---
title: "HALA Legal Services (Solicitors) Framework"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0599ce"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0599ce"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0599ce.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0599ce.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "SOUTHERN HOUSING"
published: "2026-02-13"
---

# HALA Legal Services (Solicitors) Framework

Buyer: SOUTHERN HOUSING  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0599ce

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## Summary

Southern Housing, operating as a sub-central public authority, has issued a tender for legal services as part of the Housing Associations’ Legal Alliance (HALA) Legal Services (Solicitors) Framework. The procurement, currently in the tender stage, is conducted through an open procedure with an anticipated total value of £96 million gross, covering seven lots: Corporate, Governance & Finance, Housing & Asset Management, Development, Commercial Property, Residential Property, Employment, and Construction Litigation. The tender, which seeks legal advisers to enter into a framework agreement, is primarily focused within the services category and falls under the light-touch regime. The framework agreement will be accessible predominantly to HALA's evolving membership, and organisations must submit their tender documents by 23rd March 2026 at 12:00 pm GMT. The awarded framework is expected to begin on 1st September 2026 and may extend up to 31st August 2030.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for legal firms, particularly those experienced in serving public authorities and the social housing sector, to expand their business. Firms that provide comprehensive legal advisory services across diverse areas such as property management, housing litigation, employment, and construction law would be well-suited to compete in this procurement process. The inclusion of lots tailored to specific legal service areas allows specialised organisations to secure work aligned with their expertise, fostering growth through a fixed-term framework with the potential for renewal. This framework encourages participation from SMEs, offering them leverage to influence the tendering process through preliminary market engagement and positioning themselves advantageously in a potentially lucrative legal services market.

## Notice

The Housing Associations' Legal Alliance (HALA) members wish to enter into a framework agreement with a number of legal advisers in relation to legal services. The legal services, under the Framework, will cover seven (7) lots. These are: Lot 1: Corporate, Governance & Finance Lot 2: Housing & Asset Management Lot 3: Development Lot 4: Commercial Property Lot 5: Residential Property Lot 6: Employment Lot 7: Construction Litigation Tender documents are available to download at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/respondToList.html?accessCode=54584464R9 To view this notice, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1014370150

### Lot Information

Corporate, Governance & Finance

The organisations appointed shall provide legal advisory services to the HALA Members in relation to Corporate, Governance & Finance work for which the HALA Members require legal input, including but not limited to: CORPORATE: *Acquisitions and disposals *Stock transfers *New business opportunities *Amalgamations and restructuring *Joint ventures and subsidiaries *Corporate Policies and Procedures *Cyber-security and cyber attacks IT and information law: *Data Protection *System maintenance & support agreements *Defamation and the internet *Intellectual property Contracts and Procurement: *Commercial contracts (including Supporting People contracts) *Commercial Disputes *Dispute Resolution and Mediation *Procurement law GOVERNANCE: *Code of Governance *Corporate Governance *Constitutional Reviews *Board member powers and responsibility *Regulations *Company Law *Charity Law *Registered Provider Registration and PFI *Industrial and Provident Society Law *Care Quality Commission advice FINANCE: *Banking and Finance including: o Raising of bank funding o Capital markets issuance and hedging arrangements o Development draw-down funding (including contracts with the HCA / GLA) o Grant applications e.g. Big Lottery funding o Charging and security work o Taxation advice *Debt recovery advice *Miscellaneous advice such as occasional advice on such matters as Financial inclusion/general advice to tenants, consumer credit license issues, health & safety, building safety, defamation, fraud, insolvency, judicial reviews and public law issues including Human Rights Act. EMPLOYMENT: *General employment law advice The Lot descriptions are not exhaustive. If the HALA Members and/or OCBs instruct the appointed organisations on matters not explicitly listed within the Lot description, the applicable Framework hourly rates or Fixed Fee, along with the terms of the Framework Agreement, will continue to apply and govern the charges.

Renewal: Option to extend for a period, or periods, of up to twelve months to 31st August 2030

