Team Support
Team Support
What Can I Claim Housing Disrepair Compensation For?
Our panel of housing lawyers have seen various types of housing disrepair claims over the years. The main cases relate to:
Damp and Mould
This occurs when a landlord has failed to deal with rising damp and mould. This sort of disrepair can cause a number of health issues, affecting breathing and your chest, particularly for children and older people. If your landlord is refusing to get rid of damp or mould, or is contesting whether it exists, we can help.
Unsafe Flooring and/or Staircases
Issues with the floorboards or faulty stairs can cause severe personal injuries. If you have pointed out the problems with your flooring and stairs and your landlord is refusing to carry out the required work, we can assist you.
Faulty Electrics
Having faulty electric outlets in the property can cause to massive injury. Your landlord should always ensure your home can pass an electrical safety certificate and that any loose wires or dodgy outlets are fixed as soon as possible.
Gas and Water Leaks
Gas and water leaks can cause massive problems for your home. Gas, in particular, can be lethal and should be fixed as soon as possible. If your landlord is refusing to help, our housing advisors can help.
Faulty or unsafe Heating System
Having hot water and heat in your home is required by law. If you have a faulty boiler or heating system and your landlord refuses to fix it, you may have a claim for compensation.
Issues with other parts of the home
Rotten doors and window frames, broken fences and gates, loose tiles and brickwork. All of these could constitute housing disrepair.
Infestations – Rats, Mice, Insects etc.
Failing to deal with an infestation can lead to massive discomfort to you and, in some cases, issues surrounding your health.
“Tenants’ lives are being destroyed by squalid, dangerous social housing, in unliveable, unthinkable situations.” – Dan Hewitt, ITV
What is the Housing Disrepair process?
- Get In Touch With Our Team
- Check You Are Eligible
- Gather Evidence
- Carry Out Repairs And Receive Compensation
We have made starting your housing disrepair claim as easy as possible. Simply fill out our quick and easy enquiry form to discover if you could be eligible for compensation. The ClaimExperts.co.uk panel provide a completely free, no-obligation review of your case to determine whether you have a case.
If our expert panel of housing solicitors believe you are eligible, they will begin to gather more evidence, such as photos of the disrepair, letters and emails sent to the landlord, and any medical reports from your doctor.
Our panel will then present the evidence to your landlord and negotiate your compensation, whilst also ensuring the repairs are carried out as soon as possible.
They will keep in touch with you throughout the process, and always use clear, easy to understand English.
How Can Our Legal Panel Help?
Our panel of Housing Disrepair Solicitors are experts in bringing claims against rogue landlords. We want to help tenants live in a safe, warm environment, without fear of being evicted.
Our panel of Housing Disrepair solicitors can lodge a claim on your behalf against your landlord, sending a letter to enforce them to carry out the repairs. If they refuse, we can take your landlord to court, though the majority of disputes are often settled outside of court.
Our panel work under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (LTA), which outlines all of your landlord’s responsibilities and obligations.
Research by Shelter found that 48% of families in social housing who reported issues about poor or unsafe conditions felt ignored or were refused help.
No Win, No Fee Housing Disrepair Claims
Our panel of expert housing disrepair solicitors also work on a No Win, No Fee basis, meaning if your housing claim is unsuccessful, you do not pay them anything at all.
We understand that those suffering from housing disrepairs are often not in the financial position to pay legal fees.
This is why our panel offer No Win, No Fee, which allows everyone to seek the legal representation they deserve, without the worry of adverse financial effects. In the unlikely event they are unsuccessful, you will have nothing to pay. There may be a termination fee if you cancel your claim with a panel member after the cooling-off period.
Speak to our panel today to find out more about funding options.
How Much Notice Does My Landlord Need?
You will need to notify your landlord as soon as you discover your disrepair, otherwise, you will not be able to bring about a claim. You are required to notify your landlord via email, text message, via letter, or in person (though we advise keeping evidence of the interaction):
- 21 Days before filing a housing disrepair claim
As mentioned above, email or text is recommended as you will have time and date evidence of you notifying your landlord.
