or landlord. Our service is intended for people experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity or serious housing problems, particularly where financial hardship or other barriers make it difficult to access support.

We may also assist people outside Essex, particularly where suitable housing support is not available in their area.

We can help if you are:

Homeless or at risk of homelessness
Living in unsuitable, unsafe or insecure accommodation
Struggling with a homelessness application, housing register or bidding system
Experiencing problems with a council, landlord or housing provider
Having difficulty understanding a housing decision or pursuing a complaint
Facing barriers because of disability, language, literacy or vulnerability
Unsure where to find appropriate legal or specialist support

You do not need to know which housing process applies or have all your evidence ready before contacting us.

HOUSING WORKSHOPS

Essex Legal Link is holding accessible workshops covering tenants’ protections, tenancy agreements and landlords’ responsibilities across Essex.

Workshop topics will include:

Understanding the main terms in a tenancy agreement
Repairs and housing conditions
Rent, deposits and other charges
Access and landlord visits
Notices, eviction and where to seek urgent advice
Reporting problems and keeping useful evidence
Raising a complaint when something goes wrong

We are working with libraries, community halls and local organisations to bring sessions directly to local communities.

Interested in attending or bringing a workshop to your community?

Register your interest as a future attendee, or contact us if you represent a library, community venue, charity, support service or local group that may be able to host a session.

HOST A WORKSHOP

Volunteer with Essex Legal Link

Volunteer Caseworkers

We are looking for volunteer caseworkers to help us support people experiencing homelessness and serious housing problems. The role may include organising documents and helping with correspondence and complaint follow-up.

No legal experience is required. We are looking for people with good communication skills and a willingness to learn. Guidance and support will be provided.

Other volunteering opportunities may include:

General advocacy and administrative support
Researching housing services and referral options
Helping prepare information and workshop materials
Supporting community outreach
Accompanying clients to appointments
Helping deliver tenants’ rights workshops

Much of our volunteering can be completed remotely. Some future local opportunities may involve attending appointments, community venues or workshops across Essex.