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Comfortable Christmas: Housing Disrepair Claims & Lack of Hot Water

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As we get closer to Christmas, we are thinking about all of the relaxation and fun we are going to have over the holidays. It’s important that you have a nice warm home that you and your family can live in comfortably. Whether you live in a council house or a property from the housing association, it is the responsibility of your landlord to provide you with accommodation that is suitable for all of your needs. Now that the weather is getting colder, and there are winter storms, all over the country, the last thing that you need in your house is a broken water system in your house. The lack of hot water can be a disaster for you and your family. You may find that it makes your house uninhabitable and that it causes a lot of inconvenience for you and your family. This is an example of one of the worst types of housing disrepairs. You need to start looking into housing disrepair claims ASAP.

Your landlord is responsible for the upkeep of your home. They need to make sure that you are comfortable and safe. If they fail to do this, then they will be responsible for any damages that happen in your home. Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your housing disrepair claim. We can provide you the support you need during this difficult time. Find out how we can help by calling 0800 041 8350 or by using our website below:

Housing Disrepairs Website

What do I need to know about housing disrepair claims?

Whether you have moved into a council house or a property from the housing association, it’s important that you understand that your landlord is in control of the house. They own the house, therefore, they need to make sure that it is fully habitable for you and your family. When you enter the house as a tenant, your landlord needs to ensure the safety of you and any other resident that is within the house. As a tenant of the house, you will have the right to the following:

The rights of a tenant for housing disrepair claims

Your landlord owes you a “duty of care” when you live in the property. Therefore, if something does go wrong, such as a lack of hot water in your property, they need to be ready to get it fixed. You should alert your landlord through a physical letter as well as electronic conversation, such as an email, text or even through a phone call. Your landlord will then come over to look at the disrepair or send over a contractor to take a look. The repairs will then be sorted out. If they fail to do so, they could guilty of negligence. Examples of negligence include:

Landlord negligence infographic for housing disrepair claims

If your landlord has acted negligently, you need to get started on a housing disrepair claim as quickly possible. That way your solicitor can assist you with making a case. Don’t forget to collect evidence to back up your damage claims. This can include photographs, videos, witness statements and receipts. The more evidence you have, the more likely it is that you will have a successful claim on your hands. Ultimately, this means you could be owed up to £20,000 in compensation!

Sanitation, Hygiene, Water and Housing Disrepair Claims

Hot water issues & landlords

It’s crucial that your landlord acts responsibly and follows the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985. According to this law, it is illegal for your landlord to refuse to service your house by repairing, supplying or maintaining a hot water system. In other words, they need to make sure:

  • Keeping all water, gas and electricity systems in good repair
  • Ensuring that installations for heating rooms and water are in good repair

If you notice that your hot water is not working, it’s crucial that you inform your landlord as quickly as possible. Your landlord cannot just ignore your requests for help. In fact, for hot water complaints, your landlord should make sure they take action within 24 hours of you informing them of the disrepair. Although you also have a responsibility to try and keep your house free from disrepairs, in some cases age and broken installations can cause problems for you and your family. When this happens, it is crucial that your landlord steps in to help. It was not your fault, therefore, it is not your responsibility to have the issues fixed.

What could happen if I do not have hot water?

Hot water is an essential part of your house. You need hot water to do daily tasks and to feel comfortable in your home. If you are suffering from a lack of gas or electricity, and that is what is causing your cold water, you may find that you are unable to make yourself food or get yourself cleaned up in your bathroom. Without the right facilities in your home, you may find that it’s impossible to live comfortably in your house. Instead, you may feel cold, dirty and unable to do simple tasks, like making a cup of tea for yourself. This is an inconvenience and you may find that your quality of life is lowered.

If you have a large family in your house, including vulnerable pensioners, adults or children, you may find that a lack of hot water could make it difficult to keep going forward with daily tasks and life in general. Stagnant water could spread disease. If you are unable to get yourself washed, this can also make you feel grubby and worried about the health of your family in general. You may not have access to alternative facilities, therefore, your life may end up getting a lot harder than you anticipated.

What should I do if I suffer from no hot water

Can I make a Housing Disrepair Claim for a lack of hot water?

Whether you are experiencing the effects of a broken boiler, faulty pipes, gas or electricity, your landlord should not be ignoring any disrepairs that are going on in your house. Instead, they should be trying to get them fixed as fast as possible. If you are suffering due to the lack of hot water in your house, you should seek legal help as quickly as you can. Gowing Law’s expert team of solicitors are here to assist you with housing disrepair claims. Not only can we provide you advice, but our solicitors will speak to your landlord on your behalf. That means they can fill out any tricky paperwork and advise you on how to move forward.

When you work with our team of specialists, the following process should take place:

Triage Assessor from Gowing Law and housing disrepair claims

The amount of time needed to complete your claim will depend on the extent of the damages, whether or not your landlord is happy to work with our team and any additional complexities that may interfere with your claim. Be patient with your solicitor. They will do their best to ensure that you will always be informed about any decisions that are made. That way you can get your repairs sorted out and your compensation in your pocket.

Are you ready to start your housing disrepair claim?

Housing Disrepairs Website

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are ready to help you with your housing disrepair claim. No matter how complicated your claim is, Gowing Law will be there to help you through this difficult time. Our lawyers will provide you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move on with your case, our solicitors will work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will never have to pay any hidden fees. Instead, you will only have to pay our lawyers if they win your case for you. Therefore, you will always come out on top.

Find out how Gowing Law Solicitors can help with your housing disrepair claim by calling us on 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claims checker. Feel free to ask our solicitors any questions that may come to mind. We would be more than happy to help.

Learn more about housing disrepair claims

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Gowing Law Solicitors updates its blog every week with brand new content for you to enjoy. We know that undertaking a housing disrepair claim on your own can be a bit of a daunting process. That’s why we want to help you understand what these types of claims are all about. We update our blog every week with brand new information for you to read about. That way, when you start on your claim, you can go into it understanding the basics. We update our blog with UK legal claims, seasonal events and competitions/giveaways. You can even suggest blog topics for our website by writing into info@gowinglaw.co.uk. Make sure to also follow our newsletter by signing up below:



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Comfortable Christmas: Housing Disrepair Claims & Damaged Heating

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It’s almost Christmas! Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are celebrating the holiday season and are getting ourselves ready to enjoy the most festive time of the year. As the season becomes colder, you may find that your council house starts to suffer from a number of disrepairs. This includes damages due to a broken heating system. You don’t deserve to live in accommodation that does not have an adequate heating system in it. The cold could end up making your house extremely uncomfortable to live in. Not only that, but any younger or older members of your family could be at risk of getting ill. This is where you will need Gowing Law Solicitors to step in to help you get the compensation and repairs that you deserve. It’s time for you to start looking into Housing Disrepair Claims

Our law firm can help you when you make your housing disrepair claim. All you need to do is call 0800 041 8350 or use our website below to get started:

Housing Disrepairs Website

What do I need to know about Housing Disrepair Claims?

