Month: May 2021

What do you need to know about Housing Disrepair Claims?

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Housing Disrepair Claims, Uncategorised

Housing Disrepair Claims are here to protect the residents of council houses and the housing association against damages within their homes. It is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that a council home is habitable for residents and their families. If they do not fulfil their obligations as a landlord, they could be left liable for any damages to the property, the tenant or the tenant’s belongings. Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we understand that dealing with any type of claim can be extremely stressful. However, if you are being forced to live in squalid conditions, this can have a severe impact on your mental and physical health, as well as your quality of life. That’s why we are determined to get you the compensation that you deserve.

Around the UK, it has been found that over 76,814 council properties have been deemed as “non-decent” by the English Housing Survey. That’s why it’s time for you to get started on your Housing Disrepair Claim. This blog is going to be used to answer some of the basic questions you may have about these type of claims. However, if you want to learn more, speak to Gowing Law Solicitors today by phoning 0800 041 8350 or by emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk. You can also click on the button below to visit our website:

What are Housing Disrepair Claims?

If you are going to make a Housing Disrepair Claim, your home has been suffering from terrible damages that were not your fault. By living in a council home or the property of the housing association, your home is not your “own” property. You are renting it from someone else. That person is your landlord. Therefore, they are responsible for fixing any damages that may have occurred inside or around the outside of the property. If they refuse to fix it, ignore your complaints or outright claim that you should be the one to pay for the damages, you can make a Housing Disrepair Claim against them. It is their responsibility to ensure people can live in the property.

If they fail to do so, they are liable for any damages that occur. You could then claim compensation for any damages that you haven forced to endure. The extent of this compensation will depend on how severe your damages are and how long your landlord has left the problem to fester.

What is my landlord responsible for in my rented property?

Your landlord is responsible for the majority of your property if you are renting from them. This includes the structures and roofing of your house, as well as any essential furniture that was in the property to begin with, such as a toilet, oven or fridge. Some additional responsibilities of your landlord include:

Security
Fire safety
Gas, Electricity, Water, Sanitation maintenance
Damp and Mould problems
Broken windows and doors
Garden maintenance
Broken flooring or exposed nails

If you notice any of these problems in your house, you should let your landlord know immediately about the type of damages your home is experiencing. Send them your complaints in writing, as well as over email. That way they can respond to them as quickly as possible. Your landlord should then visit the property to inspect the damage before sending over an engineer to have the disrepair fixed.

Do I need to pay rent if I am going to make a Housing Disrepair Claim?

Yes! You do need to keep paying rent if you are thinking about making a Housing Disrepair Claim. The council house is still rented accommodation. That means you have to pay to be in it, even if it is entirely not up to standard. We understand that this can be extremely frustrating. But if you fail to pay rent, it is likely that your landlord could make a counter claim against you. If the counter claim is approved, you could be evicted from the house you live in or go into debt to pay back rent. So, always pay your rent on time! That way your claim can go smoother.

Can I make a claim if I no longer live in the house?

Unfortunately, if you no longer live in the rented property, there is no way you could make a claim. That is because the contract is over and you are no longer under the landlord’s “duty of care”. If you feel as if you are suffering from the negligence of the landlord, it’s essential that you make your claim as quickly as possible before you move out. That way you can get the compensation that you deserve.

Am I eligible for a Housing Disrepair Claim?

There are three categories that your claim needs to fall under in order to be eligible for compensation from a Housing Disrepair Claim. These are:

Don’t forget that you don’t just have to fall into one of these categories. Instead, you could fall into several. For instance, if you had a mould and damp issue in your bedroom, which could mean that you could no longer use your bedroom. This would be an example of inconvenience. The mould then started to grow on your clothes and fabrics. This would be an example of damage to your belongings. The mould then started to affect your breathing and worsened your asthma. This is an example of a personal injury. Don’t be afraid to tell your solicitor that you have suffered from several types of damages, including:

Physical Damages
Emotional Damages
Financial Damages
Loss of Opportunity
Technological Damages

The extent of your damages will affect the amount of compensation that you could be offered. So, make sure to be honest and let your solicitor know everything that has happened. They can give you an honest estimate about how much you could be owed and whether you are eligible at all.

What sort of evidence will I need to make Housing Disrepair Claims?

Just like a normal personal injury claim, you are going to need evidence to back up the allegations that have been made. Evidence can take many forms. This includes photographs, videos or CCTV of the damages. You can also use witness statements, financial receipts, diary entries, medical records, police reports and communication with your landlord. It may be a little difficult to collect evidence if you are currently trying to socially-distance from other people. However, as this is your home, you should be able to collect photographs at least of the damages. If you need advice on more specific types of evidence about your case, speak to your solicitor. They can help you understand what sort of evidence you are going to need to back up your case.

How much could I be owed from Housing Disrepair Claims?

This is where things can get a little complicated. Not every case is going to be awarded the same amount of compensation. The amount you receive depends on the damages you have suffered and how long the negligence has been going on for. Once you and your lawyer have established your claim, you can work on a settlement agreement. This is the amount of compensation you would be willing to accept for the damages from your landlord. Your landlord can choose whether or not they would be willing to agree to the settlement. If they refuse, this is when the case may be taken to court.

From our experience, compensation can range between £1,000 – £20,000. That’s why it’s so important for you to talk to a solicitor as quickly as possible. They can help you move forward and get the compensation that you deserve.

How long will it take to make a Housing Disrepair Claim?

You will have three years from the time the damages occurred to make a claim for your Housing Disrepairs. Your landlord is responsible for the damages and so we could advise you not to wait if you need the compensation to pay for the damages. It will take our solicitors one working day to figure out if you have a valid claim. From there, the timescale will depend on the complexity of your case. Our lawyers will keep you updated about how your claim is progressing. Feel free to get in touch to ask them questions at any time.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your Housing Disrepair Claims

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are determined to help as many clients as possible all over the UK. That way they can get the compensation that they deserve. Our solicitors can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to progress with the help of our law firm, we can offer our services on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means there will be no hidden fees to pay and you will always come out on top.

Contact Gowing Law today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. From there, our specialists will be in touch to answer your questions.

Hairdressing Claims: Keeping safe during the lockdown easing

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Hannah Fletcher - Accidents in Public, Blog, Covid-19, Hairdressing Accidents, Uncategorised

Now that the lockdown is easing down, you may be considering trying to capture a little bit of normality for yourself. After being in lockdown for over a year, it is nice to be able to go back out to restaurants, pubs and enjoy treatments from salons. One of the things you may be looking forward to the most is a visit to the hairdressers. It’s understandable. Terrible lockdown haircuts have become a thing. So, it may be time for you to enjoy a new look with the help of a professional. There will be some new rules in place when you visit a hairdressers to help you keep safe and the R level down. Unfortunately, even in the safest environments, accidents can still happen. If you do end up getting hurt during a trim, you should consider looking into Hairdressing Claims.