Housing & Asset Management

The organisations appointed shall provide legal advisory services to the HALA Members in relation to Housing & Asset Management work for which the HALA Members require legal input, including but not limited to: ASSET MANAGEMENT: * Disrepair claims * Gas servicing and other access injunctions * Dilapidations GENERAL HOUSING ADVICE, SUCH AS: * Tenancy agreement advice * Anti-social behaviour advice, including domestic abuse advice * Housing benefit advice * Service charge advice * Supported and sheltered housing advice * Estate management board advice * Advice on complaints * Judicial Review * Welfare reform updates HOUSING MANAGEMENT POLICY ADVICE, SUCH AS: * Drafting and advising on new forms of tenancy and licence agreement * Rent setting advice * Policy drafting, approval and annual health checks * Advice on procedures - this may include drafting all or part of a procedure HOUSING LITIGATION, SUCH AS: * First Tier Tribunal advice and advocacy * Anti-social behaviour proceedings (including injunctions, committal) * Possession succession * Possession proceedings (all types), including: o Rent arrears procession proceedings o Non-rent arrears possession proceedings o Assured shorthold accelerated possession claims o Terminating licence agreements and obtaining possession * Unlawful assignments * Trespassers * Tenancy Fraud * Evictions * Enforcement / forfeiture * Supported housing disputes * Service charge disputes * Dispute Resolution and Mediation LEASEHOLDS: * Data protection * Energy supply agreements with residents * Building Safety Act advice and assistance * Managing agents contracts and service level agreements * Leaseholder disputes * Heat networks * Leasehold and shared ownership sub-letting * Deceased leaseholders where executors not meeting their obligations or where no monies in estate * Managing Agent issues including those arising from Tri-Partite agreements i.e. RP, Leaseholder and Managing Agent * Service charge issues (including sinking fund disputes) * Leasehold Valuation Tribunal advice and advocacy The Lot descriptions are not exhaustive. If the HALA Members and/or OCBs instruct the appointed organisations on matters not explicitly listed within the Lot description, the applicable Framework hourly rates or Fixed Fee, along with the terms of the Framework Agreement, will continue to apply and govern the charges

Renewal: Option to extend for a period, or periods, of up to twelve months to 31st August 2030

Development

The organisations appointed shall provide legal advisory services to the HALA Members in relation to Development work for which the HALA Members require legal input, including but not limited to: PLANNING: * Planning advice * Planning Agreements e.g. s.106 and s.111 DEVELOPMENT: * Establishing development-related management companies including joint ventures * Governance structures, in relation to Development / Joint Ventures * Public private partnerships * Development Funding (including HCA Help to Buy agreements) * PFIs, including procurement for school PFIs * Procurement advice * Frameworks for consultants and contractors * Consultant appointment letters * Compulsory Purchase Orders * Acquisitions/disposals of land/buildings * Acquisitions/disposals of tenanted stock * Statutory Agreements e.g. s.38. 278, 104 * Development Agreements * Construction Agreements (including collateral warranties) * Grant agreements * Management Agreements *Novation agreements * Parent Company Guarantees * Wayleaves and other utility agreements * ESCo/MUSCo leases and concession agreements * Tenure, residential and affordable developments * Bonds * Building licences * Site Assembly * Contract amendments * Development disputes (including litigation) * Environmental issues * Advice in relation to sustainability, regulations and compliance * Building Safety Act advice and assistance * Health and Safety, including fire safety and asbestos * Care homes and later living properties * Construction litigation advice SALES: *Shared Ownership, including setting up shared ownership schemes including; odrafting lease incorporating requirements of planning agreements *New Build Plot Sales *Option to purchase *Staircasing (not final and final) *Resale/Assignment to new owner *Open market sale *Build to rent *Easements *Overage *Lifting of restrictive covenants *Surrenders *Repossessions *Managing Agent issues including those arising from Tripartite Agreements i.e. RP, Leaseholder and Managing Agent *Energy supply agreements with residents *Property taxation advice *Lease management, including: o licences to assign o licences for alterations, o deeds of variations, o lease extensions The Lot descriptions are not exhaustive. If the HALA Members and/or OCBs instruct the appointed organisations on matters not explicitly listed within the Lot description, the applicable Framework hourly rates or Fixed Fee, along with the terms of the Framework Agreement, will continue to apply and govern the charges.

Renewal: Option to extend for a period, or periods, of up to twelve months to 31st August 2030

Commercial Property

The organisations appointed shall provide legal advisory services to the HALA Members in relation to Commercial Property work for which the HALA Members require legal input, including but not limited to: PURCHASE AND SALE: * Property rationalisation including purchases, disposals, stock swaps, TUPE (employment issues) * Purchases/disposals of real estate (general) * Auction acquisitions and disposals * Title Investigations * Taking leases * Plot sales (commercial) * Tenanted sales initiatives * Tenanted transfers including overage agreements * Establishing property joint ventures * Consent issues relating to restrictions on title, including lifting of restrictive covenants * Construction contracts (including professional services contracts) * Overage * Property Taxation advice PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: *Easements *Agreements for lease/licences *Granting leases *Lease management, including: o licences to assign, o licences for alterations, o deeds of variation, o lease extensions, o rent review memoranda etc * Management Agreements * Advice relating to existing leases and management agreements * Commercial Lease renewals and surrenders * Ground rent issues * Serving section 25 and s26 notices and responding to the same when served * Novation agreements * Wayleaves and other utility agreements * Boundary dispute advice CONTENTIOUS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY & LITIGATION: * Property litigation * Dilapidations * Adverse Possession, including Traveller issues * Re-possession of premises * Dispute Resolution and Mediation The Lot descriptions are not exhaustive. If the HALA Members and/or OCBs instruct the appointed organisations on matters not explicitly listed within the Lot description, the applicable Framework hourly rates or Fixed Fee, along with the terms of the Framework Agreement, will continue to apply and govern the charges.

