Housing Disrepair Claims
At Advantage Solicitors, our UK Housing Disrepair Solicitors specialise in helping tenants claim compensation when landlords fail to maintain safe and habitable homes. If your property suffers from damp, leaks, mould, faulty heating, or structural damage, our legal team can help you take action and secure the repairs and financial compensation you deserve.
- 0208 807 1676
Housing Disrepair Overview
Living with disrepair is very unpleasant and sometimes can result to you/occupants developing a condition which can impact your health. If you are a tenant living in rented accommodation, regardless if the landlord is a local authority, a housing association, a company or an individual, they will usually be under a legal duty to keep the rented in home in a good state of repair. When your landlord fails to deal with these issues you may be entitled to make a housing disrepair claim.
If you are living with mould, leaks, damp, broken heating, or other unsafe conditions in your rented property, you may be entitled to a housing disrepair claim. At Advantage Solicitors, we help tenants get the repairs they need and claim compensation for the inconvenience and damage caused. Our experienced team will assess your case for free and guide you through the process from start to finish. Take action today and make your home safe and comfortable again — call 0208 807 1676 or request a free consultation online.
What you need to know?
Housing disrepair relates to matters where the property you rent is not maintained and repairs to the property are not dealt with, for example:
- Damp and mould
- Leaking roofs or windows
- Broken heating or hot water systems
- Structural issues (e.g., cracks, subsidence)
- Faulty electrics or plumbing
- Pest infestations
- Unsafe flooring or staircases
Your rights as a tenant
Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, landlords are required to keep the structure and exterior of your home in good repair, as well as installations for the supply of water, gas, electricity,
sanitation, and heating. If your landlord fails to carry out necessary repairs within a reasonable time after being notified, you may have grounds for a claim.
When a landlord fails to promptly carry out repairs, the tenant may bring a claim in the county court for damages and an order that repairs be promptly carried out.
- To successfully bring a claim for disrepair a tenant must prove that:
- The home suffers from actionable defects; and
- The landlord has knowledge of the actionable defects; and
- The landlord has failed to remedy the actionable defects within a reasonable period of time
of receiving knowledge of them.
An actionable defect arises where something that the landlord is under an obligation to keep in repair is defective. The most common repairing obligation arises from section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 , which implies a term into residential tenancies of less than seven years requiring landlords to keep in repair:
- The structure and exterior of the home (eg, the walls, roof, external doors and windows, and
the internal walls and ceilings – including plasterwork); - The sinks, baths, lavatories and other sanitary fittings, including pipes and drains and
guttering; - The central heating, gas fires, fireplaces, flues, ventilation and chimneys; and
- The gas pipes, electrical wiring and some appliances provided.
What You Can Claim For
- Repairs to the property
- Compensation for inconvenience and distress
- Compensation for damaged belongings
- Reduction in rent if the property was partly or wholly uninhabitable
Personal Injury from Housing Disrepair
If you have suffered a physical injury or illness due to housing disrepair, you may also be entitled to make a personal injury claim.
Common Injuries and Illnesses
- Respiratory problems due to damp and mould
- Injuries from slipping or tripping on damaged flooring or stairs
- Electrical shocks from faulty wiring
- Burns from broken heating systems
- Infections from pest infestations or poor sanitation
Making a Personal Injury Claim
To make a personal injury claim, you will need to show that:
1. The injury or illness was directly caused by the housing disrepair.
2. The landlord was aware of the disrepair and failed to act within a reasonable time.
3. Medical evidence supports your injury or illness.
What You Can Claim For
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Loss of earnings
- Care and assistance
- Travel costs for medical treatment
What we will need to assess your claim
- All communications with the landlord
- Photographic or video evidence of the defect
- Detail of your losses
- Details of the injuries sustained and your attendance to GP/Hospital
Has your landlord failed to fix the disrepair in your home?
You do not have to live with mould, leaks, damp, or broken heating. Our housing disrepair specialists can help you get the repairs done and claim compensation for the stress and damage caused. Contact us today for a free case assessment.
Living in Poor Housing Conditions? You May Have a Claim.
If your rented property has issues such as damp, mould, leaks, or structural damage and your landlord has failed to carry out repairs, you may be entitled to compensation.
At Advantage Solicitors, we help tenants hold landlords accountable and secure both the necessary repairs and financial compensation for the inconvenience caused.
Fill out the form below and let our housing disrepair specialists review your case today.