Cost of Living Crisis Clinic
We’re here to offer free advice to help combat the Cost-of-Living Crisis.
Our award-winning Cost of Living Crisis Clinic is open to everyone who lives in North Kensington (postcodes W10 or W11) and takes place at our Westway Trust office at 1 Thorpe Close.
We also offer outreach advice to Islington residents, at St Luke’s Community Centre, 90 Central Street, EC1 (see below).
Our specialist advice team is here to support you if you’re unsure about which benefits you’re entitled to, or if you’re finding it difficult to complete application forms for benefits, grants, or housing.
As a North Kensington resident, you may be entitled to a range of benefits. We know that completing the paperwork can be overwhelming, which is why our professional team, made up of legal volunteers, including staff from a City law firm. We’ll take the time to understand your individual circumstances and support you in accurately completing the necessary forms.
Who’s Eligible?
All residents of North Kensington (postcodes W10 or W11) are welcome to use the Clinic.
If you live in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea but not within postcodes W10 or W11, you can still access free advice services. Here’s a list of providers offering support to borough residents.
If you do not live in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and need free legal advice, you can contact Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133.
Make an Appointment
We are an appointment based service.
Our appointments are on Wednesdays, beginning at either 9am or 10am. Appointment bookings can be made two weeks in advance by contacting Westway Trust’s reception team on 020 8962 5720 or in person at our office.
Appointments are held at our office: 1 Thorpe Close, London, W10 5XL
Our Services
We offer assistance with benefit checks and filling in forms for a wide range of benefits. These include:
Disability Benefits
- Attendance Allowance (AA), for pensioners with disabilities
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA), for children with disabilities
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP), for those of working age with disabilities
- Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment (WCA), if you are too sick to work
Housing
- Homelessness Register Applications
- Housing Register Applications
Additional Support Areas
- Carer’s Allowance
- Council Tax Support
- Disability Parking Badge (Blue and Purple)
- Freedom Passes
- Grant Applications
- Housing Benefit
- Pension Credit
- State Retirement Pension
- Universal Credit
- 60+ Oyster Card
Help to Find Cheaper Tariffs
- We can also assist you in finding a lower Thames Water, electricity, gas or broadband tariff.
Appeals
- We may be able to offer you free representation at your disability appeal.
Islington Outreach
Additionally, we deliver outreach advice at St Luke’s Community Centre, EC1. This outreach is available to residents of the London Borough of Islington.
Our appointments are held on Tuesdays and begin at either 9am or 10am. Appointment booking opens two weeks in advance. If you require assistance, you can book an appointment by contacting St Luke’s reception on 020 7549 8181.
Appointments are held at St Luke’s Community Centre: 90 Central Street, London, EC1V 8AJ.
City Community Legal Advice Centre – Housing Disrepair Service
Residents of North Kensington are also eligible to attend the City Community Legal Advice Centre, which provides free legal help for social housing tenants facing problems with housing disrepair.
If you live in council housing or a housing association home and you are struggling to get your landlord to fix problems like mould, damp, leaks, unsafe conditions or other repairs, the City Community Legal Advice Centre (CityCLAC) may be able to help.
Our volunteers provide free, one-off legal advice and help you take the next steps in your landlord’s formal complaints process, if your case is suitable.
What we help with
Our service advises tenants experiencing problems such as:
- Mould or damp
- Leaks or water damage
- Broken windows, doors, locks, or structural issues
- Poor insulation or persistent cold
- Health and safety concerns
If your landlord has not taken steps to fix the disrepair after you reported the issues, we can help you prepare a formal complaint.
What we can do for you
We can:
Help with Stage 1 Complaints
Most social landlords must reply to a Stage 1 complaint within 10 working days. We can help you write this first complaint by making sure your problem is clearly explained and supported with any evidence you have.
Help with Stage 2 Complaints
If your landlord does not fix the issue, or you are not happy with their Stage 1 response, you can move your complaint to Stage 2. Landlords normally have 20 working days to respond at this stage. We can help you draft this escalation.
Help to Escalate to the Housing Ombudsman
If you have completed both stages of your landlord’s complaints process and you are still unhappy with the outcome, you can take your case to the Housing Ombudsman. This is a free and independent service. We can help you prepare the documents you need and explain how the Ombudsman process works.
Help With Uploading and Submitting Documents
If you need support submitting your complaint, we can upload your letter to your landlord’s system for you or help you complete any online forms.
Referrals for Further Support
Important: What our service cannot do
To help manage expectations, please note the following:
- We give one‑off advice, not ongoing casework. We can only advise on housing disrepair. If you have other housing issues — such as anti‑social behaviour, possession proceedings, or tenancy transfer requests — we will signpost you to services that deal with those matters.
- We cannot force your landlord to carry out repairs.
- We cannot act as your legal representative or take your case to court. We cannot conduct litigation on your behalf.
- We cannot advise private renters. We only support tenants in council or housing association housing.
- We cannot deal with emergencies. If there is an urgent risk (for example, a major leak or a dangerous hazard), you must report it to your landlord immediately, following standard social housing repair and complaints guidance.
How to contact us
The easiest way to get help is to complete our online enquiry form:
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE FORM
If you cannot fill in the form, please contact us by email or phone:
- clac@citystgeorges.ac.uk
- 020 7040 5414 (Leave a message and we’ll call you back within 24 hours)
Before you contact us
To help us give you advice more quickly, please try to:
- Report the problem to your landlord first. This is required for a Stage 1 complaint.
- Take photos or videos showing the issue.
- Keep evidence of how you reported the disrepair — for example, emails, messages, or repair reports you have already sent.
Guidance for social housing tenants says you should report the disrepair to your landlord first and make a complaint directly to them before taking any further action.
Who are the City Community Legal Advice Centre?
The City Community Legal Advice Centre (CityCLAC) is an award‑winning university Legal Advice Centre based at The City Law School, which is part of City St George’s, University of London in Clerkenwell Islington.
At CityCLAC, law students, academic staff, and volunteer lawyers provide advice and support on a range of legal issues. The service is run by experienced solicitors, and all students work under their supervision.
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