Renewal: Option to extend for a period, or periods, of up to twelve months to 31st August 2030

Residential Property

The organisations appointed shall provide legal advisory services to the HALA Members in relation to Residential Property work for which the HALA Members require legal input, including but not limited to: PURCHASE AND SALE: * Purchases and sales of individual residential units (freehold/leasehold) * New build plot sales (freehold/leasehold) * Independent Supported Living purchases * Lifting of restrictive covenants * Auctions * Sales under Right To Buy, Right To Acquire / Social HomeBuy PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: * Easements * Leasehold enfranchisement * Absent landlords (overseas etc) * Boundary dispute advice * Energy supply agreements with residents * Service charge issues (including sinking fund disputes) * Leasehold Valuation Tribunal advice and advocacy SHARED OWNERSHIP: *Staircasing (not final and final) *New Build plot sales *Resale/Assignment to new owner *Easements * Lifting of restrictive covenants * Surrenders * Repossessions * Managing Agent issues including; o those arising from Tripartite Agreements i.e. RP, Leaseholder and Managing Agent * Lease management e.g. o licences to assign, o licences for alterations, o deeds of variations, lease extensions The Lot descriptions are not exhaustive. If the HALA Members and/or OCBs instruct the appointed organisations on matters not explicitly listed within the Lot description, the applicable Framework hourly rates or Fixed Fee, along with the terms of the Framework Agreement, will continue to apply and govern the charges.

Renewal: Option to extend for a period, or periods, of up to twelve months to 31st August 2030

Employment

The organisations appointed shall provide legal advisory services to the HALA Members in relation to Employment work for which the HALA Members require legal input, including but not limited to: EMPLOYMENT ADVICE: *Recruitment and retention *Employment status *Employment contract issues * Employment & HR policies and procedures * Disciplinary and Grievance matters * Employee and industrial relations * Parental leave * Redundancy * TUPE * Agency workers * Hybrid and flexible working * Collective agreements EMPLOYMENT CLAIMS: * Employment Tribunal Claims * Employment Appeals Tribunal/Court of Appeal/Supreme Court proceedings * Employment Claims in the County Court and High Court * Unfair and constructive dismissal *Unlawful deduction from wages * Discrimination * Bullying, harassment and victimisation * Equal Pay * Defamation * Whistleblowing * Trade Union rights and industrial action * Judicial Mediation and other forms of dispute resolution/litigation avoidance * Confidentiality and settlement agreements * Special Severance Payments PENSIONS: * Pensions The Lot descriptions are not exhaustive. If the HALA Members and/or OCBs instruct the appointed organisations on matters not explicitly listed within the Lot description, the applicable Framework hourly rates or Fixed Fee, along with the terms of the Framework Agreement, will continue to apply and govern the charges.

Renewal: Option to extend for a period, or periods, of up to twelve months to 31st August 2030

Construction Litigation

The organisations appointed shall provide legal advisory services to the HALA Members in relation to Construction Litigation work for which the HALA Members require legal input, including but not limited to: * Contentious Construction * Construction litigation, including; * Fire related defects * Cladding * Building Safety Act advice and assistance * BSA claims * Advice in relation to fire remediation * Advice in relation to boundary disputes * Contractor Insolvency * Adjudication * Dispute Resolution and Mediation The Lot descriptions are not exhaustive. If the HALA Members and/or OCBs instruct the appointed organisations on matters not explicitly listed within the Lot description, the applicable Framework hourly rates or Fixed Fee, along with the terms of the Framework Agreement, will continue to apply and govern the charges.

Renewal: Option to extend for a period, or periods, of up to twelve months to 31st August 2030

### Planning Information

HALA is conducting Preliminary Market Engagement through the provision of a Supplier Questionnaire. 
Comments provided by suppliers will help shape and inform the approach to the re-procurement of the current HALA Legal Services Framework.
Suppliers are invited to submit their questionnaire responses by Friday 26th September at 5pm.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013653-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning, Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Feb 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 23 Mar 2026 |
| Future notice date | 9 Mar 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £80,000,000 |
| Lots value | £86,840,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SOUTHERN HOUSING |
| Additional buyers | KENNEDY CATER |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | Central London |
| Postcode | EC1M 5LA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79100000 - Legal services
- 79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services
- 79111000 - Legal advisory services

## Release History

- 13 Feb 2026 at 19:05 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013653-2026
- 15 Sep 2025 at 13:05 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056587-2025
- 12 Sep 2025 at 18:05 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056378-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013653-2026
  13th February 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056587-2025
  15th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056378-2025
  12th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/respondToList.html?accessCode=54584464R9

## Notice URLs

- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1014370150
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0599ce. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0599ce.json.