Housing Disrepairs can happen any time of the year. However, the last thing you want at Christmas time is an uninvited guest. Damages to your home can come in many shapes and sizes. However, there are some that can come in swarms and can leave destruction all over your home. An insect infestation can leave gaps in the external and internal walls of your house and can also spread disease by burying into your food and defecating in your cupboards.
Your landlord should ensure that your house is in a habitable state. That way you and your family can live in it comfortably without there being any illness or breezes let in through cracks and splits in the walling. If your landlord refuses to help with any insect infestation, it’s time to get started on a Housing Disrepair Claim. Gowing Law Solicitors can help.
Christmas is a time for you to relax and unwind. We want you to have a cosy Christmas. That’s why we are determined to help you get the compensation that you deserve. You don’t deserve to live with an insect infestation. We can help you get started with your claim. Find out more about housing disrepair claims by calling 0800 041 8350 or by using our website below:
The basics of Housing Disrepairs
Housing disrepair claims are there to protect you if your home is suffering from damages that have not been fixed by your landlord. When you sign a contract with your landlord for a council house or home from the housing association, they have a responsibility to ensure that the repairs are sorted out as quickly as possible. That way you won’t fall into any harm or experience damages whilst you are living in the property. Of course, there are times when damages may occur which are completely outside of their control. Therefore, you will need to inform them as quickly as possible about them. A notice period of a month will then take place whilst they try and figure out what repair work you will need.
You should follow this process to ensure that your repairs are sorted out as quickly as possible:
Of course, not all landlords may take your housing disrepair issues seriously. If you experience this then this is an act of negligence. If you end up getting hurt due to the damages, or your belongings are destroyed due to the disrepairs, they could be liable for paying you compensation. Examples of this negligence can include:
- Being completely ignored by your landlord
- Your landlord becomes aggressive with you
- The disrepairs are fixed cheaply by your landlord and they cause further damages
- Your landlord demands that you pay for the damages
If any of these acts of negligence happen to you, you could be eligible for compensation. All you need to do is get started on your compensation claim with Gowing Law Solicitors. Our specialists will work on your behalf to ensure you get the pay-out that you deserve.
Housing Disrepairs: What sort of insects could invade my home?
Insects are more likely to infest your home during the winter times. As we get closer to Christmas, you may put away food and drink to keep for the holidays for you and your family. If there are cracks, wide crevices or exposures to the outside world, it’s likely that insects will come into your house for shelter and warmth. They may also come in if they smell food. Any pestilence can potentially spread diseases and cause general discomfort within your home. However, bugs can cause infections that you may need to go to hospital to get treatment to sort.
The type of insects that could infest your home include:
- Bed bugs
- Ants
- Cockroaches
- Slugs
- Spiders
- Flies
- Hornets
- Wasps
- Fleas
Of course, these are only a few examples of the types of insects in your home. Children and the elderly are mostly susceptible to these house invaders. This is due to the fact that they are more likely to get ill or suffer from an infection when they are bitten. Insects carry diseases that can get worse if they are left untreated. Keep an eye out for bites or discoloration of the skin. This may be an indication that you have been bitten. You should also keep an eye out for nests and eggs. Spiders keep their eggs in sacks and they can burst and cause a number of baby spiders to infest your house. Make sure to avoid this at all costs!
Housing Disrepairs: Mould, Damp & Insect Infestation
It’s important to understand that if you do end up having an insect infestation, it is likely because you are also experiencing mould and damp issues. Insects are attracted to mould and damp. Therefore, if there is any in your house, you may notice flies or bugs moving up and down the infected areas. Make sure to use special chemicals or sprays to try and remove the mould. If you dry the patch out, you may be able to lessen the impact of the mould.
You may also notice that the insects attempt to make their nests around the mould. To get rid of them, you may need to get a specialist (such as a fumigator) to visit your house to inspect the area. At the same time, you may need to leave the property to make sure that you are safe and do not inhale or touch any nasty chemicals.
Housing Disrepairs: How do I know that I have an insect infestation or pests in my house?
