Landlord Action who claim that they are the original UK eviction service for landlord and letting agents has recently acquired status as an ABS. As such it's now approved and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to conduct all the legal work on behalf of landlords and agents.

After more than a decade of adopting an anti-establishment position, it seems the firm has become part of the establishment. Founding partner Paul Shamplina says: “The internet is now full of copycats that appear to offer the same service as us – but they are not dedicated eviction specialists. We realise that our original idea has spawned an entire internet industry that endangers the very landlords and agents we originally set out to protect.

“Some are just a lone operator with a mobile phone. By getting the landlord to issue proceedings at court, they then don't carry any responsibility and can leave the agent and landlord exposed when things goes wrong.”

In 2012, in order to improve standards and provide a better service, Landlord Action decided to bring solicitors in-house and a new Legal Director was appointed. Justin Selig, a solicitor of 20 years, who is also a very experienced landlord with a mixed residential and commercial portfolio.

Although Landlord Action has acquired the status of a law firm it still only specialises in Housing Law. And it still only represents landlords and agents – never tenants.

Shamplina says: “Our new position is a recognition of our expertise and it will clearly differentiate us from these internet only based services that have tried to copy us.”