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we understand that it can be frustrating to get hurt at a hairdressers. Even if you have been a customer of your hairdresser for years, things can go wrong. If you are thinking about making a hairdressing claim, feel free to get in contact with Gowing Law for help. You can call us on 0800 041 8350 or click the button below to visit our website:

What has changed due to lockdown?

It’s wonderful news that lockdown has started to ease down! We have got through the worst of the pandemic and are slowly moving back to a new way of normal. Right now, Gowing Law is trying to help businesses all over the UK with their business interruption claims so they can continue trading now that the shops are re-opening. However, we also want to make sure that all of our clients are taking precautions when they visit public venues. One of the most popular places that are going to be visited are hairdressing salons. After all, no one wants to live with a lockdown haircut in the long term. There’s nothing wrong with visiting your local hairdressers, but keep in mind that there are going to be some social-distancing measures in place in order to keep you safe. Make sure to adhere them! These measures include:

Wearing a facemask when you’re in the salon
Sitting between screens to avoid contact with other customers
Only going into the salon for a select appointment
Using hand sanitizer regularly
Take time to use the NHS tracker to make sure the salon can put you on the track and trace
Submit to a Covid-19 temperature test and symptoms check
Follow the one-way system
Try avoid using the public toilet in the salon unless you’re desperate

If you feel concerned about the social-distancing policies in your local salon, you should let the salon owner know about them. That way they can make adjustments to keep you and their other customers safe. If you own a salon yourself, make sure to read up on government advice before you open to ensure you know what precautions you need to put in place to help customers feel safe.

What sort of hairdressing accidents could happen?

Now that we have discussed the current lockdown, and what you should do when you socially-distance in a salon, let’s have a small chat about the accidents that can go on in a hair salon. The owner of the salon has a responsibility to ensure that their customers are completely safe. This is known as a “duty of care”. Of course, not all accidents can be avoided by the owner. However, they need to take as many precautions as possible to ensure that no one gets hurt. If they do not take precautions then they could be guilty of negligence and be liable for any damages that you or their employees suffer.

Some of the most common types of hairdressing accidents include:

Of course, there are additional ways that you could get injured in an accident at a hairdressing salon. There is a chance that you could be hurt in an altercation with either an employee or a customer. If you have suffered from criminal injuries, these will need to be reported to the police as quickly as possible. That way no one else can get hurt.

What sort of evidence do I need if I am thinking about Hairdressing Claims?

One of the most important things that you are going to need for hairdressing claims is evidence. Your evidence is there to back you up about the type of damages that you have experienced. That way you can ask for a higher amount of compensation in return. The most common type of damages are physical damages, aka. Your physical injuries. However, you can also claim for emotional damages, financial damages and technology damages. In order to prove that you need to be compensated for these losses, it’s time to consider collecting the following evidence:

Photographs
Videos/CCTV
Witness Statements
Workplace Accident Book
Financial Receipts
Medical Records
Police Records
Diary Entries
Communication with third parties.

Make sure to keep safe whilst you check for evidence. If you have been seriously hurt and have suffered from serious injuries, you should focus on getting medical treatment as soon as possible. You also will want to make sure that you are still socially distancing whilst you are collecting your evidence. Your solicitor can provide you advice on how to get started, so make sure to get in contact with them as quickly as possible.

How long do I have to make Hairdressing Claims?

Honestly, you will have around 3 years from the time you got hurt in your salon. It will take time for your solicitor to build a case, therefore we would highly recommend that you get in contact about your claim as soon as possible. That way your lawyer can take their time to speak to the parties involved in order to get started on making a settlement agreement. If the case is complicated, you may have to go to court, but this is unlikely. However, if this does happen, it may take a while to get a court date. That’s why we would highly recommend that you get in touch with a law firm as fast as possible to get started.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help with Hairdressing Claims

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are proud that we can help clients all over the UK with their hairdressing claims. Our law firm can provide free advice and consultations for our clients. If you want to move further with our solicitors, they can offer their services on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top as you will never need to pay any hidden fees

Contact us today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. A specialist will then be in contact to help you get started on your claim.

Learn more about Hairdressing Claims!

We understand that our clients do not want to go into a claim without understanding the basics. That’s why our blog is dedicated to informing our clients about different types of legal claims. We also write about seasonal events, giveaways and competitions and updates about our law firm. If you want us to write about a specific topic, feel free to write into info@gowinglaw.co.uk.

We look forward to seeing you in our next blog!

What sort of evidence can I use to make a Housing Disrepair Claim?

Posted on May 24, 2021 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog

By making a Housing Disrepair Claim, you are looking to take back control of the state of your home and are making your landlord take responsibility for the negligence you have suffered from. We understand that living in a home that is full of disrepairs can be a bit of a nightmare of an experience. It’s understandable. Not only does it put you in a precarious position, but you may find that you get injured or your belongings are damaged due to the state of your home.

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we understand that the amount of stress you must be under in relation to the damages in your home. You may have been spending more time outside of your house or even be looking for alternative accommodations to stay at to avoid the problems altogether. You should not have to live in such awful conditions. That’s why the solicitors at our law firm are determined to fix your issues.

It’s time for you to make a Housing Disrepair Claim and get the compensation that you deserve. Our solicitors are here to support you and provide free advice to get you started. Why not call us on 0800 041 8350 or click on the button below for more information:

What sort of disrepairs is my landlord responsible for?

When you move into any sort of council housing or property owned by the housing association, it’s important that your landlord is held responsible for any repairs for the building or areas of the property that they own. In general, they own a large majority of the property as you are a renter. Their responsibilities include looking after:

Security
Fire safety
Gas, electricity, heating, water and sanitation maintenance
Wall and roofing structure problems
Garden construction
Damp and mould problems
Any furniture/ essential items that are owned by the landlord

Your landlord owes you a “duty of care”. This means that they are responsible for your safety when you and your family is living inside the property. That means any damages that could put you at risk of getting hurt both physically and mentally need to be sorted out as quickly as possible. If they don’t get these damages sorted, or completely ignore you and your messages for help, they are responsible for any injuries you may sustain. Take a look at the case study below to get a better idea of how these types of damages occur.

As you can see, John was not responsible for his damages and for the inconvenience that he was forced to endure. It was the responsibility of his landlord. As his landlord did not accommodate him properly, the problems simply got worse. That means that John should be able to make a housing disrepair claim in order to gain compensation. You can do the same if you have suffered due to the neglect of your landlord, even if you feel unsure about the extent of your eligibility. Our landlord can give you the answers that you need to move forward!

What could make me eligible for Housing Disrepair Claim?

If you are the victim of Housing Disrepair, it is very likely that the state of your council home has forced you to make a claim. No one deserves to live in squalor due to their landlord’s negligence. Instead, it is their obligation to ensure the house is fit for habitation. If not then they will be liable for your damages. These damages tend to fall into three categories:

Don’t worry, there is a chance that you could fall into more than one category. For instance, your home may have suffered from a mould problem that meant you could not use a certain room. However, due to the mould’s spread, it also had an effect on your asthma and you had to go to hospital for treatment. If you have more than one type of damage, don’t be afraid to discuss this with your solicitor. They understand that for a Housing Disrepair Claim, the categories of disrepairs don’t necessarily sit in stone. Instead, people tend to fall into a few categories based on their damages.

