Reclamations for Housing Defects
Housing disrepair claims are a way to get compensation for damage caused by your landlord’s failure to carry out repairs. Whether you live in private rented accommodation or a council, housing association or social housing, it’s possible to make a claim.
Landlords have a legal obligation to keep a rented property in good condition and repair any faults that they’re aware of. This includes maintaining the structure and external walls, drains and pipework for gas, water and heating.
Damage to your possessions
If you suffer damage to your possessions, such as your clothes, bedding or books due to condensation, mould or damp, then you may be able to claim compensation for housing disrepair. You can also claim for any damage caused by faulty electrical appliances.
It is important to keep copies of all correspondence with your landlord, including emails and text messages. This will help to strengthen your case and prove that the landlord is not addressing the problem adequately.
In addition, you should have evidence of any other expenses or losses you have incurred as a result of the disrepair, such as increased electricity bills and the replacement of furniture damaged by mould. These are known as ‘special damages’.
Damage to your health
Housing disrepair can be a real threat to your health. It can cause breathing problems like asthma and pneumonia, injury from falling or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Living in an unsafe rented home can also have a damaging effect on your mental well-being. You may suffer stress and anxiety or feel the need to sleep less.
There are several legal obligations that landlords have to fulfil, including ensuring that their properties are safe for tenants to live in. If they fail to meet these requirements, you could be entitled to claim compensation.
The UK Government has published several documents to help you to understand your rights. They also recommend that you report any disrepair to the local council.
Damage to your property
To claim housing disrepair compensation, you need to prove that your landlord has breached their duty of care towards you. This means that they have failed to carry out repairs on the property within a reasonable timeframe (or at all).
Your landlord must also ensure that your home is safe and meets the quality standard of habitation as set out in the Residential Tenancies Act 2006. A poor state of your rental home can have a significant impact on your health and well-being and could even pose a risk of injury.
To strengthen your case, you need to send a letter detailing the problems and giving your landlord a timescale for the repairs. You can also include photos showing the damage to your rental property. Contact housing disrepair solicitors London to make a housing disrepair claim.
Damage to your reputation
Housing disrepair claims are increasing and can be a significant drain on resources for landlords. Many landlords are reporting that they are being proactively targeted by claim management firms through door-to-door canvassing, mail shots and other methods, often at whole estates or areas at one time.
If you have reported disrepair to your housing association or council and they have not carried out the repairs, you may be able to make a compensation claim against them for the costs involved. The amount of compensation that you receive depends on the severity of the disrepair, the length of time that the problem has been present and your inconvenience as a result.
You must keep good records of any complaints or works completed at your property, including copies of invoices and receipts. This will strengthen your defence of any housing disrepair claims.