Let’s start off this blog with a little information about Housing Disrepair Claims in general. When you move into a council house or property from the housing association, your landlord is responsible for the upkeep of your house. This includes the exterior, interior, balcony, garden and garage. They are also responsible for any essential equipment or furniture that they have allowed you to use in your home. If any of it breaks down, they need to be the authority that fixes it. If they fail to do so, that could be a sign of negligence. Some examples of negligence can include:

  • Ignoring your requests for help
  • Becoming angry that you need help
  • Your landlord making the disrepairs much worse
  • You being asked to pay for the repair work

With that said, here is a little guidance on what you should do if you do end up suffering from a housing disrepair claim. You should give your landlord a month’s notice and let them know about the disrepairs through writing and electronic correspondence. Here is what you need to do:

Housing Disrepair Claims Assistance

Your landlord owes you a “duty of care”, therefore, they are responsible for your safety whilst you live in the house. If they fail to do this, and you end up getting hurt or the disrepair gets worse, you could be owed compensation as well as the repairs. In some cases, you could be owed up to £20,000 in compensation. This all depends on your damages, the damages of your house and how long your landlord has left your disrepairs for.

How long does it take to make a housing disrepair claim

Damaged Heating: How could this pose a problem for me?

Your heating is practically the heart of your home. Now that we are experiencing terrible weather due to the upcoming storms, the cold could enter your house and leave you facing extreme heating bills. If you have vulnerable adults or young children in your home, you may find that they could get ill due to the cold and lack of heat inside your house.

There are a range of heating appliances that may break down and cause problems within your house. This includes radiators, heated piping, heated flooring or even your boiler. You may find that it is difficult to charge up heated products or that you cannot produce hot water.

Eventually, you may find that your house becomes too uncomfortable to live in without using your own transportable radiators or heaters. This has caused you general inconvenience and you may find that it is practically impossible to stay in your home. Due to the cold, it may be impossible to take baths or showers, and you may be forced to go out to a friend’s house or a nearby gym to get cleaned up. You should be able to do this in your own home. If your house fails to live up to a habitable standard, you could be owed compensation due to the negligence of your landlord. You didn’t deserve to get hurt and it is necessary that the damaged heating system is fixed as quickly as possible.

Housing Disrepair Claims and eviction

What should I do if my house has a damaged heating system?

If your heating system is electric then you should unplug it and turn the power off. That way there is less risk of a further disrepair occurring. If it is a boiler system, it is likely that there may also be a leak if there is a problem with the system entirely. Try to switch everything off. It may be cold but at least there will not be as many disrepairs that you will have to sort out. You may also have to put towels around your boiler if it is leaking.

The important thing to do in this situation is to retain as much heat as you can in at least one room of your house. Cover cold surfaces, such as seats and toilet seats, and try to keep your family all in one room. That way your body heat will warm up the area. You should also put on as many layers as possible. Makes sure to move any portable heating systems into the one room and provide blankets and hot water bottles.

If you are finding your house uninhabitable, it’s important that you go to a friend or a family member’s house. They may be able to let you wash yourself up and get warm. You can even find these type of facilities at gyms. So, pack fresh clothes and get yourselves warmed up. That way you can wait for the repairs to be made before you return to your accommodation.

Try your best to keep warm during this difficult time. If your landlord refuses to help with a broken heating system, the lawyers at Gowing Law will do their best to assist you.

What should I do if I have a faulty heating system?

We understand that it can be extremely stressful if your landlord is refusing to help with your housing disrepair. That’s why it’s time for you to make a Housing Disrepair Claim. You deserve to feel good about your home and feel comfortable in it during the Christmas season. If they refuse to help, you need to get started on your case with the help of a solicitor. Your solicitor can help you collect your evidence and speak to your landlord on your behalf. They can also set up the visit from a triage assessor.

If you are planning on making a housing disrepair, you can expect the following to happen:

Triage Assessor for Housing Disrepair Claims

Your solicitor will do their best to help you claim your compensation. At the same time, your triage assessor will be looking into the disrepairs. That way you can get both of them sorted out. You will always be kept updated about what is happening and how your claim is progressing.

Get help for your Housing Disrepair Claims

Housing Disrepairs Website

Gowing Law Solicitors are ready to ensure that you have an extremely comfortable Christmas this year. You don’t deserve to live in a house that is cold and could potentially get you ill during the holiday season. That’s why you should get in contact with our law firm to get started on your housing disrepair claim. We can offer you free advice and consultations about your case. If you are happy to move forward, we can work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. Therefore, you will never have to pay any hidden fees in your case. You will only have to pay your solicitor if they win your case for you. That means you will always come out on top!

Find out more about how Gowing Law can help with Housing Disrepair Claims by calling us on 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claims checker on our website. One of our specialists will then be in touch to answer any additional questions that you may have.

Want to know more about Housing Disrepair Claims?

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Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are determined to get you the help that you need to ensure you get a high compensation pay-out. To do this, you need to understand what type of case you are getting involved in. That’s why you can find out more about different types of law blogs by visiting our blog page. We update it every week with brand new content about legal claims, seasonal events and the occasional competition and giveaway. You can even suggest topics to our content team by writing in to info@gowinglaw.co.uk. Make sure to also sign up to our newsletter below:



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Comfortable Christmas: Housing Disrepair Claims & Broken Glass Windows

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It is Christmas time! Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we love being able to help our clients with their housing disrepair claims. You don’t deserve to live in a house that is full of disrepairs, especially around the Christmas period. You should be warm and comfortable when it gets to the Christmas holidays. After all, the weather is getting colder and you could suffer from illness due to the damp that enters your home. Broken glass windows can be a major hazard for you and your family. That’s why it’s crucial that your landlord gets them sorted as quickly as possible. If they fail to do so, it’s time for you to look into Housing Disrepair Claims.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your housing disrepair claim. All you need to do is get in contact with our law firm to get started. Call us on 0800 041 8350 or visit our website below:

Housing Disrepairs Website

What should I know about Housing Disrepair Claims?

When you make any type of housing disrepair claim, it is important to understand that you are making it because your house is suffering from damages. In a perfect world, all landlords would be there to sort out your disrepairs as quickly as possible. Of course, you do need to give them enough notice to actually get the disrepairs sorted. This should be around one month. If they act negligently, they are breaking their “duty of care” towards you. They are responsible for the safety of you and any other people that are living in your house. Their negligence can come in many forms if you have suffered from a housing disrepair. This can include:

  • Ignoring all of your requests for help with the disrepair
  • Becoming aggressive with you because of the damages
  • Demanding that you help with paying for the repair work
  • Trying to repair the disrepairs and making them worse.

If you are suffering from disrepairs in your house, and your landlord refuses to get them repaired, it’s time for you to make a housing disrepair claim. Therefore, you could be eligible for a claim if the disrepair falls into one of three categories in terms of its damages.

Eligibility includes:

Housing Disrepair Claims Eligibility

Your solicitor will take a look at all of your damages and help you figure out how much you could be owed by your landlord. In some cases, you could be owed up to £20,000. You can use this to help you recover from any injuries or to help you regain your quality of life. At the same time, your solicitor will send over a triage assessor to your house to ensure that the extent of your damages has been assessed. That way you can feel confident that you are going to get all of the disrepairs sorted out and that nothing will be missed that could come back as a future damage.

Landlord negligence and housing disrepair claims

How did your window end up getting broken?

There are a range of reasons why and how your window ended up getting broken. In some cases, it may have been due to the negligence or actions of other people. Perhaps a neighbour accidently smashed it or you experienced a criminal trying to break into your house. However, your house may be very old and in need of repair work. If the glass of your door or house has broken due to age, it’s likely that your landlord will have to pay for it to be replaced. Your broken glass could have also been destroyed due to natural weather.

