A conditional fee agreement means you only pay your lawyer if you win.

It is sometimes called ‘no win no fee’.

How conditional fee agreements work

If you win your case:

• your landlord usually pays your legal costs

• you might have to pay your solicitor out of your compensation

The money you pay your solicitor is called a 'success fee'.

If you lose your case, you:

• do not pay the solicitor

• might have to pay your landlord's legal costs

When could you claim compensation?

You can claim compensation if your landlord did something wrong. For example, if they:

• evicted you without going to court

• protected your deposit late or not at all

• did not do the repairs they were responsible for

Check the conditional fee agreement carefully

Ask the solicitor to explain:

• what money you might have to pay

• anything that is not clear

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has information on what your solicitor should tell you.

Find a solicitor on the Law Society website.