People who thought it wouldn’t happen to them are in trouble

Jul 1 2009 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

THE level of Buddies getting legal help because they can’t pay their mortgage has more than trebled.

Two years ago Paisley lawyer John Kiddie was dealing with two mortgage repossession cases each week – but his team has recently been helping struggling home owners with roughly one-a-day.

John, who is principal solicitor at Renfrewshire Law Centre in George Street, said anecdotal evidence also suggests Paisley Sheriff Court is dealing with DOUBLE the national average number of landlord eviction cases.

He said Buddies are being crippled by the credit crunch, explaining: “Repossession has been a growing concern.

“In 2001 the law changed. People facing eviction for arrears hadn’t been able to do anything apart from throw themselves at the mercy of their lenders.

“Then we got the Mortgage Rights (Scotland) Act, and this means that people can go to court to try and stop evictions.

“The number of people in Paisley and Renfrewshire looking for legal services for this problem has taken off in the past two years.

“The sharpest increase has been in the past six to nine months.

“The change in the economic landscape is the main factor – and people who, 18 months ago, thought it wouldn’t happen to them are facing difficulties.”

John said there has been a shift in the type of people walking through his door who are suffering poverty and hardship.

He said: “Now we are giving more and more people from professional backgrounds, who are facing problems, advice.

“People who work in sales and accountants are just some who come to us, and eviction and repossession are affecting the middle class now.

“But remedies do exist, we can apply to the courts for help and people can do things like sell their property to a housing association and rent it back from them until things change. ”

The community law centre gets a grant from the Scottish Executive to dish out legal advice, and it also operates legal aid cases.

It has four lawyers, two paralegals, three clerical staff and volunteers offering free advice on everything from housing and tenants’ rights to bankruptcy and employment law

The team will help, on a pro bono basis, where they can – but Scotland’s system of law centres is starting to buckle under the strain of high demand.

John said: “We fill in the holes in the system where there are a lack of services from the traditional High Street firms.

“The law is not always profitable for firms, and there can be a lack of services in some private firms, so we meet the unmet legal needs.

“The number of law centres will soon not be able to cope with the demand, and these will need government investment to expand. Or we need more centres.”

Eviction levels, nationally, account for up to 33 per cent of all civil litigation – even more than divorce. And around 70,000 Scots face landlord eviction or homelessness through hardship annually.

“Paisley and other Renfrewshire towns face issues with financial hardship , and this is more serious than the average local authority area,” John added.

His straightforward advice to Paisley Daily Express readers battling their bills is:

l Do not bury your head in the sand – get help.

l Speak to your mortgage lender quickly.

l Get a second opinion from an independent source and

l Come to Renfrewshire Law Centre.

l If you need help from Renfrewshire Law Centre pop in to see the team at 65-71 George Street in Paisley or phone 0141 561 7266 to book an appointment.