Housing Disrepair Fee Earner in Bolton

Housing Disrepair Fee Earner

Location: Bolton

Salary: Depending on experience

Employment Type: Full-time, permanent

Working Arrangement: Onsite

Imperium Financial Recruitment is recruiting for an experienced Housing Disrepair Fee Earner to manage a varied caseload of claimant Housing Disrepair matters.

You will handle claims from initial instruction through to settlement, ensuring cases are progressed efficiently and clients receive a consistently high standard of service. The position involves reviewing evidence, assessing liability and quantum, progressing claims through the pre-action process, conducting negotiations and preparing suitable matters for litigation.

You will work with the support and supervision of a Senior Housing Disrepair Solicitor, escalating complex and litigated matters where appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage an allocated caseload of Housing Disrepair claims.
• Review new instructions and assess merits, evidence and appropriate next steps.
• Identify issues involving notice, access, liability, causation, evidence and quantum.
• Draft Letters of Claim and other pre-action correspondence.
• Review landlord responses, disclosure, repair records and supporting evidence.
• Obtain photographs, tenancy documents and relevant information from clients.
• Instruct and liaise with surveyors and other experts.
• Review expert reports and identify any additional evidence required.
• Keep clients regularly informed about the progress of their claims.
• Maintain accurate and current case-management records.
• Meet procedural, limitation and case-progression deadlines.

Negotiations and Settlement

• Progress suitable claims into negotiations once sufficient evidence is available.
• Draft clear responses and rebuttals to landlords and their representatives.
• Assess offers by considering liability, evidence, quantum, repairs and litigation risk.
• Negotiate with landlords, housing associations and legal representatives.
• Obtain and record client instructions on settlement proposals.
• Advise clients on the advantages and risks of accepting or rejecting offers.
• Progress settlements involving compensation, repair works and costs.
• Identify stalled negotiations and take appropriate action.
• Escalate suitable matters for litigation when required.

Litigation Preparation

• Identify matters that may require court proceedings.
• Prepare files and supporting documentation for litigation.
• Assist with witness statements, schedules, pleadings and court documents.
• Support the supervising Solicitor with disclosure and expert evidence.
• Assist with preparation for hearings.
• Monitor limitation dates and escalate procedural risks immediately.
• Comply with applicable court directions and litigation deadlines.

Legal Quality and Compliance

• Progress matters in accordance with the Housing Conditions Pre-Action Protocol and relevant legislation.
• Produce accurate, professional and well-reasoned legal correspondence.
• Record advice, decisions and case activity accurately.
• Identify and escalate legal, evidential, procedural, costs and compliance risks.
• Maintain excellent standards of client care and communication.
• Comply with SRA requirements and applicable policies and procedures.
• Respond positively to supervisory feedback and ongoing training.

Essential Requirements

• Previous experience handling Housing Disrepair claims or similar claimant civil litigation matters.
• Good knowledge of Housing Disrepair claims and the relevant pre-action process.
• Experience managing and actively progressing a caseload.
• Ability to assess evidence and identify issues affecting liability and quantum.
• Strong written communication and legal drafting skills.
• Confident negotiation skills.
• Excellent organisation and time management.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines and a busy caseload.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently while recognising when escalation is required.
• Commitment to delivering excellent legal work and client care.

Desirable Experience

• A law degree, LPC, SQE, CILEX qualification or another relevant legal qualification.
• Experience within a claimant Housing Disrepair practice.
• Experience dealing with social housing providers or local authorities.
• Experience negotiating Housing Disrepair settlements.
• Experience responding to liability disputes and drafting legal rebuttals.
• Knowledge of claims involving damp and mould, leaks, structural defects, heating and ventilation.
• Understanding of the Civil Procedure Rules and County Court litigation.
• Experience preparing matters for issue or supporting litigated claims.
• Experience working with vulnerable clients.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Fee Earner to join a busy Housing Disrepair team and develop their experience across case management, negotiation and litigation preparation.

To apply, please submit your CV through Reed.

Imperium Financial Recruitment is acting as a recruitment agency in relation to this vacancy.