Heavy winds or hail may have destroyed the glass of your home. You may have even found that it became weaker due to condensation, mould, damp or even animals trying to break through tiny chips and cracks. Even the temperature can have an effect on glass as it can cause it to expand and contract, meaning that it’s likely that it will end up breaking. As you can see, there are a range of ways that you may have ended up experiencing a disrepair.

What should I do if my house suffers from a disrepair?

Try not to panic if your house has suffered from a broken glass window. Glass can be dangerous, especially for small children, but you can get it fixed quickly. Be careful around the damage. Glass can be extremely sharp and you may find that you end getting hurt because of the pointy and jagged edges. If you are afraid of going near it, wear gloves and make sure to wear something on your feet. You can even wear goggles if that will make you feel better. Warn everyone about the broken window and keep your family away from it. Then you can sweep up the shards of glass and hoover the area. Small specks of glass can get stuck in your carpet. Therefore, you need to be extra careful no one stands on it.

If someone does end up standing on the glass, you can pull it out with tweezers. However, if it cannot be removed and sterilized by yourself, you may have to go to hospital to have a specialist remove it. With that said, if everyone is safe, and the broken glass has been picked off the ground, you should focus on the hole that has been left behind. You may feel nervous about a hole in your window. It could pose a security risk or make your house a lot colder. Therefore, your heating bills may end up getting higher.

Make sure to block off the hole until a repair worker is sent to your house. This could be with cardboard or foam. Therefore, you can feel confident that you can keep your family safe. It will also give you some privacy from the outside world.

How could I get hurt from broken windows

Sorting out a Housing Disrepair Claim about Broken Windows

If your window has broken, this could pose a threat to you and your family. Your landlord has a responsibility to make sure that you do not get hurt from this type of disrepair. Therefore, they should send someone over to inspect your house and the damages. That way they can judge for themselves what sort of repair work you are going to need. If they fail to help you, it’s time to get started with a housing disrepair claim.

Not only can Gowing Law Solicitors work with your landlord on your behalf, they can fill out any paperwork that you may find tricky. Your lawyer will focus on getting you the compensation that you deserve and help you sort out your evidence. This includes any photographs, videos, witness statements and receipts. You may be owed a lot more compensation due to emotional and financial damages. So, make sure to let your solicitor know about them. You don’t have to be scared about making a claim. You cannot be evicted from your property just for asking for disrepairs to be sorted out. Your lawyer is here to make sure your house is comfortable for you and your family to live in. You deserve to be comfortable for Christmas.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your Housing Disrepair Claim

Housing Disrepairs Website

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are determined to make sure that all of our clients are comfortable for Christmas. It’s been a tough year for everyone. Therefore, we want to make sure that any housing disrepairs are sorted by our specialist solicitors. You should have your broken window fixed as quickly as possible. That’s why you should come to Gowing Law for free advice and consultations. Thus, if you are happy to move forward with your claim, you could work with our team of specialists on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always end up on top as you will never have to pay any hidden fees.

Find out more about how Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your housing disrepair claim by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by visiting our claims checker. One of our specialists will then be in contact to answer any additional questions you may have.

Learn more about Housing Disrepair Claims

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Are you interested in learning more about housing disrepair claims? You can do this by visiting Gowing Law’s blog page. We update it every week with brand new content. This is about UK legal claims, seasonal events, updates about our law firm and the occasional competition/giveaway. Feel free to send us blog requests. You can email them to info@gowinglaw.co.uk. You can also sign up to our newsletter by using the button below:

 



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Comfortable Christmas: Housing Disrepairs & Vandalism

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As Christmas is just around the corner, you may have a lot of pressure on you to get this holiday right for you and your family. You may be worried about Covid-19 or that you will not be able to see your family this season. That’s why the last thing you need on your mind is the knowledge that your home is suffering from housing disrepairs. Criminal activities can occur that can leave your house in a serious state of disrepair. This includes vandalism that could destroy the exterior or interior of your home. It was not your fault that this happened to you. Instead, it may be due to your landlord because they did not have adequate security on your house. That’s why it may be time to make a Housing Disrepair Claim.

Gowing Law Solicitors can get started on your housing disrepair claim. Our specialists will make sure that you get the compensation that you deserve. We will also send over a triage assessor to make sure that the repairs are sorted as quickly as possible. Get in contact with Gowing Law Solicitors today by calling 0800 041 8350 or by visiting our website below:

Housing Disrepairs Website

What do I need to know about Housing Disrepairs?

When you make a housing disrepair claim, it’s important to understand that it is there to protect you against damages inside your council home or property from the housing association. Your landlord is responsible for the upkeep of your house. This includes the interior, exterior, balconies, garages and garden. Unfortunately, a lot of council properties are very old, therefore they may be suffering from damages that make them vulnerable to mould, damp, security and fire risks. This is due to the fact that many were built in the 1960’s or 1980’s.

Your landlord needs to take any complaints that you have about your housing disrepair seriously. When you entered your house, you went into a contract with your landlord. Therefore, they owe you a “duty of care.” If they fail to acknowledge your complaint, or do anything to make it worse, they could be guilty of negligence. This is when they could be liable for any damages that you have experienced.

Examples of negligence can include:

Landlord Negligence and Housing Disrepairs

You should give your landlord at least one month’s notice before you put in your complaint. That way you can prove that you did everything you could to try and get the housing disrepairs sorted yourself. This includes writing letters to your landlord and taking photographs and videos as evidence. You may also want to have people come in to look at the disrepairs so you can collect witness statements.

Housing Disrepairs & Compensation

Housing Disrepairs & Criminal Activity

In most cases, the disrepairs in your home are most likely to be caused by the age of the house itself. It was not your fault that the house fell into a state of disrepair. Sometimes, the disrepairs can be caused by other people in your neighbourhood. This includes through criminal activity due to inadequate security around your house. Your landlord should be providing security in your home through:

  • Working locks and bolts
  • Secure windows and entrances
  • CCTV
  • Security staff
  • Working alarm system

Of course, every building is going to have different levels of security. For a flat, they may opt for a reception with a security guard, however for houses, you may just have a security camera. Check around your house to try out the locks and bolts to make sure you feel safe. You may need to have certain security features replaced or reinstalled. If you do feel unsafe in your house, you may have to end up taking your own precautions or investing in security, otherwise you may end up experiencing the following criminal incidents:

Criminal Injuries and Housing Disrepairs

If you have a home invasion, you may find that the criminal ends up damaging your home in the process. Not only can this be traumatic for you, but you may find that there are a number of housing damages because of the burglary or act of vandalism. You need to speak to your landlord if you do end up experiencing housing disrepairs due to a criminal action as soon as possible. That way you can ask for help and potentially be moved to different accommodation to ensure your safety.

Housing Disrepairs: What should I do if I experienced vandalism or criminal activity?

The first thing you need to do if your home has been invaded is not to panic. Don’t explore the house and don’t go looking around for a criminal. Instead, get yourself to safety. You should then phone the police to go look around your house and to assess what has happened. When they have deemed it safe, you can go in to the house to look at the damages. However, we would recommend that you look for alternative accommodation until it has been deemed safe to return.

You should let your landlord know about the criminal activity as soon as possible. Although this not their fault, you do need to alert your landlord about what has been destroyed. You should speak to CIRCA if you have experienced any personal injuries or damages to your belongings. You might be able to claim compensation even if you do not know who was responsible to the damages to your house.

