Housing and immigration legal aid fees to increase
01 Dec 2025
2 minute read
News
The government has today (1 December) announced that it is raising its fees for solicitors working in housing and immigration, effective from 22 December.
Law Society of England and Wales vice president Brett Dixon said: “For the first time in 30 years the UK government will enact a fee increase* for solicitors working in housing and immigration legal aid.
“Civil legal aid is a vital public service that supports our communities and reduces the strain on other public services.
“Our Frontier Economics** research was influential in shaping the proposed increase to rates for legal aid work under housing and immigration contracts, which is a significant step forward that was both necessary and overdue.
“We are disappointed that part of the expected increase is being held back, given it is long overdue, but we welcome the rise on behalf of our members.
“It will help ensure, at least in the short term, that we will all have adequate representation for issues such as evictions and housing disrepair. However, it will have limited long-term impact unless the government commits to maintaining rates in real terms ensuring the sustainability of law firms and a future pipeline of practitioners.
“The increase in fees is a positive first step by the government to properly fund the civil justice system. However, it must be followed up with further investment across all areas of civil legal aid, such as assisting survivors of domestic abuse and providing advice to help people obtain the social care that they need.”
The Law Society is the independent professional body that works globally to support and represent solicitors, promoting the highest professional standards, the public interest and the rule of law.