What sort of evidence can I use if I am going to make a Housing Disrepair Claim?

Now that you understand your eligibility, and have decided on whether or not you are going to make a claim, let’s have a chat about the type of evidence you need to prove your claim. Just like any other type of legal claim, you’re going to need the evidence to back it up. For instance, if you have been hurt in an accident, you will need to get a medical report in order to back up your injury claims.

With that said, it will not be difficult to find evidence to show that the negligence of your property was due to your landlord. You can use the correspondence between you and your landlord, especially if you can prove that your landlord did not respond to your messages. Make sure to send your landlord your complaints in writing, as well as through an email. That way you can make sure they actually get your complaints and need to acknowledge them. Additional evidence can include:

Photographs of your injuries or the damages in your house
Videos
Police Reports
Medical Reports
Witness Statements
Diary Entries
Financial Receipts

These are only a few examples of the type of evidence that you can collect. Once you have found the evidence, bring it to your solicitor. They can make copies and ensure that it prepared to strengthen your case. Your solicitor will then contact your landlord and their insurer on your behalf to discuss a settlement agreement. If your landlord will not work with the solicitor, there is a chance that the case may need to go to court. But this is very unlikely.

Start today on your Housing Disrepair Claim

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are proud that we are able to help people over the UK with the housing disrepair claims. According to the English Housing Survey, there are 76,814 non-decent council houses in the UK. We want to help as many of these residents as possible to ensure that they get the compensation that they deserve. We have already helped so many people, and want to do the same for you. If you want our help, our law firm can offer free advice and consultations to get you started. Should you want to move forward with our solicitors, we can offer our services on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will never need to pay any hidden fees and will always come out on top.

Speak to our solicitors today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker.

Learn more about making a Housing Disrepair Claim

Don’t forget that Gowing Law Solicitors is here to help answer all of your questions. If you want to know more about making a Housing Disrepair Claim, you should visit our blog. We update it every week with brand new content about legal claims, seasonal events and our most recent information about our law firm. Occasionally, you may also see a giveaway or competition to celebrate the holiday season. If you have some suggestions for our blog, send them into info@gowinglaw.co.uk. We would be happy to write about them!

We look forward to seeing you in our next blog.

Could your pension provider be trying to scam you?

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Pension Claims, SIPPs, Uncategorised

Your pension provider should be there to financially assist you in your golden years. Pensions don’t have to be complicated. That’s why many people are happy to stick with the workplace pension they have been provided by their company or will take a state pension from the UK government. Unfortunately, there are extremely malicious people out there who want to take advantage of the vulnerable. Elderly people are more at risk of pension scams. This happens if they are isolated or do not fully understand their own pension plan. Sadly, hundreds of people around the UK have been mis-sold a pension plan and have been scammed out of their nest egg. Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we believe that this is a gross injustice. That’s why we are determined to get you compensation if you have become the victim of a mis-sold pension.

Our law firm can provide you free advice and consultations to get started. That’s why we would highly recommend that you get in contact with us at quickly as possible. Call us on 0800 041 8350 or click the button below to visit our mis-sold pension’s website:

What type of pension provider should I go for?

Before we jump into the signs of a mis-sold pension scheme, let’s just have a brief discussions about pensions in general. As you probably already know, a pension is basically a pot of savings that you build up through your working career. Its main objective is to protect you during old age when you eventually want to retire. There are many different types of pensions for you to choose from. However, the most popular are these three categories:

As you can see, the majority of pension providers work alongside companies and workplaces to ensure that their employees have a safety net after they have retired. However, there are some that invest in SIPP schemes in order to increase the amount of their pension pot. This includes investments in hotels, foreign property and forestry. Make sure to do your research before you pick a pension plan for yourself. Most people tend to go with the provider that their workplace is using because it is a safer option. If you chose to go with a pension provider outside of your workplace or the UK government, you should find a financial advisor to give you the best investment options possible, especially if you are new to investing altogether. That way you can be protected against making large investments that could jeopardize your pension pot as a whole.

Why would my pension provider try to scam me?

As we get older, we get more trusting and may find it more difficult to discern when something is a little fishy. The sad truth is that a lot of elderly people are isolated and fall victim to these type of scams every year. Through phone scams alone, it is estimated that 43% of older people, that’s 5 million people 65 years or older, have lost money. Not every pension provider is going to be someone who is simply after your money. However, there are going to be unscrupulous people who work as a pension provider who will try to claim money from you or try and sell you a pension that will not suit you completely.

Honestly, the main reason why you pension provider might try to scam is you is due to money. You see, there are some pension providers that receive a share of the profits if they encourage clients. This is known as a commission. Therefore, it’s likely that they will actively try to encourage as many of their clients a possible to go with the profitable pension, even if it does not ultimately suit them, their needs or their investment. This may even be to the extent where they cold-call people out of the blue.

No one wants to think that a trusted financial advisor could simply be after a commission. But sadly, it does happen. That’s why it’s crucial that you do your own research on the recommended pension and your pension provider. Ask for their credentials and look for reviews on them. That way you can discern whether or not they are a trustworthy source of advice.

What are some signs that my pension provider could be trying to scam me?

Now that you understand that you need to be wary of all pension providers, you may feel a little concerned that you don’t understand what to look out for in relation to scams. A pension scam can be easy to spot if you take a little time to do some research before you agree to the conditions of the pension scheme. This is where Gowing Law is ready to help. Pension providers who are looking to mis-sell you a pension do have warning signs. Take a look at the infographic below. That way you can get a better idea of what you should be keeping an eye out for:

As you can see, there are quite a few warning signs that you can keep an eye out for in relation to your pension-provider and whether or not they are trying to mis-sell you a pension. Another sign can also be in relation to the type of paperwork they ask you to sign. Many examples of mis-sold pensions do not even have a contract that was signed! Instead, the pension provider simply took their money and told the victim that it was simpler to not involve contracts. This is a massive red-flag that you should be aware of. If you get a bad feeling about your financial advisor, you can ask them for their credentials and for more information about the pension scheme in general. If they refuse to provide more details then you can politely cut ties and look for a better financial advisor to guide you.

What should I do if I have become the victim of a mis-sold pension?

The first thing we want to say in relation to this is that we are sorry it has happened. Being the victim of a mis-sold pension can leave you feeling vulnerable and scared. In some cases, the financial advisor or the pension scheme may have took the majority of your nest egg and may have left you with barely anything to survive on. Whilst we cannot get you your investment back, we can get you the justice that you deserve.