House invasion and housing disrepairs

What could I make a compensation for with a Housing Disrepair Claim?

If your house has been damaged due to vandalism, it’s important that you speak to your solicitor as quickly as possible. They are responsible for your safety. In some cases, they may be responsible for any damages you have experienced because they did not install the right security for your house. Therefore, your damages were due to their negligence. In this case, your compensation may come from CIRCA rather than the landlord. This is due to the fact that they are not responsible for criminal injuries. However, for any damages to your home or personal injuries that you suffer, your landlord should be trying to get them fixed as quickly as possible. You could be eligible for a housing disrepair claim, if your claim falls into one of these categories:

Housing Disrepairs Infographic

Vandalism claims can get complicated, however you can ask for your landlord to step up to get any issues sorted out within your home. Even if you do not know who was responsible for any stolen property or damages to the interior and exterior of your home, your landlord should work to get them fixed. This includes any cleaning services that you need to get your house back up to scratch. If your landlord refuses to help, Gowing Law can help. We can have our solicitors work on your claim, and we can send over a triage assessor to look at your damages for themselves. We will make sure that you get your repairs sorted and your compensation safely in your pocket.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help with your Housing Disrepair Claim!

Housing Disrepairs Website

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are determined to help you get the compensation and repairs that you need to move forward with your life. You deserve to have a comfortable Christmas. That’s why we are here to help. We can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your claim, we can offer you our support on a “no win – no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top because you will never have to pay any hidden fees. Therefore, you will always come out on top.

Make sure to get in touch with our team of specialists today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claims checker. You can then ask our solicitors any questions you may have about your claim.

Learn more about Housing Disrepair Claims

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Are you interested in learning more about housing disrepair claims? Don’t forget that Gowing Law is here to help you understand more about different types of legal cases. We understand that you may not know a lot about housing disrepair claims. That’s why you should keep an eye on our blog to learn more about different legal cases. We update it regularly with new content about our law firm, seasonal events and our competitions/giveaways. Make sure to send us a message if you would like to see a certain topic uploaded to our blog. You can also sign up to our newsletter below:


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Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you in our next blog.

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Comfortable Christmas: Housing Disrepairs & Cracked Walls

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No one deserves to suffer from housing disrepairs during the Christmas season. We are already worried about Covid-19 and the impact it is going to have on the holiday season. So, having your house break on you is only going to make your stress worse. Cracked walls can potentially let in the cold and all sorts of vermin that can spread disease to you and your family. You may also find that the crack will get worse during winter weather due to the cold and wet. That’s why it’s crucial that your landlord sorts out the issues as soon as possible.

If your landlord refuses to help, it’s time for you to make a Housing Disrepair Claim. You can take control of the disrepairs in your home and make sure they get fixed quickly. Gowing Law Solicitors can help you. Find out more by calling our law firm on 0800 041 8350 or by visiting our website below:

Housing Disrepairs Website

What do I need to know about Housing Disrepairs?

There are lots of different types of housing disrepairs that can affect the structure and integrity of your home. Some disrepairs are worse than others and can affect your family in a variety of ways. With that said, your landlord is responsible for any external & internal structures, as well as any essential equipment that is within your home. You are the tenant, therefore, the upkeep of the building is out of your hands. Although you do have to play your part to keep it clean and tidy, and you need to act sensibly to ensure that there is no damage to the building or your home.

If a disrepair does occur in your house, it’s important that your landlord does try get it fixed as quickly as possible. You should give them notice to get the disrepairs fixed. This means they need a bit of time to get them sorted out. Usually, this is a month. Make sure to let them know about the disrepair in writing and through electronic communication. That way you will have evidence to prove that you did try to alert your landlord to the disrepair if they ignore you.

In a perfect world, your landlord would get the disrepairs sorted out as fast as possible. However, there are times where your landlord may act negligently and the disrepairs may end up getting worse.

Landlord negligence may include:

Landlord Negligence and Housing Disrepairs

If any of these acts of negligence happen to you, it’s time for you to make a Housing Disrepair Claim with the help of a solicitor. Your solicitor will speak to your landlord on your behalf. They will ensure that a triage assessor is sent over to look at the damages for themselves. We would recommend that you document as much evidence as you can to ensure you can prove you are suffering from the negligence. Your evidence can include:

Evidence for Housing Disrepairs

Housing Disrepairs & Cracked Walls: Why are they a problem?

When you move into a house, the main thing you want to see is something that is aesthetic and stable. Seeing cracks in your walls can leave you feeling like you are living in a property that is falling apart and has not had a lot of attention and love over the last few years. It can also make you feel as if you are wasting your money on a property that makes you feel low when you return to it. Emotionally, seeing cracks in your wall can make you feel nervous and worried.

With that said, cracks in your walls can also cause some very bad problems when it comes to the condition of your house. Not only can a crack in your wall show that there is a problem with the insulation within your house, but it can allow cold breezes to pass through. Therefore, you may find that your house is very cold extremely fast. That means that your heating bills may rise because you are trying to keep your family warm during the winter period. Unfortunately, cracks in the wall can also encourage mice, rats, pests and mould & damp to enter or form inside your house. This could potentially increase your chances of suffering from a disease or breathing issues.

Keep an eye out for the following if you are worried about aforementioned problems:

  • The feeling of damp growing in your house
  • Droppings or scratching noises from vermin
  • Cracks that have quickly become bigger
  • Bulges inside the wall that are near cracks or holes

Your landlord does need to take a look at the disrepairs when you notice them. They will then find a repair worker to assess whether or not it is the insulation or the wall itself that is causing the cracks.

Can I make a claim if I leave my house

Housing Disrepairs: Plaster & Ceiling Disrepairs

Another type of crack in your wall may not actually look like a crack. In some walls that have been covered in very old plaster, you may find that air has been trapped beneath the surface. As the interior has grown older, the plaster may weaken and small bubbles may start to appear in the plaster.

If you leave these walls alone, and do not address the bubbles, it may be that eventually these bubbles will be so pressurized that they end up cracking or splitting. This can let stale air into your house. It can also expose you to anything dangerous that lies beneath the surface of your wall. This may cause breathing issues or you may end up with a surface that eventually falls down. This could get you hurt if you are standing next to the wall or are trying to apply any pressure to it. It also may encourage damp and mould to grow on the inside.

Water Damage & Bubbling Walls

Another reason that a crack or bubbled wall could occur is due to water damage. If there is a hole in your roof or cracks in the exterior of the wall, it is likely that water from the pipes or rainy days could collect inside your walls. This could increase the amount of damp that is inside your building and could result in structural damage. The interior’s insulation or wooden inside could eventually buckle due to water damage. You may find that cracks spread around the inside and outside of your house.

In some extreme circumstances, cracks in your walls can even be caused by plant damage as it grows inside your walls. With that said, water damage can be extremely dangerous because it can destroy the structure of your home. If it falls down, you could be hurt in the process quite severely, especially if it ends up falling on you.

Come to Gowing Law for help with your Housing Disrepair Claim

Housing Disrepairs Website

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are determined to help you get the compensation you deserve. You should not be forced to live in a home that is damaged and full of disrepairs. That’s why you should come to Gowing Law for help. We can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your case, we can offer you our services on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top because you will never have to pay any hidden fees. Therefore, you should come to our law firm as soon as possible to get started.

