The Legal Aid Agency has extended the window to deliver the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service in Lancaster. Providers now have until 5pm (17:00) on Tuesday 25 November 2025 to submit an expression of interest, with full applications due by 5pm on Friday 5 December 2025. GOV.UK records the update on 18 November 2025.
HLPAS provides two strands of support across England and Wales: early legal advice for people at risk of possession, including related housing, debt and welfare benefits issues; and on‑the‑day in‑court duty advice and advocacy for anyone facing possession proceedings. The service is free at the point of use and is available regardless of financial circumstances.
Eligibility is tightly defined. The LAA is inviting expressions of interest only from organisations that hold a 2024 Standard Civil Contract in Housing and Debt. The Agency intends to award the contract as soon as assessment is complete, with the Lancaster arrangement running to 30 June 2028. HLPAS procurement guidance confirms that HLPAS schedules require the 2024 contract with Housing and Debt authorisation.
Operational parameters for Lancaster are set out in the LAA’s area‑specific briefing. The in‑court duty scheme will cover Lancaster County Court at Lancaster Civil and Family Court, with possession listings currently on Thursdays. The Agency indicates 88 acts of assistance for the in‑court duty scheme over a 12‑month period and profiles Early Legal Advice matter starts at 112 (Dec 2025–Aug 2026), 150 (Sep 2026–Aug 2027) and 125 (Sep 2027–Jun 2028), noting these figures may adjust with the final start date.
Process steps are straightforward. Interested providers should email civil.contracts@justice.gov.uk by 5pm on Tuesday 25 November 2025 to register interest and receive the next steps. Completed applications must reach the LAA by 5pm on Friday 5 December 2025; late submissions will not be considered.
For residents, the procurement is designed to secure continuity of in‑court and early advice locally. The LAA’s Lancaster briefing notes there is currently no provider contracted to this HLPAS area, underscoring the need to restore coverage, while the national HLPAS guidance confirms users do not face means‑testing barriers to access.
The Lancaster HLPAS area aligns with the West Lancashire Housing and Debt procurement region, covering local authorities including Lancaster City, Preston City, South Ribble, Fylde, Wyre, Chorley, Blackpool and West Lancashire, with neighbouring areas listed as East Lancashire, Wigan, St Helens, Knowsley and Sefton. Delivery expectations include face‑to‑face support for in‑court services, with remote advice acceptable for pre‑court work; listing patterns can be adjusted locally if required and agreed by parties.
Capacity planning should reflect indicative volumes only. The LAA cites national 2024 data suggesting around one quarter of possession listings might lead to legal aid claims under the in‑court duty scheme, but it gives no guarantees about actual volumes or value during the contract term. Providers should calibrate staffing for Thursday sittings and early advice throughput accordingly.
Key dates are therefore fixed at 25 November (EOI) and 5 December 2025 (applications), with contract commencement as soon as assessments conclude and an end date of 30 June 2028. Further detail, including the Lancaster specific briefing and wider procurement documents, is available on GOV.UK under “Housing Loss Prevention Advice Services 2025” and the HLPAS service page.