If you have suffered from a mis-sold pension, the first thing you should do is collect information on the company and find evidence that you were mis-sold. This includes finding documentation and correspondence between you and the other parties. You can then speak to the FCA or Financial Ombudsman about the scam and write in a letter of complaint. From there, you can start constructing a legal claim against the third party with the help of a solicitor from Gowing Law Solicitors. They can do all of the difficult paper-work for you and make sure to speak to the third-party on your behalf. That way you can relax and recover from the trauma of the experience. Your solicitor can simplify the claims process for you and ensure that you can get the compensation that you deserve.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your mis-sold pension claim

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we understand that being mis-sold a pension can be a traumatic experience for the victim. It can leave you feeling like a victim and unsure about the future. That’s where our law firm can come in order to solidify your future and get you a pay-out that can keep you ticking over for the time being. Our lawyers can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to work with our law firm, we can offer our services on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top and will never need to pay any hidden fees. You will only need to pay our solicitors if we win your case for you. So, what’s stopping you from making a claim?

Contact Gowing Law Solicitors today to start your claim! Call us on 0800 041 8350, email us at info@gowinglaw.co.uk or use our claim’s checker to get started. Our lawyers will then be available to answer your questions.

Learn more about mis-sold pensions in our blog

It’s time to learn more about legal claims on Gowing Law’s blog! We update it every week with new content about law claims, seasonal events and information about our law firm. Occasionally, you may even find the odd giveaway or competition on our blog and social media. So, make sure to keep checking back for more information. You can also suggest topics for our blog by writing into info@gowinglaw.co.uk.

We look forward to seeing you in our next blog!

Can I make a Housing Disrepair Claim for Damaged Belongings?

Posted on May 19, 2021 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Housing Disrepair Claims, Uncategorised

Making a housing disrepair claim can be a daunting prospect for anyone who is worried about causing conflict with their landlord. Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we completely understand. If you live in a council home or property from the housing association, you will want to do your best to stay on the good side of the people who run your home. However, there comes a time when enough simply has to be enough. Recently, ITV has discovered that last year in the English Housing Survey that around 76,814 council homes are in a substandard conditions. That’s why if you have suffered from personal injuries or your belongings have been damaged due to the state of your home, it’s time for you to consider making a compensation claim.

This is where Gowing Law Solicitors can step in to help you. Our specialists are here to offer you free advice and consultations to get you back in control of your household and your life. You don’t need to feel intimidated by your landlord. Instead, rely on Gowing Law to get you the pay-out that you deserve. Call us on 0800 041 8350 or visit our website below:

What is Housing Disrepair all about?

If you are suffering from a housing disrepair, it’s likely that the property you are living in is in need of repairs. By living in rented accommodation, your landlord will be responsible for the upkeep of the property. Of course, you need to keep it clean, tidy and also alert your landlord if any repairs are needed. However, your landlord is financially responsible for sending out engineers to oversee the repair work. If they fail to do this, or outright ignore your complaints, and the problem gets worse or you experience damages as a result, you could be owed compensation.

Your landlord is responsible for:

The external and internal structures of your home (i.e. roofing or walls)
Any mould or damp issues
Security
Fire safety
Gas, sanitation, heating and electricity maintenance

These are only a few examples of what your landlord is responsible for you in home. Don’t be afraid to come to your solicitor if you are feeling confused about your own eligibility. Your lawyer can let you know more information about their responsibilities. In general, if you live in a rented home, your landlord is going to be responsible for the upkeep of the majority of it. Therefore, if you are hurt or your property is damaged because of the housing disrepair, you could be owed compensation.

How do I know if I am eligible to make a Housing Disrepair Claim?

Before we jump into more information about making a housing disrepair claim about damaged belongings, let’s have a quick chat about eligibility in general. When you experience a housing disrepair, it should be your first instinct to go to your landlord in order to get it started. Make sure you send your complaint in writing as well as an electronic correspondence, that way you can state that you made an official complaint.

Now, there may have been some delays due to the current pandemic, but your landlord still had a “duty of care” towards you and any other residents living in your property. Now that the pandemic is easing, it should be easier for your landlord to assess the damages in your home. If they ignore you, and the problem gets worst, you could be eligible for compensation.

There are three main categories of eligibility that your claim could fall into. These are:

Don’t be afraid to gather evidence if you fall into any of these categories. You may want to consider photographs, videos, witness statements, receipts, police reports and correspondence with your landlord. These can be passed onto your lawyer and they can talk to your landlord on your behalf about a settlement agreement. If they refuse to accept the claim, there is a chance that it may need to go to court. However, in our experience, most landlords are very keen to reach an understanding with their residents. That way any problems can be worked out and both the resident and landlord can move forward with initiating changes.

Broken Belongings: How do I get compensation for these damages?

One of the major damages that you could claim for is in relation to your own personal property. When you move into a building, a non-habitable environment could mean that your belongings are damages due to it. For instance, if it suffers from mould and damp, your clothes and any property with a fabric surface could end up being destroyed. Your landlord may give you advice to get a dehumidifier or to open the windows regularly, but sometimes it just doesn’t work. If the building itself also has structures that could cause damage to your property, such as loose flooring, exposed woodwork and nails, leaks or faulty essential items (like your cooker, fridge or toilet), you could also make a claim for that. Take a look at the GIF below for a cast study about property damage:

If you have experienced damage to your belongings, you may feel the urge to have them replaced as quickly as possible. This means that you could incur financial damages that would never have happened if your landlord had kept your home in a safe condition. Resist the urge to replace your items immediately. Instead, you can ask for compensation in order to have these items replaced. Take pictures of the damages to send to your landlord and your lawyer. If your landlord refuses to accept the damages then you could have a claim on your hand. Speak to a solicitor as quickly as possible to find out about how much you could be owed.

Will my landlord replace my damaged belongings?

Yes! Your landlord should replace your damaged belongings if it is proven that they were destroyed due to their negligence. That’s why it’s crucial that you take as many pictures as possible to show the extent of your damages. Keep in mind, however, that your landlord will not pay for a new version of the product. Instead, it is expected that a second hand replacement will be bought. Make sure to look up replacement examples and let your landlord and solicitor know how much the product is. If the product does need to be fully replaced, it’s important that you find the cheapest product possible. This may make you feel frustrated, but don’t forget that you will still be in control of which replacement is chosen. Speak to your solicitor for more information about this.

How much compensation could I get from a Housing Disrepair Claim?

Honestly, this is where things get a little tricky. For damaged property claims, it depends on the extent of the damages, how long they have been left by your landlord and the extent of the negligence. It may also depend on the extent of your own damages and whether there are other things that have happened to you. For example, this may include whether or not you experienced inconvenience in your daily life or personal injuries. The best way to find out more information on the amount of compensation you could receive is to speak to your solicitor. They can look at your evidence and your case and make an estimate. This estimate can then be used for the settlement agreement if you are happy with it. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from your solicitor. They are there to help you get the highest amount of compensation possible.

Get started on your Housing Disrepair Claim with Gowing Law Solicitors

It’s time to get started on your Housing Disrepair Claim with the help of a specialist from Gowing Law Solicitors. We know that living in a council home that’s in a state of disrepair can leave you feeling angry, vulnerable and upset. That’s why our lawyers are ready to get you the compensation to improve your home or at least help you deal with your damages. We can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your claim, our lawyers can work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means there will be no hidden fees. The only reason you would need to pay our solicitors is if we win your case. That means you will always come out on top.

