Housing Disrepair Fee Earner
Location: Bolton
Employment Type: Full-time, onsite
Salary: Depending on experience
Role Overview
An excellent opportunity has arisen for a motivated and experienced Housing Disrepair Fee Earner to join an established Housing Disrepair team in Bolton.
You will manage a caseload of Housing Disrepair claims from initial instruction through to settlement, ensuring that matters are progressed efficiently and clients receive a consistently high standard of service.
The role will involve reviewing evidence, assessing liability and quantum, progressing claims through the pre-action process, conducting negotiations and preparing cases for litigation where necessary.
You will work under the supervision of a Senior Housing Disrepair Solicitor, escalating complex, high-risk or litigated matters when appropriate.
Key ResponsibilitiesCase Management and Progression
- Manage an allocated caseload of Housing Disrepair claims.
- Take ownership of cases and ensure they are actively progressed towards resolution.
- Review new instructions and assess the merits, available evidence and appropriate next steps.
- Identify issues relating to notice, access, liability, causation, evidence and quantum.
- Draft and serve Letters of Claim and other pre-action correspondence.
- Review landlord responses, disclosure documents, repair records and supporting evidence.
- Obtain and review photographs, tenancy documents and further evidence from clients.
- Instruct and liaise with surveyors and other relevant experts.
- Review expert reports and identify any further evidence or action required.
- Maintain regular communication with clients and provide clear updates throughout their claims.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date case management records.
- Meet all internal, procedural and case progression deadlines.
Negotiation and Settlement
- Progress claims to negotiation promptly once sufficient evidence is available.
- Prepare clear, professional and well-reasoned responses to landlords and their legal representatives.
- Assess settlement offers with consideration for liability, evidence, quantum, repair works and litigation risk.
- Conduct negotiations with landlords, housing associations, local authorities and their legal representatives.
- Obtain and accurately record client instructions regarding settlement offers.
- Advise clients clearly on the benefits and risks of accepting or rejecting an offer.
- Progress appropriate settlements covering compensation, repairs and legal costs.
- Identify matters where negotiations have stalled and take appropriate action to move them forward.
- Escalate suitable cases for litigation instead of allowing them to remain inactive.
Litigation Preparation
- Identify cases that may require court proceedings and escalate them to the supervising Solicitor.
- Prepare files for litigation, ensuring all necessary evidence and documentation are available.
- Assist with drafting witness statements, schedules, pleadings and other litigation documents where appropriate.
- Support the supervising Solicitor with disclosure, expert evidence and preparation for hearings.
- Monitor limitation dates and immediately escalate any potential procedural or limitation risks.
- Comply with court directions and litigation deadlines on allocated matters.
Legal Quality and Compliance
- Conduct claims in accordance with the Housing Conditions Pre-Action Protocol and relevant housing legislation.
- Follow established procedures, precedents and supervisory requirements.
- Produce accurate, professional and well-reasoned legal correspondence.
- Ensure that advice, decisions and client instructions are properly recorded on the case management system.
- Identify and escalate legal, evidential, procedural, costs or compliance risks.
- Maintain high standards of client care and communication.
- Comply with SRA requirements and all relevant internal policies and procedures.
- Act constructively on supervisory feedback and contribute to ongoing training and development.
Essential Requirements
- Previous experience handling Housing Disrepair claims or working within a similar area of claimant civil litigation.
- A good understanding of Housing Disrepair claims and the relevant pre-action process.
- Experience managing a caseload and progressing matters with appropriate supervision.
- The ability to review evidence and identify issues affecting liability and quantum.
- Strong written communication and legal drafting skills.
- Confident negotiation skills.
- Excellent organisational and time-management abilities.
- The ability to manage a busy caseload and competing deadlines.
- Strong attention to detail.
- The ability to work independently while recognising when a matter requires escalation.
- A commitment to delivering excellent client care and high-quality legal work.
Desirable Requirements
- A law degree, LPC, SQE, CILEX qualification or another relevant legal qualification.
- Previous experience within a claimant Housing Disrepair practice.
- Experience dealing with social housing providers and local authorities.
- Experience negotiating Housing Disrepair settlements.
- Experience drafting legal rebuttals and responding to liability disputes.
- Knowledge of claims involving damp and mould, leaks, structural defects, heating, ventilation and other housing-condition issues.
- An understanding of the Civil Procedure Rules and County Court litigation.
- Experience preparing matters for issue or assisting with litigated claims.
- Experience supporting vulnerable clients.
The Opportunity
This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing legal team and take responsibility for a varied Housing Disrepair caseload. The successful candidate will benefit from senior supervision, ongoing professional development and the opportunity to strengthen their experience in both pre-action and litigated claims.
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