Tenant Communication Rights During Legal Claims: What Landlords and Agents Can (and Can’t) Do

“Disclaimer:Tenant Support UK is not a law firm and does not provide regulated legal advice. All content on this website is for general informational purposes only, based on publicly available legal guidance and personal experience. If you need legal advice tailored to your situation, please consult a qualified solicitor or a trusted housing advice service.“

If you’re a tenant in the UK representing yourself in a housing dispute, and you’ve filed a legal claim against your landlord, letting agent, or property manager, here’s something the other side might not want you to know:

You are NOT automatically prohibited from contacting people just because they work for the defendant.

Yet, time and time again, self-represented tenants are told things like:

“You’re not permitted to contact our client or any of their employees.”

Sound familiar? It’s designed to intimidate you, to make you back off. But let’s break it down legally and factually.

The Civil Procedure Rules Are On Your Side

The Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) govern all civil legal cases in England and Wales. Nowhere do they say that you, as a claimant or litigant-in-person, are barred from contacting:

Someone you’ve named in the claim (unless they’re represented), or

A third party who has not been formally identified as a defendant or legally represented.

CPR 42.2 makes it clear: representation must be formally declared. If it hasn’t been filed with the court, it does NOT exist for the purposes of the claim.

Letting Agents Are Not Automatically Protected

If you’ve dealt exclusively with a letting agent, someone who collected rent, sent messages, denied your tenancy rights but the defense only mentions the landlord or a sole trader business, that agent is not protected by legal representation unless:

Their name appears in the defense, and

The solicitor has officially stated they represent them.

Otherwise? They’re not covered. You can contact them within legal limits.

The SRA Code of Conduct Binds Solicitors

Solicitors must follow the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Code of Conduct. Rule 1.2 says:

“You do not mislead or attempt to mislead your clients, the court or others.”

So if a solicitor tries to intimidate you by falsely claiming you can’t speak to someone who isn’t legally represented, they may be breaching their ethical duties.

How to Respond When a Solicitor Tries to Shut You Down

You could Use this:

“Unless and until your firm has formally confirmed that [Name] is a named client in this matter and has filed appropriate notice to the court, I do not accept that any legal restriction exists preventing lawful communication. Please cite the relevant provision of the Civil Procedure Rules or SRA Code of Conduct that supports your position.”

Now the pressure’s back on them, where it belongs.

Final Word: Don’t Be Intimidated

Solicitors know that many tenants give up at the first legal threat. That’s why they rely on vague warnings like “you’re not allowed to contact our client’s employees.” But unless it’s backed by a court order, formal representation, or the law, it’s a bluff.

Stand your ground. Stay respectful. Keep your evidence.

And if you need help? That’s what we’re here for.

The Toolbox: 9 Ways to Fight Back Without Moving to Mars