This should be a happy and exciting time for young people – and for many it will be the first time they will live away from home in their own accommodation.

However, renting a first house or flat can be a complex and stressful challenge for students. Sometimes it can be stressful for the landlord too!

There may be difficulties over rent, property maintenance, and – when the time comes to leave – deductions made from deposits.

Often parents have to intervene to try to resolve these issues.

I would like to remind your readers that the Legal Services Commission can help with advice on housing problems.

We work with skilled and dedicated advice providers to ensure that people, including some of the most vulnerable in society, get quality-assured help when they need it.

Wherever possible, we help people resolve problems early and without resort to the courts.

This ensures that stress, and disruption to studies, is kept to a minimum and that we at the LSC make best use of taxpayers' money.

As part of our mission to improve access to justice, the LSC runs Community Legal Advice, a free and confidential advice service paid for by Legal Aid.

The website - www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk - has leaflets providing useful advice on many issues including housing, and people on a low income or benefits can call 0845 345 4345 for independent advice about housing problems.

PETER NELSON
Regional Director
Legal Services Commission
North


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