Find out more about how to get started on your claim by calling our legal team on 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. Our specialists will be there to answer all of your questions. Feel free to ask them anything that’s on your mind!

Find out more about Housing Disrepairs

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We are proud that we are able to help our clients with their housing disrepair claims. That’s why we update our blog every week with brand new content about this topic. You can learn the basics about these types of claims before you go into your own. You can also learn more about different UK claims, seasonal events, updates about our law firm and the occasional giveaway/competition. Make sure to suggest blog topics to us so we can write about what interests you! You can send in your blog suggestions to info@gowinglaw.co.uk. You can also sign up to our newsletter below:



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Comfortable Christmas: Housing Disrepairs & Damaged Roofing

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During the winter months and Christmas period, it’s going to get increasingly cold, dark and dangerous. Whilst you think about whether or not you are going to go to your office’s Christmas party, the last thing you want to endure this holiday season is a housing disrepair. Housing disrepairs can put you and your family at risk of injuries, inconvenience and damage to all of your belongings, especially if you are suffering from damaged roofing. When you suffer from roof disrepairs, you may feel as though your home’s structure is slowly falling apart. You may also feel angry that your landlord is refusing to help you get the disrepairs sorted out.

This is where Gowing Law Solicitors can step in to help you. Our solicitors are determined to assist you to get the compensation and repairs that you deserve. We are always ready to provide you advice and consultations to help you make a decision on how you want to move forward with your claim. Call us on 0800 041 8350 or use our website below:

Housing Disrepairs Website

What do I need to know about housing disrepairs?

The first thing that you need to understand about any type of housing disrepairs is that they are about areas of your home being exposed to damages. When you enter into a contract with your landlord about a council house or property from the housing association, they need to ensure your safety whilst you live in it. This is known as a “duty of care”. If they fail to adhere to this, and you end up hurt or your home suffers from disrepairs, you could be owed compensation up to £20,000. This type of compensation claim is known as a housing disrepair claim. You could claim it if you have suffered from:

  • Personal injuries
  • Damaged belongings
  • Inconvenience

Your landlord should ensure that you can live in your residence safely without worry that you will end up getting hurt. You should give your landlord around 1 months’ notice to get the disrepair sorted. Make sure to follow this process to make sure you can prove that you did everything you could to get your landlord to get the disrepairs sorted out:

What should I do if I have housing disrepairs

You should never fund the repair work of the disrepairs. As you are only a tenant and do not own the property. Your landlord is responsible for the upkeep of your house. Therefore, if they fail to help you and the house gets worse, you could be owed compensation for the damages. Examples of negligence can include your landlord ignoring your complaints or your landlord demanding that you pay for the damages. There may even be times that your landlord attempts to fix your damages but ends up making them worse. Either way, they are guilty of negligence and you could be owed compensation.

Broken roofs and housing disrepairs

Damaged Roofs & Housing Disrepairs: What problems can they cause?

Having a damaged roof can end up putting you and your family in a nightmare situation. Normally, when you think about roofs, you think about the outside of it being a problem. You may have broken tiles or holes in your roof. This, in turn, could present structural issues that could affect the entire stability of your home. However, you could also experience:

  • Leaks that lead to puddles of water
  • Mould, damp and mildew
  • Broken electrical wires and systems
  • Personal injuries due to falling bricks and slate

Your roof or chimneys could collapse due to age, structural issues or due to the bad weather. If it falls inside your home, there is a chance that it could also damage the furniture, especially if there is dust, broken insulation and any plaster that is broken. You may also find that a roof collapse could also cause a ceiling collapse, especially if the roof or ceiling is rotting. You may find that your house is completely uninhabitable if it is suffering from a damaged roof or ceiling. That’s why it’s crucial that you seek help as quickly as possible to have it fixed.

Top Tips for Housing Disrepair Claims

Housing Disrepairs: What sort of injuries could you suffer from damaged roofing?

When your house suffers from roofing damages, there is a chance that you could experience a range of personal injuries. A damaged roof can affect more than just the tiling. After all, it can also let in rain that can create puddles, mould and damp. It can also ruin electrical work and destroy personal belongings and equipment. Some of the most common injuries from damaged roofing include:

Injuries from roof accidents and housing disrepairs

Unfortunately, having these sort of disrepairs can lead to you and your family getting injured. Holes in your roof can let in the cold, which does not bode well during the winter time. Your house may get extremely cold and you may end up getting sick more frequently. If you use a personal heater that connects to your electricity, you may find that your power bills may end up increasing. That means it is likely that you will end up experiencing financial damages as well as personal injuries.

Landlord Obligations & Housing Disrepairs : Roof Disrepairs

You are entitled to be able to live in a warm and comfortable home. That means if there is a serious disrepair when it comes to your roof, your landlord needs to get it repaired as soon as possible. There is a chance that loose tiles or bricks could injure people walking near your house, as well as your friends or family.

You don’t deserve to be left in the cold at Christmas time due to your landlord’s negligence. Your solicitor can help you make a housing disrepair claim against your landlord. Your landlord is required to make sure your house is habitable. If you do not have heat due to the disrepairs in your roof, or you are having constant leaks that could hurt you or your family, you need them repaired. You may even be owed compensation for your inconvenience, if your belongings are damaged or if you have experienced personal injuries.

You can expect the following process if you decide to make a housing disrepair claim:

Assessor Steps for Housing Disrepairs

Your solicitor will handle any tricky paperwork and will speak to your landlord on your behalf. That way if you are feeling nervous about your claim or not confident about doing it, you will have a legal expert there to assist you. You deserve to have your disrepairs sorted as quickly as possible.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help with Damaged Roofing Claims

Housing Disrepairs Website

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are determined to help you have a comfortable Christmas this year. No housing disrepair should be in your way of a comfortable Christmas. That’s why our lawyers are here to support you through this difficult time. We can offer free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your case, we can work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top as you will never have to pay any hidden fees.

Get in contact with Gowing Law Solicitors today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. We will then be more than happy to answer all of your questions.

Find out more about Housing Disrepair Claims

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Don’t forget that if you want to learn more about Housing Disrepair Claims, you should visit Gowing Law’s blog for more information. We write about UK legal claims, updates about our law firm, competitions, giveaways and seasonal events for everyone to enjoy. You can suggest blog topics by writing into info@gowinglaw.co.uk. You can also sign up to our newsletter by following the button below:



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Comfortable Christmas: Housing Disrepairs & Broken Essential Equipment

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It’s the Christmas season and Gowing Law Solicitors wants to make sure you have a comfortable Christmas. As winter brings in the snow, and you consider whether or not you are going to have a Christmas party, it’s important that you have a house that you can go in to relax and rest. If there are disrepairs in your home, your Christmas is going to end up getting pretty uncomfortable. It is up to your landlord to ensure that you are happy in the accommodation you have rented out. That means if your house is suffering from housing disrepairs, your landlord needs to get them sorted out as quickly as possible. This includes replacing essential equipment if it breaks down. If your landlord refuses to do this, it may be time to make a housing disrepair claim.

Find out more about how Gowing Law Solicitors can help you by calling 0800 041 8350 or by visiting our website below:

Housing Disrepairs Website

What do I need to know about Housing Disrepairs?