Contact our law firm today by phoning 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. From there, one of our specialists will be in touch in order to answer any additional questions you may have. They will then let you know updates about your case. Feel free to check in with them at any time.

Learn more about Housing Disrepair Claims

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are proud to have a law blog that we update with new information every week! We know that our clients may feel uncomfortable about going into a claim without knowing the basics. That’s why we have dedicated a lot of our blogs to answering your questions about specific claims. We also write about seasonal events and our latest updates about our law firm. Occasionally, you may even find the odd competition or giveaway hosted on our social media and blog. So, make sure to keep checking in to see what we have been up to. If you want to suggest a topic for our blog, feel free to send in your ideas to info@gowinglaw.co.uk.

We look forward to seeing you in our next blog!

What should I do if I am the victim of a Data Breach?

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Data Breach, Uncategorised

A data breach can happen to anyone at any time. When you usually think about data breaches, it’s in relation to an expert hacker who is looking to steal your information and use it for nefarious purposes. However, that isn’t always the case. Sometimes your data can be exposed due to the mistake of company or third party you are working with. Either way, it will lead to the same result. Your data will be shown to the world and it can leave you feeling vulnerable and angry that it happened in the first place.

There are things you can do if you have become the victim of a data breach. One these things is file a Data Breach Claim with an experienced law firm. Not only can we provide expert advice but we can work on your behalf with the third party to get a settlement agreement arranged. That way you can take time to recover from this unsettling experience. Call Gowing Law Solicitors today on 0800 041 8350 or visit our website below for more information:

What are Data Breaches all about?

Due to GDPR, it is the responsibility of the third party to keep the information of their clients completely safe. They should not be showing it to people outside of those involved, including journalists. A data breach can happen when a range of information is exposed to people who are not involved in business at hand. Examples of what could have been stolen, exposed or passed on to third parties include:

Medical information/documents
PHI/personal health information
Social Services documentation
Information about your finances
Confidential information
Contact information

Of course, these are only a few examples of what sort of information could have been stolen through a data breach. Due to this, you may be feeling angry or vulnerable. After all, there may have been personal details in the information that you did not want other people to see. If you still feel a little unsure about whether or not you are eligible to make a data breach claim, take a look at the case study below:

As you can see, Thomas was left feeling vulnerable after he was put at risk. He not only suffered from financial hardships but emotional damages as well. The best way to see if you could be eligible for compensation from this type of claim is to speak to your solicitor. They can look into your case in detail and let you know whether or not you should proceed with your claim.

What sort of Data Breaches are there?

Now that you understand the type of information that is easily stolen away, it’s important to learn about how these sort of breaches can occur in the first place. Sometimes these sort of breaches can happen due to a mistake, however in other places they may happen due to malicious intent. That’s why it’s important to learn exactly what happened if you have suffered from a data breach. Some examples of how you could have experienced a data breach include:

Your financial data was used fraudulently
You identity was stolen in order for your credit card to be used
Your data was accidently lost
A third party used your data without your consent
A third party used your personal information without your realizing it
A company experienced a data leak
Your data was sent to journalists without your consent

These are only a few examples of what type of breaches could occur. Don’t worry if your own breach is not specifically labelled there. Your solicitor can help you understand precisely why you could be eligible for a claim. In fact, they may even be able to help you understand how much you could be owed if you have experienced damages or losses. Take a look at the chart below to get a better idea of the amount of compensation you could receive:

What should I do if I am the victim of a data breach?

The first thing you need to do is not panic. Data Breaches can feel intimidating as they may not be something that you are used to. In fact, if this happened due to something on the internet, and you are not an expert at maneuvering the World Wide Web, it may leave you feeling terrified. It’s not fair on you. So try to keep calm and then alert the relevant people who are involved in this data breach. They can provide you with advice and make you feel better about the entire situation.

With that said, the company that has been breached in general may send you an alert notice about it. Keep an eye on your financial accounts and credit cards to make sure that unsavory people use them without your knowledge. If they do use them, you can shut them down. You should also watch out for bills for things that you did not purchase. If you notice that your credit card is being used without your permission, you should initiate a fraud alert to freeze your accounts and alert your financial advisors to the fraud.

From there, it’s time to start looking into making a Data Breach Claim. That way you can make sure the third-party who exposed your data is held responsible. Make sure to let your solicitor know about all of the damages that you have experienced as a result of this breach. They can help you move forward with your claim.

Don’t forget to disclose your damages to your solicitor!

Although this has already been covered in a previous paragraph, it’s important that you keep evidence about the sort of damages you have experienced ready for your solicitor to use. Your evidence will be the backbone of your compensation claim. So, make sure to take screen shots and notes. You can also use photographs, videos, witness statements, financial documentation or police reports to back up your claim. From there, your solicitor will make sure to have it filed away before they speak to the other party on your behalf about your claim. They can discuss a settlement agreement that will be agreed by you beforehand. If the other party refuses to accept it, there is a chance that the claim could go to court to be decided over by a judge.

Gowing Law Solicitors are here to help with your Data Breach Claim

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we understand that any sort of data breach can leave the victim feeling traumatized and anxious. That’s why our solicitors are here to help you get the compensation that you deserve. We can offer your free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward, we can offer you our services on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will never need to pay any hidden fees. Instead, you will always come out on top.

Learn more about Data Breach Claims

Don’t forget that Gowing Law updates its blog every week with brand new content about legal claims, our law firm updates and our seasonal events. We also write about our latest giveaways and competitions on our blog and social media. You can also send in your suggestions for blog topics to info@gowinglaw.co.uk.

We look forward to seeing you in our next blog.

Business Interruption Coverage: Am I right to make a claim during the pandemic?

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Business Interruption Insurance, Covid-19, Uncategorised

If you have business interruption coverage, it’s likely that you have bought it in order to protect your business. The pandemic has caused many stores to shut in order to protect both employees and clients alike. As a business owner yourself, it is very likely that you have been through financial hardships due to the pandemic. No one wanted to close their shops but it was the best thing to do in the time. Unfortunately, many people have been suffering from this pandemic and are on the verge of their businesses collapsing. That’s why the Supreme Court has taken the decision that insurers need to start paying out for damages caused by Covid-19.

You shouldn’t feel guilty about claiming for your Business Interruption cover. Instead, if your insurer refuses to pay-out despite your evidence, you could work on a Business Interruption Claim with a solicitor from Gowing Law. Find out more by calling us on 0800 041 8350 or click on the button below to visit our website:

What is Business Interruption Coverage for?

Let’s take a moment to talk about what business interruption coverage is in general. When you open a business, you want to make sure that you can protect from any type of disaster out of your control. This is why you need business interruption coverage. Unlike, employer’s liability insurance, it is not a legal requirement to have business interruption coverage. However, if you want to make sure you are covered in the face of any disaster, you should pay for this type of coverage. You can use it to protect yourself from:

Criminal activity
Flooding
Fires
Storms
The breakdown of equipment
Customer damages

You can also use your coverage to make improvements to your work building if customers cannot get into it. There may even be additional coverage to protect your business if it is online and is at risk of viruses or being hacked. It all depends on your business and the type of things that you need to protect in order to keep things flowing. Most people during the pandemic have gone to their insurer to get a pay-out from this coverage. However, as Covid-19/a pandemic may not have been listed in the contract itself, it is likely that the pay-out would have been refused. This is devastating news if you are on the verge of financial bankruptcy. However, the Supreme Court have made some changes to this so there is some hope for your policy to provide you with compensation for your losses during the pandemic.

