Judge slams unregulated eviction firms after fake solicitor caught running bogus legal operation
A man who posed as a solicitor while handling eviction cases without proper authorisation has been handed a suspended sentence, as housing experts and judges warn of a wider problem with unregulated legal operators in the private rental sector.
Sasha Charles, 31, was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court after carrying out what the judge called a “deliberate, planned and sophisticated” deception. For nearly four years, Charles falsely presented himself as a solicitor in civil proceedings, including using the title “claimant’s solicitor” during litigation between July 2019 and April 2023.
Presiding over the case, District Judge Paul Goldspring made the implications clear. “You are sentenced for the carrying out of regulated activities, regulated by the Legal Services Act 2007, which—unless you are registered and under the umbrella of regulatory bodies that police such activities—you are not entitled to do.”
Charles is listed as a director of Landlord Advice UK Limited, a firm connected through its registered address and website links to the British Landlords Association (BLA). The BLA had previously promoted the company as a recommended ‘specialist’.
Following the revelations, BLA chairman Sajjad Ahmad sought to distance the association from the scandal. “The BLA is an ethical organisation. Our directors are all Christians and pastors of churches, and therefore we are committed to conducting business ethically,” he said. Ahmad insisted that Charles is no longer involved with any firm recommended by the BLA.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe court heard Charles not only referred to himself as a ‘solicitor’ but also filed paperwork with Companies House describing himself as a ‘lawyer’. However, the judge clarified that no client had lost money due to Charles’ actions and accepted mitigating factors, including claims that Charles had ADHD and was coerced into the business by his family.
Despite the seriousness of the offence, Charles was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years. He must complete 100 hours of unpaid work and attend 15 rehabilitation sessions. His firm was fined £12,000, and he was personally ordered to pay £3,000 in costs.
The case has reignited concerns about the growing number of unregulated ‘tenant eviction specialists’ operating outside legal oversight. Legal commentator Giles Peaker said he raised alarms as far back as 2018, when he publicly challenged Charles on social media over his legal credentials.
David Smith of law firm Spector, Constant & Williams warned landlords to be wary of firms offering cut-price services. “They say solicitors are too expensive, and they can do the job cheaper. But they have no insurance, no redress scheme, and no qualifications at all,” he said. “When cases get complicated, these operators are likely to cause more harm than good.”
Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action—a regulated legal firm—said the incident highlights a need for enforcement. “Our fixed-fee eviction model inspired a wave of unregulated imitators. I turned Landlord Action into a regulated firm to protect clients and separate ourselves from these outfits,” he said.
With the upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill set to abolish ‘no fault’ Section 21 evictions, Shamplina believes the stakes will only rise. “The SRA must take stronger action. Landlords must understand the risks of using unregulated services—those risks will only get worse once new eviction rules kick in.”