One of the main things you need to understand about Housing Disrepair Claims is that they are there to protect you when your landlord is acting negligently. When you entered into your council house or accommodation from the housing association, you formed a contact with your landlord to ensure that you are kept safe in your home. You have the following rights when you move into a property as a tenant:

The rights of a tenant for housing disrepairs

Your landlord has a responsibility to look after you and your family. They owe you a “duty of care” and therefore need to ensure that your house is kept safe and accommodating for you and anyone else in the property. If any of the essential equipment does break down, they need to fix it or else it may pose a threat to the safe of you and your family. Keep an eye out of any extra signs of negligence that could make your landlord liable for these breakdowns:

Landlord Negligence for Housing Disrepairs

If you suffer from the negligence of your landlord, you will need to get started on your housing disrepair claim. Your lawyer will assist you with claiming compensation. During this, a triage assessor will be sent to your home to look over your damages. That way you can get a truly comfortable Christmas period.

Will my house have essential equipment in it?

Housing Disrepairs: What is classified as essential equipment in your home?

When you rent your property from your landlord, they need to provide you with essential equipment to ensure that you and your family are comfortable in the accommodation you are provided. If they fail to do so, or the equipment is damaged, you could put in a complaint to have the items replaced or to have the damages seen to by a repair worker. Some essential items may be equipment, but others are facilities that are necessary to keep your house habitable:

  • Oven
  • Toilet
  • Sinks
  • Boiler
  • Fridge
  • Electricity
  • Piping and Sanitation

The reason that these need to be replaced so fast is that they could cause extreme problems in your house if they malfunction. This includes fires, flooding, cold and even more dangerous injuries. Your landlord should be focusing on getting the disrepairs sorted from the moment you report them. Although it is important to give them notice about your disrepairs, if you need something replaced, like a piece of essential equipment, your landlord should be looking for it. That way your family will not be put in danger.

Housing Disrepairs: How is my compensation measured for a claim about broken essential equipment?

When you make a Housing Disrepair Claim for broken essential equipment, you are doing it to get it replaced or fixed. Unfortunately, in some cases, your landlord may have acted negligently and you could have got hurt because of their actions. That’s why it’s crucial that you get the equipment fixed as quickly as possible. You could be owed up to around £20,000 for your disrepair, however it will be based on a number of issues:

How will my damages be calculated

If there is damaged equipment in your home, it’s very likely that you will be unable to function properly in the property. Let’s say that your oven was broken. You may have found it impossible to cook on without worrying it would cause a gas leak or a fire. Your oven may also simply not switch on. Therefore, you may be forced to go to other people’s homes to cook or you may get takeaways. This could cause financial problems and general inconvenience. This means that you could claim compensation for the housing disrepairs you have suffered.

It’s important that you have evidence to prove that you have suffered due to the broken essential equipment in your home. Make sure to take pictures and videos. You can also use receipts and witness statements as evidence of any additional housing disrepairs that have occurred. Your lawyer can use this to assist with your compensation claim. Your triage assessor can also take a look at the photos before visiting your home to understand the extent of your damages for themselves before they make their report.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help with Housing Disrepair Claims about Broken Essential Equipment

Housing Disrepairs Website

Don’t forget that Gowing Law is here to help you with your Housing Disrepair Claim. You don’t deserve to live in a house that is full of broken essential equipment. This could ruin your holiday season when you should really be relaxing. It’s time to let Gowing Law ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve. Broken essential equipment can make your house completely uninhabitable. That’s why it’s time to start with your case. Gowing Law can prove you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your case, we can work with you on a “no win- no fee” case. That means you will never have to pay any hidden fees. Instead, you will only need to pay your solicitor if they win your case for you. Therefore, you will always come out on top.

Find out how Gowing Law Solicitors can help 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 answer any additional questions that you may have.

Learn more about Housing Disrepair Claims

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It’s important that you understand as much as possible about making a housing disrepair claim. That’s why you can find a lot of information about these types of cases on our law firm’s website. We update it regularly with brand new content about legal claims, our law firm, the occasional giveaway or competition, as well as the occasional campaign about a range of different topics. If you would like to see a certain topic addressed on our blog, you can send it into info@gowinglaw.co.uk. You can also sign up to our newsletter:



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Comfortable Christmas: Housing Disrepairs, Blocked Piping & Sanitation

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Now that Christmas is approaching, it is crucial that you keep your house in a comfortable state for you and your family to enjoy. Winter storms have finally hit the UK and we are going to have to prepare ourselves for the cold weather ahead. The last thing you need coming up to Christmas is for the piping of your house to break down. The sanitation of your council house or property from the housing association is crucial when it comes to the health of you and your family. Your landlord should come around to have the problem fixed as quickly as possible. If they fail to do this then they could be guilty of negligence. This is when your housing disrepairs need to be taken to the next level. You need to get started on your housing disrepair claim.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your housing disrepairs this Christmas season. That way you can feel comfortable when Christmas arrives. You don’t have to feel worried that your disrepairs will ruin your holiday season. Instead, Gowing Law can get you the help when you need it most. Call us on 08000418350 or use our website below:

Housing Disrepairs Website

What do I need to know about Housing Disrepairs?

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are determined to help you with any type of housing disrepair claim. Sanitation issues are serious problems that need to be sorted out by your landlord as quickly as possible. If they fail to do this then you should make a housing disrepair claim. Your landlord is responsible for the upkeep of the majority of your council house or property from the housing association. Your landlord should be providing a report every 5 years or when they have new tenants in their rented property. This includes:

Landlord responsibilities for Housing Disrepairs

Your landlord needs to be regularly checking up on the essential structures, gardens and any balconies that are a part of your home. If they fail to do this then they could be guilty of negligence. Negligence comes in many shapes and forms when it comes to housing disrepairs. However, you should give your landlord enough notice to get the disrepair fixed for you. This should be around about a month. With that said, you should follow this process to ensure that any disrepairs are sorted by your landlord:

Housing Disrepairs assistance

Housing Disrepairs: Landlords & Negligence

It’s crucial that you understand that your landlord is responsible for the majority of the upkeep of your house. Of course, you need to keep your house in a tidy and clean condition to ensure that you are not responsible for any disrepairs. However, your landlord should be keeping an eye on your property to ensure that it is kept in a good condition.

When your house is in disrepair, you landlord needs to take your complaint seriously and send an engineer around to have the damages sorted out. If you fail to do this then you could be suffering from their “negligence.” They owe you a duty of care. Therefore, if they fail to help you, you could be liable for any damages that you experienced.

Some examples of negligence from your landlord includes:

  • Ignoring your complaints and requests for repairs
  • Trying to fix your disrepairs cheaply and making them worse
  • Getting angry or violent with you because of the disrepairs
  • Demanding that you pay for your disrepairs

If you experience any of these types of negligence, it’s crucial that you speak to a solicitor as quickly as possible. That way you can get started on your housing disrepair claim and the disrepairs won’t interfere with your Christmas holidays.

Negligence and housing disrepairs

Housing Disrepairs, Blocked Piping and Sanitation: What is the problem?

Sanitation is crucial when it comes to the health and safety of your family. Your house should have a range of pipes through your floors and walls that hook up to your boiler and other areas of essential equipment, such as your toilet, bath and sink. Should these pipes get blocked, it’s likely that you will be unable to use the essential equipment because they will not be able to drain properly. Instead, they may back up and flood your house with dirty water and liquidated rubbish. This can put the health of your family at risk because it could spread diseases.