How do you know if you can make a Business Interruption Claim?

Well, if you already have business interruption coverage, and it contains one of the aforementioned clauses, you should be able to get compensation for your losses. You may feel morally confused about whether or not you should make a claim, especially if you have already received a grant from the government about your business. But honestly, we would say that you should proceed with the claim. The UK government are aware that there are going to be claims made like these during the pandemic. They are encouraging businesses to reach out for help. That way they can survive and then rebuild once the pandemic has eased.

With that said, you may want to know how exactly you can build a claim to prove that you are eligible for a pay-out. The first thing you need to do is have a look through your contract to learn what type of clauses you actually have. You could be eligible for a business interruption claim pay-out if you have any of the following clauses:

Keep in mind that it is possible that you could have a hybrid clause where the policies are mixed together. If you feel concerned about whether or not a clause could make you eligible in your business interruption coverage, get in contact with your solicitor as quickly as possible. They can let you know exactly whether or not you could get a pay-out and how long it will take.

How much could I receive for making a claim about my business interruption coverage?

Now, this is when things get a little tricky. Just like any other type of personal injury claim, the amount that you receive for compensation depends entirely on the extent of your injuries. In this case, the “injuries” would be the damages to your business and whether or not your insurer could be guilty of negligence. For instance, if you proved you had the clause, but your insurer still refused to pay-out, there is a chance that you could be owed a higher amount of compensation. It will also depend on the amount of protection your property has and the level of your damages. Find out from your solicitor more information about what you could be owed. You will never need to pay your solicitor for inquiring about making a claim. Instead, you will only need to pay a fee if they win your case!

Learn more about making a Business Interruption Insurance Claim

If you have business interruption insurance coverage, and you have been rejected again for a pay-out despite your clauses, you could be owed compensation. Gowing Law Solicitors can help you get what you deserve. We can offer free consultations and advice to get you started. If you are happy to move forward, our lawyers can work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top and will never have

to pay any hidden fees.

Speak to one of our experienced solicitors today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. One of our specialists will then get in touch to talk you through your claim.

What should I do if my council home is suffering from Housing Disrepair?

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Hannah Fletcher - Blog, Housing Disrepair Claims, Uncategorised

If your council home is suffering from housing disrepair, it’s likely that there are interior and exterior problems that can only be fixed by your landlord. As you are renting your accommodation, your landlord owes you a “duty of care” to ensure that your home is habitable for both you and your family. However, as you may have seen recently from the ITV housing reports, there are many landlords all over the country that are neglecting the needs of their tenants. These tenants are living in homes that are full of damp, mould and potential safety hazards. Not only does it put them at risk of a personal injury, angry questions may be raised about why they are paying rent to live in a home that exposes them to these dangers.

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we understand the frustration from our clients when it comes to their Housing Disrepair Claims. That’s why we want to provide as much support as possible to ensure they get the compensation that they deserve. It’s important you know exactly what to do if your council home is in need of a repair. That way, if your landlord ignores your request or refuses to help, you can focus on making a compensation claim. Call Gowing Law Solicitors today on 0800 041 8350 or visit our Housing Disrepair Claims page below:

What disrepairs is my landlord responsible for?

When it comes to any type of council home or property from the housing accommodation, your landlord owes the tenant a “duty of care”. This means that they are responsible for your safety whilst you live in the property. They have to make sure that uphold the UK’s health and safety standards. If your home is found to be in a state of disrepair, the council of your area must act in order to improve it. This includes:

Carrying out an informal negotiation with your landlord to improve your home
Acting out a formal enforcement to incite action from your landlord

If you are worried about the condition of your home, you can ask for the Housing Health and Safety Rating System or an environmental officer to check out your home. Your landlord is responsible for the majority of the property, including its fire safety, security, structure, mould and damp as well as the sanitation, electricity, water, gas and heating structures in the property. Your landlord is financially responsible for these structures breaking down. They need to send out the appropriate engineer or repair team in order to get the repair fixed. You should not have to pay for these repairs to be made. That’s why, if your landlord does ignore you, refuses to help or tells you that you need to pay a fee to have the repairs done, you could make a claim against them. This is due to the fact that they are guilty of negligence.

What should I do if I believe my home is suffering from Housing Disrepair?

It’s important to let you landlord know about any problems in your home as soon as they happen. That way the problem won’t get any worse and you can get your home back in a good condition to live in. There is a chance that your landlord could ignore you and be guilty of negligence. However, if you want to build a strong case you need to show that you did everything possible to get the repair sorted. Take a look at the infographic below to find out how to do this:

Another thing that you may need to consider is evidence. Don’t forget to take pictures, videos and have witnesses corroborate your story through a statement. That way, if your landlord refuses to take any notice of the damages, you can have evidence on your side to prove that your house did suffer from neglect. Your solicitor can then get started on helping you make a Housing Disrepair Claim.

What should I do if my landlord fails to help me with my Housing Disrepairs?

It’s never nice being ignored by your landlord, especially if your home is suffering from severe issues that require their urgent attention. Sometimes landlords may believe that it is the responsibility of their tenants to see to the larger problems. Whilst it is your duty to keep your home in a good living standard, larger problems should be seen to by your landlord. If they ultimately refuse to help you, it may be time for you to make a Housing Disrepair Claim. Your eligibility depends on three main factors. Take a look at the gif below to find out if you are eligible:

If you have fallen into any of these categories, you could claim compensation for your damages. You were put in harm’s way due to the negligence of your landlord. That is why you deserve compensation. If you believe that you are eligible for a claim, the best thing you can do is go to an expert Housing Disrepair Claims solicitor. They can talk to your landlord on your behalf and make sure that they know they are liable for the damages in your home. A solicitor can ensure that no mistakes are made and that you get the full amount of compensation that you deserve. Housing Disrepair can have a severe effect on your mental health. So, you should take the time to recover whilst your solicitor helps move your case forward.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your Housing Disrepair Claim

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, our lawyers are here to help you get the compensation that you deserve. We know that any type of legal claim can be daunting. That’s why it’s helpful to have an experienced solicitor on your side during these challenging times. Our lawyers can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your claim, they can work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top. You will never need to pay any hidden fees.

Contact Gowing Law Solicitors today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. One of our specialists will then be in contact to discuss your claim. Feel free to direct any questions you may have towards them.