Whether you have just moved into your council house, or have been in your council home for a very long time, there are some signs to keep an eye out for if you are experiencing a pest problem. For creatures like rats, mice, bats and other non-insect, you may find droppings or evidence of a burrow or a nest. However, insects tend to get a little trickier. A lot of them are much smaller and you may not be able to immediately spot them. But when you find their hideout, that will make evicting them from your home a lot easier.
Some of the most common signs of insect infestation include:
If you find a nest of insects, do not approach them. You do not know if they are poisonous or prone to biting. For wasps, you may find that the injuries sustained by them may end up forcing you to take a trip to the hospital for treatment. Should you get stung or bitten, you should wrap up the wound and try and pull out any stingers that have been left. They could inflame the wound.
Disinfect the area and wash the area with soap. If you think the sting is bad, you will need to get treatment, especially if you have an allergic reaction to it. Always be careful around insects if you are unsure about whether or not you are allergic to their bites and stings.
Housing Disrepairs: Structural Disrepairs & Insect Infestation
When a structural disrepair occurs on your property, it makes it more likely that an insect infestation will occur. This is due to the fact that the insects will now have access to the inside of your home, or at least a warmer area surrounding it. This makes it more likely that you will experience nests in the roofing, insulation or cracks within your wall. An insect will be more likely to enter your house if you have one of the following disrepairs:
- Broken Windows
- Cracked Tiles
- Smashed Doors
- Faulty Window Panes
As we are in winter, insects will be looking for shelter. Therefore, if they see sugar in your kitchen, and a broken window that will allow them access into the room, they will infest inside of the room. Therefore, you will need to speak to your landlord about fumigating your house.
How could I be eligible for compensation from an insect infestation
To be eligible for compensation, your claim needs to fall under at least one of three categories. These are personal injury, damage to belongings and inconvenience. Take a look at the image below to get a better understanding of what the categories are all about:
Let’s take a moment to consider how an insect infestation could fall into these types of damages. Personal injuries could occur from bites and stings. If you are allergic to the insects, this could mean you need to go to hospital in order to get treatment. Insects are also very likely to destroy your furniture and clothing by biting it, eating it and using it as nesting.
You may find eggs within your furniture or clothing. So, make sure to check it before you use it. This is an example of damage to belongings. If you are worried about using certain rooms or furniture then this could ruin your daily schedule and quality of life. For instance, you could be scared about going into a certain room because of a wasp’s nest. This is inconvenience. As you can see, an insect infestation can fall into many different types of categories. Make sure you document your evidence of the disrepair, including photographs, videos, witness statements and financial receipts.
Will they be replaced?
Your landlord will have to have the furniture replaced by second-hand alternatives and will have to finance pest control services. They may even need to find you alternative accommodation to make sure that you are safe and sound during the fumigation process.
Your solicitor will be able to look into the disrepairs and have a triage assessor go over to look over the damages. That way your solicitor will be able to focus on helping you claim compensation, whilst your triage assessor will help you get the disrepairs fixed. That means you will have a comfortable house before Christmas arrives!
Find out more about Insect Infestation from Gowing Law’s Housing Disrepair Claims team
Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are determined to ensure that you have a comfortable house during the Christmas season. No one wants to deal with a bug infestation when they are trying to get into the Christmas spirit. However, there is a chance that your landlord may just leave you to live in that type of environment. That’s why we would urge you to speak to Gowing Law Solicitors about your Housing Disrepair Claim. We can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your case, our lawyers will 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.
Let Gowing Law Solicitors take care of your housing disrepair claim! You can contact us by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. One of our specialists will then be touch to answer any additional questions we may have!
Find out more about Housing Disrepairs
Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are determined to help you get the compensation that you deserve. You didn’t deserve to live in a house that is plagued by housing disrepairs. That’s why Gowing Law will be there to support you through this difficult time. If you want to understand more about the basics of different housing disrepair claims, we would highly recommend that you take a look at our blog. We update it every week with brand new content for you to enjoy. This includes informative content about legal claims, seasonal events, competitions/giveaways and updates about law firm. We are happy to write about your suggestions for our blogs. All you need to do is send your request to info@gowinglaw.co.uk.
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Happy Holidays!
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