It may also destroy furniture in your house if it is near the flooded area. You may also find that gutters and drains become blocked due to leaves, grass, trash or mud. This could mean that your garden or the outside of your home becomes flooded.

Ultimately, these types of blocked pipes and sanitation equipment can cause structural issues to your house. It may lead to cracks or broken pipes if they split due to the pressure. Your landlord will have to get involved to get the disrepairs solved as soon as possible. If they fail to do so, you need to start looking into housing disrepair claims.

Dirty Water & Housing Disrepairs

Your landlord is responsible for ensuring that your house has a supply of fresh water to your sinks, toilets, bath tub and shower. This means that your drains and plumbing system needs to be able to provide you fresh water as well as take any dirty water away from your house through pipe systems.

Dirty water can spread disease and can make your house feel extremely unclean, especially if it floods and spreads all over the floor. You may get an infection if you are exposed to the germs within the water, especially if you end up drinking it or wading through it barefoot. Some of the most common forms of disrepairs for dirty water include:

  • Clogged sinks
  • Stale water in un-flushing toilets
  • Flooded drains
  • Broken pipes flooding down the walls

There are times where you may unfortunately be responsible for the blockages. You may have accidently flushed some wet wipes that caused a blockage. It could even be your hair getting clogged in the shower drain. A small problem could turn into a larger problem if it is left. So, make sure to inform your landlord about the disrepair as quickly as possible.

When to make a housing disrepair claim

What else can cause blocked pipes in your council house?

A blocked pipe can occur in your house and on the outside of your house. It’s important to check the ground around your house to see if the weather has disturbed it. You should also take a look at the pipes to see if they have been blocked or broken. Keep an eye out for:

  • Uneven pavement
  • Any damage to walls or patios
  • Subsidence or landslides
  • Any damage to your full housing

Blocked piping can also be caused by natural flora or trees. Their roots can end up destroying piping. Some plants can even grow inside or around the pipes. Keep an eye on them and make sure to check around the house for cracks, leaks and stains on your wall and floor. That way you can locate the leak and take note of where the damages actually are in your home.

How could I be eligible for a housing disrepair claim with blocked piping?

When it comes to any type of housing disrepair, the first thing you should be focusing on is the disrepair in general. Your landlord is legally required to get your disrepair sorted so you can live in a comfortable house. That means if they fail to do this, then they could be liable for any damages that you experience. If they fail to do this, your solicitor will need to be there to confront them on this issue. However, you may also be owed compensation for any additional damages that you may experience. This includes:

  • Personal injuries
  • Inconvenience
  • Damage to belongings

For blocked piping claims in general, the triage assessor we send over will look over your pipes and sanitation units. They need to send over a drainage report to let you know whether or not they need some repair work.

We would recommend that you provide use the following details:

What do I need to know if I am going to make a plumbing disrepair

It’s crucial that your landlord takes in all of these issues before they do their repair work. The triage assessor can supervise them and ensure that you get the right help for your accommodation. At the same time, your solicitor will work with you to ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve. Keep in mind that you will be required to provide evidence for your claim. This includes photographs, videos, witness statements and receipts. Your solicitor could help you claim up to £20,000 in damages when you get started on your case. You should expect the following process to take place if you decide to make a housing disrepair claim:

Triage Assessor Assistance

Your solicitor can provide you with advice about your claim and speak to your landlord on your behalf. That way if you are feeling nervous about speaking to your landlord, your lawyer can do it for you. You can let them help you with all the tricky paperwork and ensure that your disrepairs don’t get them any worse. Instead, you can relax and make sure you enjoy the holiday season without worrying about housing disrepairs.

Gowing Law Solicitors can help with housing disrepairs

Housing Disrepairs Website

Don’t forget that if you are suffering from housing disrepairs, Gowing Law Solicitors can help. We are determined to ensure that your house is comfortable for Christmas. That way you can relax and enjoy a fun time with your family. You will not need to worry about the state of your house. Instead, you can just enjoy the time together with your loved ones. For free advice about your housing disrepair claim, you can talk to one of Gowing Law’s expert solicitors in a personalized consultation. Our specialists will work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will never have to pay any fees and will always come out on top. So, what’s stopping you from contacting us? Nothing! It’s time to get started on your case.

Speak to Gowing Law Solicitors today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claims checker. Feel free to ask our solicitors any questions that may come to your mind. The specialists at Gowing Law would be more than happy to assist you, So sit back, relax and let them sort out your claim for you.

Learn more about blocked piping and housing disrepairs

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Not only can Gowing Law Solicitors help with your housing disrepairs, our blogs offers advice on how to move forward with your claim. We update it every week with brand new content. This includes information about our law firm, UK legal claims, seasonal events, competitions and the occasional giveaway. You can suggest blog topics to our website by writing into info@gowinglaw.co.uk. Feel free to also sign up to our newsletter by clicking on the button below:



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Happy Christmas and good luck with your disrepairs!

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Comfortable Christmas: Housing Disrepairs & Broken Electrics

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Now that we are in the Christmas season, you are probably putting up a range of decorations and flashing lights to ensure that your household can get into the Christmas spirit. It’s time to relax and make sure your home is as warm and bright as it can be during winter. After all, there’s a chance that it might start snowing and it’s going to get dark pretty fast. So, make sure you get your decorations in order. If you don’t you may experience housing disrepairs faster than you may want!

Unfortunately, if you are living in a council house or a property from the housing association, there is a possibility that your electrics could be faulty. If you see a bulb explode, a wire fizz or perhaps see an essential cable on the verge of breaking, you will need to speak to your landlord to get the electrical unit replaced. If they fail to do so, and a disrepair occurs, this could be extremely dangerous. This type of disrepair is known as a “hazardous disrepair.”

You don’t deserve to be in a house that could literally go up in flames around Christmas times. Instead, your landlord should be ensuring that your home is completely safe for you and your family to live in. Instead, you should be enjoying a cosy Christmas with your loved ones. Don’t let your house fall into a state of disrepair. It’s time to make a housing disrepair claim with Gowing Law Solicitors. Find out how we can help get your home in order by calling 0800 041 8350 or by using our website below:

Housing Disrepairs Website

What do I need to know about Housing Disrepairs?

When you make a housing disrepair claim, you are doing it because you want to protect your house from disrepairs. Unfortunately, if you live in a council house or a property that is owned by the housing association, it’s likely that it is going to be very old. Most of these properties were constructed within the 1960s or 1980s. Therefore, they may have structural issues or could even hold asbestos in their wall insulation.

That’s why it’s crucial that your landlord has any disrepair fixed as soon as possible. They owe you a duty of care. Therefore, they need to ensure that they have the issues sorted out as quickly as possible. If they fail to sort out your disrepairs, you could be owed compensation for any losses that you have sorted out. Your landlord’s negligence could make your disrepairs worse, depending on how long they have left the disrepairs have been left for. Compensation will also depend on whether or not you have suffered from any personal injuries.

Examples of landlord negligence include:

landlord negligence infographic

If you think that you are suffering from your landlord’s negligence, it’s crucial that you seek help from a law firm as quickly as possible. That way your solicitor can help you claim the compensation that you deserve.

Housing Disrepairs: What sort of broken electrics can appear in my house?