Personal Injury Claims & Emotional Damages: Mental Health Awareness Week

Posted on May 11, 2021 by Hannah Fletcher - Accidents in Public, Blog, Covid-19, Seasonal, Uncategorised

Suffering from a personal injury is going to be one of the most traumatic experiences you are going to face. You didn’t ask to be hurt. In fact, it’s most likely that this injury came completely out of nowhere and caught you off guard. This is what can have a severe impact on your mental health. After you have been hurt, you may be wondering to yourself, will this type of accident happen again? You can’t predict when you are going to get hurt. However, you can start to feel depressed or anxious due to it. If your mental health starts to take a turn for the worse, or you need medical treatment to help you with the symptoms, it is likely that you are suffering from emotional damages.

It’s important that you keep an eye on your mental health after you have suffered from any type of personal injury. You may think you are alright but then may slowly develop symptoms of a mental health condition that require medical attention. Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we would like to offer our support for those who are unfortunate enough to suffer from emotional damages. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. That’s why Gowing Law Solicitors wants to make sure that our clients receive the support they need to make sure that they can recover in their own time Don’t forget that we are also here to get you the compensation that you deserve if you are thinking about making any type of personal injury claims.

Call us today on 0800 041 8350 for free advice and consultations to get started. You can also use our claim’s checker below:

What are damages in a personal injury claims case?

Before we give you advice on emotional damages and how you can start working on improving your mental health, let’s have a quick chat about damages in general. There are many different types of damages that you could suffer from if you have become the victim of a public accident. However, the most common damages are known as physical damages. This is when you receive a physical injury due to the negligence of someone else. Your injuries could include:

Broken bones
External and internal bleeding
Fractures and torn muscles
Crushed limbs
Damaged organs
Trauma to the brain or spine
Damage to eyesight, hearing or loss of teeth

These are only a few examples of the types of physical damages you could suffer from. If you have suffered from extreme damages that have affected your quality of life, you could be owed a large amount of compensation for your losses. With that said, there are other types of damages that you could claim for. Just keep in mind that you will have to have suffered from a physical injury to claim for these damages.

Different Types of Damages Include:

As you can see, there are many different types of damages that you can make if you are interested in making a personal injury claim. Gowing Law Solicitors can help you figure out what sort of damages you could claim for. Make sure to let them know as much information as possible about your case. That way they can also give you a rounded estimate about how much you could be owed in compensation. The more details the better your case will be!

What are emotional damages in a personal injury claims case all about?

Now that you understand what the basics of damages are all about, let’s take a moment to go through emotional damages properly. After all, they are the type of damages that link specifically to your mental health and your overall quality of life. Emotional damages tend to occur after the physical injury. You may be in a lot of pain and may feel extremely unsure about the future. Worse still, you may feel too scared of other people (such as your medical professionals) who could have let you down in the past.

If you have been hurt, it’s likely that you will start to feel as if your world is closing down. You need to go through a recovery phase. As your body starts to heal, you may find that you get depressed or start struggling with an anxiety disorder. Worse still, if you already a condition that affects your mental health, experiencing an injury can make this worse. Take a look at the example below to get a better idea of how a personal injury could worsen your quality of life and mental health:

As you can see from our case study, Carla was already suffering from a mental health condition. Her injury caused it to get worse as she found it difficult to cope with the recovery period. In fact, she required additional medical attention to help her get through this difficult time. You may have found yourself in a similar situation and feel unsure about what you should do. Of course, you should have your personal injury claim looked at by a legal specialist. They can assess whether or not you require further medical support and can recommend therapies or specialist clinics to help you.

What can emotional damages cover?

It does not matter what type of legal claim you are making; if you have suffered from emotional damages due to your injuries, you should be able to claim for additional compensation. You may have already been struggling with your mental health, especially due to the current pandemic, and your injuries have simply made it worse. That’s why it’s essential that you get help as soon as possible.

Examples of emotional damages/distress include:

Insomnia (i.e. a lack of sleep)
Anxiety
Depression
Feelings of humiliation/fear of another person
Paranoia/distrust of other people
Suicidal feelings/actions

These are only a few examples of the potential emotional damages that you could suffer from. Emotional claims tend to be extremely complicated as they do not have physical evidence that go along with them. However, that doesn’t mean that they can’t cause extreme distress that can leave the victim feeling unsure about their future. Your solicitor can help you organize your case and make sure to do the difficult paperwork for you. That way you can focus on your recovery.

Mental Health Awareness Week: Be kind to yourself

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we understand that going through any type of injury can be severely traumatic. We have seen the affect that injuries have on our clients and it can be devastating. Not only can it cause them to lose trust in the people around them, but a lot of their negativity can turn inwards and fester. Worse still, if they have been injured during the pandemic, it’s likely that they will have been finding it more difficult to receive treatment.

Emotional damages can leave scars that cannot be seen, unlike physical damages. But that doesn’t mean that they are not there. It is our responsibility, as solicitors, to ensure that our clients receive support in order to recover. Even if they cannot fully get over their emotional damages, we can still assist anyway we can to ensure that the claim’s process is smooth and easy to follow. That way they can relax and recover whilst we can do the hard work.

With that said, as this week is Mental Health Awareness week, we want to provide some advice about how to take care of yourself if you have suffered from emotional damages. Last year, we provided a small booklet on how to cope with emotional damages after a personal injury claim. However, this year we want to leave our readers with something more digestible. The theme for this year’s mental health awareness week is to get out and enjoy the greenery of the world. We would highly recommend this for our clients if their injuries allow them to do so. However, there are some additional ways you should be taking care of your mental health:

Taking Care of Your Mental Health

Take your time when it comes to your recovery. Your mental health is extremely important and it will not get better immediately. Instead, it’s something that you will need to work on. Remember, only you can change your mind-set. However, friends, family, loved-ones and mental health experts will be there to guide you along the way. You will never be alone and will always have someone to go to for advice. That’s why one of the most crucial things you can do is to open up about your feelings. Talking to people, or even seeking an opportunity to open up through counselling, is a great way to voice your concerns and get advice about how to improve yourself. That way you can take your time and feel better in your own time.

It’s time to go outside!

One thing that can help with your emotional damages is taking time to appreciate the little things in life. You have to remember that everyone has been cooped up in their homes for over a year. That’s going to have a severe impact on your mental health, even if you feel as if everything is going reasonably okay. Boredom can leave you lots of time to think and you may start to feel negative thoughts creeping into your mind as time progresses. That’s why we would highly recommend that you do take some time to go outside and meet with people.

If your injuries are severe, this may be difficult, but make sure to do small activities that can make you feel good. Just meeting up with a friend to get some fresh air can do wonders for your mental health. In fact, it may even be a good time to visit a natural park or historical area to make sure you are getting exercise and are seeing some fresh faces.

By connecting with nature, you can appreciate the smaller things in life and slowly start to build up to take back control over your world.

Stopping and thinking about the future

It can be daunting knowing that you have to recover from your emotional and physical damages. You never asked to be hurt. That’s why you may be left with a lot of questions that ask “why” you suffered from these damages in the first place. Now, one of the main reasons is that you suffered due to the negligence of someone else. But honestly, there is not solution to the damages in relation to why they happened to you specifically. It may have simply been a case of you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. That’s why it’s important to have a moment of reflection to come to terms with what has happened to you.

