Did you know you can claim for housing disrepair compensation from your Landlord? What is Housing Disrepair? Housing disrepair is when a rented property needs repair for the property to be safe and suitable for tenants to live in. Examples of issues that cause disrepair:
- Damp (wherever it occurs in the house)
- Vegetation
- Vermin
- Faulty boiler
- External damage to brickwork
- Flooring and
stairs being unsafe/broken
What is a Housing Disrepair claim? A housing disrepair claim is a claim against a landlord due to their negligence in order to make a property liveable and safe. If a landlord refuses to act on the property and fix the disrepair, tenants have the right to file a housing disrepair claim. Who can I claim against for Housing Disrepair?
- Private Landlord
- Housing association
- Local council
How do I claim for Housing Disrepair? There are a variety of steps to ensure you properly claim for housing disrepair. First you must write to your landlord explaining to them the details of the disrepair. If they do not respond and carry our repairs in a reasonable time frame, you can then contact your local housing authority to inspect the property and serve a notice to your landlord. After this contact a solicitor to help you file a claim. After assessing your claim, they would take you on a ‘no win no fee’ basis. The next step is to gather evidence of your claim (photos of damage, correspondence with your landlord.) After this the solicitor would draft a letter of claim and send it to your landlord. If they do not respond within 14 days, court proceedings would be issued by your solicitor. You would have to attend court where a judge would decide whether you deserve compensation for your housing disrepair claim. If you are successful, the compensation would help cover the cost of repairs as well as reimbursement of rent and compensation for any other damages. How long does a Housing Disrepair Claim take? These claims often take between 9-12 months, although it is important to note that each claim is different.