How Much Can I Claim From My Landlord?
Every housing disrepair claim varies in severity, so we cannot determine how much you may be entitled until you get in touch with our experts. However, we can detail what damages you can seek. These include:
Damage to Property
If your personal property has been damaged, from mould or a leak, for example, you will be able to claim for the expense of replacing or repairing these items. Examples might include broken TVs, damaged bedding, clothes, carpets, and furniture.
Personal Injury
Housing disrepair can cause a number of adverse health effects, including:
- Pneumonia
- Asthma
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Depression and anxiety
If you or a family has suffered as a result of your landlord’s negligence you can claim compensation for:
- Medical costs
- Aftercare
- Medication
- Pain and suffering caused by the disrepair
General Inconvenience and Suffering
You do not need to have suffered an injury to claim compensation either. You can receive compensation if the disrepair has caused you inconveniences and suffering. For example, if you have been unable to use the bathroom or unable to cook.
Will I Need Evidence for Housing Disrepair Claim?
Yes, in order to lodge a successful claim you will need to provide our panel with some evidence. This includes:
- A copy of your tenancy agreement
- Copies of correspondence between you and your landlord – emails, texts, letters
- Photos of the disrepair, with dates on if possible
- Photos of your damaged property, with receipts of the property if you have had to replace items
- Medical reports indicating your health issues
- Any other expert evidence, for example, reports from a surveyor or an Environmental Health Officer
All of this evidence goes into building your housing disrepair claim and greatly help your case.
Who can claim Housing Disrepair Compensation?
While each case is different, our expert panel of housing disrepair solicitors will be able to tell you relatively quickly whether you have a claim for compensation. The criteria for an eligible claim includes:
- Whether you rent your home privately or through social housing
- The severity of the housing disrepair
- Whether you live in a house of flat
- The effect the disrepair has had on your health
- The length of time the disrepair has been present
- How often you have informed your landlord of the disrepair
- The steps your landlord has taken to repair the house
Our advice would be to contact our panel today if you believe you have a claim for compensation, as they can inform you if you have a good chance of succeeding with your claim.
Is There Legal Aid for Housing Disrepair Claims?
Despite legal funding being cut in 2013 for this type of case, your housing disrepair claim may be covered by legal aid in certain circumstances. In order for you to be eligible, you must show that the disrepair is causing a severe and immediate health hazard.
Legal Aid is also only applicable to those on a low income. You must have no savings or savings below £8,000. You will also usually not qualify if your total monthly income before tax is over £2,657.
You will automatically qualify if you currently receive universal credit or income support.
Our panel of housing solicitors can talk you through legal aid and other funding options.
Do I need to keep paying rent during the claim?
Yes, it is vital that you keep paying your rent, despite the instinct to stop paying. If you withhold rent it gives your landlord the opportunity to file a counterclaim against you for a breach of your tenancy agreement.
How long is the claim process?
No two claims are the same, and the length of the process is often determined by whether liability is admitted by your landlord. In most cases, a letter from our panel will result in property repairs being completed by your landlord in a matter of months. A small number of cases go to court, which could take between 9 and 12 months to obtain compensation.
How Can We Help With Your Housing Disrepair Claim?
Are you trying to get your landlord to carry out repairs in your home? Are they ignoring you or refusing to budge? Let our panel of disrepair solicitors help you force your landlord to carry out the repairs, and potentially pay you compensation for any damages.
Our legal panel has experience in bringing successful claims against rogue landlords who fail to carry out repairs.
Claimportal.co.uk have compiled an expert group of housing disrepair solicitors who are highly experienced in helping people suffering due to the failures of their landlord. They understand that making a claim against your landlord is a stressful time, and may appear daunting at first. They are here to make sure the process remains as straightforward and as stress-free as possible.