It’s okay to take your time with this. Everyone moves on in their own time. You will do the same. Just remember that there are people who are willing to support you and make sure that your recovery process is as easy as possible.

Gowing Law Solicitors are here to support you with your personal injury claims

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we understand that personal injury claims can be difficult to undertake on your own, especially if you are suffering from emotional and physical damages. This is why our law firm is here to offer you our support. We can provide you solid advice and consultations for free! If you are happy to move forward with your claim, we can work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top and will never need to pay any hidden fees.

Call us today on 0800 041 8350, email us at info@gowinglaw.co.uk or use our LiveChat to get fast advice from our specialists. One of our lawyers will then be in touch to discuss your claim in further detail. Feel free to ask them any additional questions that may be on your mind.

Learn more about personal injury claims

If you want to learn more about personal injury claims and emotional damages, the best place to go is Gowing Law’s legal blog. We update it every week with brand new content about legal claims, seasonal updates and information about our law firm. Occasionally you may even find the odd competition or giveaway listed on our blog and social media. So, make sure to keep an eye on it to win a prize! If you want to suggest a topic for our blog, feel free to send it to info@gowinglaw.co.uk. We will then let you know when the topic has been covered.

We look forward to seeing you in our next blog!

Housing Disrepair Claims & Personal Injuries: What do you need to know?

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Hannah Fletcher - Accidents in Public, Blog, Housing Disrepair Claims, Uncategorised

Housing Disrepair Claims can be extremely stressful to sort out on your own. Not only do you need to deal with your landlord, but you will have to live in a council home that is simply not suitable to be lived in by you or your family. The worst thing that could happen during this time is if you suffer a personal injury due to the condition of your home.

It is your landlord’s responsibility to ensure that your home is in a state of decent repair. That means all of the essentials are in working order and there is nothing that could pose a threat to you or anyone who is working in the home. If you suffer from a personal injury due to the condition of your council house, you could be owed compensation for your damages. This is where Gowing Law Solicitors can step in to help you with your Housing Disrepair Claim.

Find out more about making a Housing Disrepair Claim with our law firm by calling 0800 041 8350 or by visiting our website below:

What is classified as Housing Disrepair?

If you live in a council home or a property provided by housing association, your landlord has the responsibility to ensure that your home is in a habitable condition for both you and your family. Your landlord is in charge of any repairs that occur both inside and outside the property. Not only are they in charge of the essentials, such as gas, water, electricity and sanitation, but they need to make sure that the security, fire safety training and overall structure of the building is taken care of.

If the building falls into a state of disrepair, your landlord is financially responsible to get the right engineers involved to have it sorted. Now that the lockdown is easing, there is no reason why they should not be communicating with you about repairs. If they ignore your complaints and you end up getting hurt, you could be owed compensation for your damages.

You may be feeling a little confused about what could be classified as housing disrepair. That’s why we have created a quick case study to get better idea about what these types of claims are all about. Take a look below for more information:

As you can see, John was not responsible for the damages in his home. His landlord did not help him and therefore was liable to pay compensation. You could do the same thing if you have experienced any of the following housing disrepairs in your home:

Malfunctioning gas, sanitation, electricity, heating or water systems
Holes or damage to the roof or house’s structure
Damp or mould problems
Broken essential items (like toilets, showers, ovens or your fridge)
Broken windows or doors

If you need additional assistance working out your own eligibility, speak to your housing disrepair claims lawyer. They can help you figure out whether or not it is worth pursuing your claim.

What could make me eligible for Housing Disrepair Claims?

When it comes to housing disrepair claims, it’s important that you establish that your solicitor is guilty of negligence. That means they have ignored their “duty of care” towards their tenants. Instead, they are expecting their tenants to use their own finances to fix the damages. This should not happen. Instead, they should be the ones paying for the damages to the council property as they are the ones who are renting it out to you. If they refuse to do this then you could be owed compensation if it has had an effect on your daily life or quality of life in general.

There are three main categories that you claim could fall under when it comes to its eligibility. These are personal injuries, damage to belongings and inconvenience. Take a look at the infographic below to get a better idea about each category:

The best way to discern what type of claim you are dealing with, in relation to Housing Disrepair Claims, is to look through your damages. In some cases, it may be a combination of all three of them. For instance, you may have slipped up due to the water from a leak, and the leak may have also damaged your furniture. Your solicitor can help you build up a solid case to ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve.

Personal Injury Claims and Housing Disrepair

One of the biggest categories that could make you eligible for Housing Disrepair compensation is in relation to injuries suffered due to problems in your council housing. When it comes to any type of personal injury claim, the claim will be based on the damages you have experienced. The main type of damages are physical damages. These are physical injuries that you have suffered, including broken bones, internal bleeding, and damage to organs or loss of limb, sight, teeth or hearing. However, you can also claim for emotional damages, financial damages, loss of opportunity and technology damages.

If the disrepair of your home has caused you to get hurt then you could be eligible for compensation. The negligence of your landlord has caused you to get into an accident that was not your fault. Some examples of these accidents can include:

Slipping up on puddles or faulty flooring
Impalement through exposed pieces of the floor, wall or furniture
Toxic inhalation of gas from faulty systems
Exposed nailing or structures causing bleeding, cuts or large wounds that need stitches
Burns from explosions or faulty equipment

The first thing you should do if you get hurt is to call an ambulance for medical help. That way you can be checked over by a specialist and ensured that your injuries are not any worse than they may have initially appeared to be. You should then focus on collecting evidence to build up your case. This includes photographs, videos, witness statements, police reports, medical reports, receipts and correspondence with the other party. This includes speaking to your landlord about the issues your home is experiencing.

How long do I have to make Housing Disrepair Claims?

The length of every housing disrepair claim is different. It depends on the complexity of the claim, as well as the co-operation of your landlord. You will have around 3 years, from the time of the disrepair happened, to make your claim. So, make sure to get in touch with a solicitor as quickly as possible. The longer you give your solicitor, the more likely that they will build you a solid case and will not rush your claim. They will always do their best to keep you involved and updated about the latest information about your case. That way you can relax and wait for an outcome without any pressure being on your shoulders.

Gowing Law Solicitors is here to help with your Housing Disrepair Claims

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are determined to help as many people as possible all over the UK with their housing disrepair claims. It can be extremely traumatic to be injured in your own home. Worse still, you may not even feel safe to go back to your residence. That’s why we want to get you the compensation you deserve to help you recover. We can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to proceed with your claim, we can offer our services on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will never need to pay any hidden fees. Our lawyers will only asked to be paid if they win your case. Therefore, you will always come out on top.

Speak to us today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. One of our law firm’s specialists will then be in contact to help you with your claim and to answer your questions.

Learn more about Housing Disrepair Claims

If you still have some questions about Housing Disrepair Claims, make sure to visit our blog for more information. We update it every week with new legal topics, seasonal events and information about our law firm. You can also send in your blog suggestions to info@gowinglaw.co.uk. Make sure to keep an eye on our blog and social media for our latest competitions and giveaways. You could be winner if you follow us.

We look forward to seeing you in our next blog!

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