Regulator warns public about a website falsely claiming to be authorised for housing disrepair work
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued a warning to the public about a website claiming to offer housing disrepair services while falsely stating that it is regulated by the SRA.
The warning concerns a website operating at www.housingdisrepair.uk, which claims to assist individuals with housing disrepair claims and presents itself as being regulated by the SRA. According to the regulator, this claim is false.
The website provides contact details including a telephone number, an email address, and a postal address in Manchester. However, the SRA has stated that any business or transactions conducted through this website, or via the associated contact details, are not believed to be carried out by a firm or individual that is authorised or regulated by the regulator.
The SRA has confirmed that it does not authorise or regulate any organisation called Housing Disrepair UK. As a result, the website’s claims of regulatory status are misleading and could expose members of the public to potential financial or legal risk.
In its warning, the regulator stressed the importance of vigilance where firms or individuals claim to be regulated. It highlighted that such cases may involve identity misuse or false representations designed to give an impression of legitimacy.
The SRA advised that anyone who receives correspondence or encounters services claiming to be from the organisation should carry out their own due diligence before engaging. This includes independently verifying whether a firm or individual is authorised by checking the SRA’s records and using reliable, established methods to confirm authenticity.
The regulator also noted that additional verification steps may be required in some circumstances, such as consulting public records including company registers or telephone directories, particularly where there is uncertainty about the legitimacy of a business.
The warning forms part of the SRA’s ongoing efforts to protect consumers from unregulated legal service providers and misleading claims of authorisation. The regulator regularly publishes alerts where it identifies websites or entities that falsely suggest they are regulated, to help prevent harm to the public.
Members of the public are encouraged to exercise caution when seeking legal services online and to ensure that any firm or individual offering such services is properly authorised. The SRA has reiterated that checking regulatory status before entering into any agreement is a key step in safeguarding against potential scams.