Broken electrics can happen at any time and in any place within your home. They can be extremely dangerous because they can cause fires if they spark in the wrong place. If that happens, the fire could destroy your belongings and hurt people within the building. This could include bulbs blowing on your Christmas tree, on your window or around your house. However, on a normal basis, there may be electrical wires in your walls or ceilings that could blow up. You may also find that electrical devices could have faulty wiring within them. They may also be in contact with water, which could cause a fire, sparks or an electrical shock to whoever is holding the device.

Overall, around 70 people every year die from electrical shocks. This could be from the following faulty devices:

  • Problematic electrical sockets
  • Electrified Light Switches
  • Bulbs
  • Dysfunctional wiring
  • Old electrical objects

If your house is old, you may find that there is more exposed wiring in the walls, ceiling and maybe even in the floor. This means there is more chance that they could spark and make a room inaccessible. It can become even more dangerous if the light bulb that is sparking is in the bathroom. This is due to the fact that it is in contact with water. Always be careful when dealing with electrics. Even a small leak could cause a spark that may turn into a fire.

Fire Safety and Electrics for Housing Disrepairs

Landlord responsibility & Housing Disrepairs: Faulty Electrics

Your landlord is responsible for your safety when it comes to the electrics in your home. This includes all electric wiring and electrical equipment. They need to regularly inspect your home and provide maintenance every 5 years or at the end of a tenancy. If you are worried about the electrics in your home, you can ask your landlord for the following:

Tenants and Housing Disrepairs

Electrical faults can be extremely dangerous, especially if the fault lies in essential equipment or the lighting in your home. If you are worried about them, but don’t want to get started on your housing disrepair claim just yet, you may want contact your local environmental officer. That way they can challenge your landlord if they are refusing to help you. You may even be experiencing faulty electrics due to your landlord’s own repair work to the house. You can report this if you feel worried that it is going to put you and your family’s safety in jeopardy.

Eviction and Housing Disrepairs

What are the dangers of broken electrics in your house?

Broken electrics are classified as extremely hazardous when it comes to different types of housing disrepairs. This is due to the fact that they can cause a range of personal injuries and damages that can have life-threatening consequences. In some cases, if the voltage in an electrical shock is high enough, it could cause a fatal injury.

Some of the most common injuries that you may get from an electric shock include:

  • Fainting
  • Internal organ damage
  • Burns to the body
  • Seizures
  • Heart attacks
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Arrhythmia
  • Muscle injuries and pain
  • Fatal injuries

In addition to these, injuries could be sustained if the broken electrics cause fires in your home. If there are flammable objects around a sparking device, it could set on fire. In turn, this fire could spread and cause damage to you, your family and your property. For some cases, your entire house may end up ablaze. To prevent fires, make sure to keep an eye out for:

  • Ill-fitted or exposed wiring
  • Broken electrical devices
  • Old fuse boxes
  • A lack of a Residual Current Device (RCD)
  • Lack of a fire escape

Bring any concerns up with your landlord as quickly as possible. They have a responsibility to get your property fixed as quickly as possible to ensure the safety of your family. If they fail to do that, and you end up suffering from a personal injury, you could be owed compensation on top of the repairs.

Triage Assessors and Housing Disrepairs

Property Damage & Broken Electrics

When you make any type of housing disrepair claim, your damages are going to place you into at least one of these three categories:

Housing Disrepair Claim Eligibility

Electrical disrepairs can cause severe damages when it comes to your furniture. After all, if an electrical breakage occurs then it could spark and damage the objects around it, especially if they are set on fire. If this is the case, you can claim compensation or have the belongings replaced with second-hand items. Should you notice an electrical disrepair, we would recommend that you move all flammable objects away from it, even if you turn off the electricity. That means there will be less risk when it comes to your family and to any prized possessions that you may have. Of course, some belongings are irreplaceable and may not be able to simply be replaced by a second-hand item. When that happens, you may simply have to accept compensation for the damage to your belongings.

What should I do if my house is suffering from a housing disrepair?

If your house is suffering from a housing disrepair, it’s crucial that you start looking into housing disrepairs as soon as possible. That way you can get your house sorted out as quickly as possible. You and your family don’t deserve to live in a building that could put you in harm’s way. That’s why you should get in touch with a housing disrepair specialist to start your case. We can speak to your landlord on your behalf and ensure that the disrepairs as sorted. This includes filling out any tricky paperwork and organizing your evidence. Your evidence can include photographs, videos, witness statements and receipts.

Your solicitor will sort out the compensation and your triage assessor will sort out the repair work. You should expect the following process to take place:

Housing Disrepairs and Triage Assessors

You could be owed around £20,000 in compensation, however it depends on the extent of your damages and whether you have suffered any additional damages. This includes financial and emotional damages. You may have even experienced a loss of opportunity. The best way to find out how much you could be owed is to speak to your solicitor. They can give you a general estimate and also let you know how your triage assessor is getting along with having your repairs sorted out.

Broken electrics & Housing Disrepair Claims: Gowing Law Solicitors can help

Housing Disrepairs Website

It’s time to get your broken electrics fixed just in time for Christmas. You don’t deserve to live in discomfort during this holiday season. That’s why Gowing Law is determined to get you the compensation that you deserve. Our triage assessors can assist you with the repair work. But our lawyers will be there to assist you with any questions you may have about your claim. You can start off with free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with our solicitors, we can offer our services on a “no win- no fee” basis. That means you will never have to pay any hidden fees. Instead, you will only need to pay your solicitor if they win your case. Therefore, you will always come out on top.

It’s time to start on your housing disrepair claim with Gowing Law. Find out more about how we can help by calling us on 0800 041 8350, email info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim checker. You can then ask our specialists any questions that may come to mind.

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The best place to go is Gowing Law’s blog! We update it regularly with new content about different legal claims, our latest campaigns, and information about our legal firm, as well as the occasional competition/giveaway. We can also write about any topic that may interest you. Send in your suggestions to info@gowinglaw.co.uk . Gowing Law Solicitors would be more than happy to get started on them. You can also get signed up to our newsletter through the link below:



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Comfortable Christmas: Housing Disrepairs, Pest & Rat Infestation

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Pest and Rat infestations are not fun to deal with around Christmas time. It’s hard enough that you’re trying to make sense of whether or not there may be another lockdown at Christmas and make your plans surrounding it. You may be expecting guests over at Christmas time. However, last thing you expected was that you would have a pest or rat problem over at your house. That means you need to speak to your landlord about getting pest control over to sort out the infestation. If they fail to do so then they could be guilty of negligence. You could be owed compensation for any housing disrepairs that you have experienced due to a rat or mouse problem.

Gowing Law Solicitors will be here to support you if your house is suffering from a rat infestation. We want to make sure you have a comfortable Christmas. That’s why our law firm is ready to help with any type of house disrepair claim. We understand that it is a difficult time for you. That’s why we are determined to help. Find out more by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by visiting our website below:

Housing Disrepairs Website

What are the basics of housing disrepairs and claims?

One of the first things you need to understand about housing disrepair claims is that they are there to protect you when your home is damaged. Whether you have a council house or a home from the housing association, you need to know that your landlord is responsible for the upkeep. They need to ensure that you are safe when you live in this home with your family. If a part of your home is damaged by time, natural disaster or bad luck, they will be required to fix the damages. You did not cause the disrepairs yourself, therefore it is your landlord’s responsibility to have them fixed. When you notice a disrepair, you should do the following to ensure the problem is sorted out smoothly:

What should I do if I have housing disrepairs

Make sure to give your landlord at least one month’s notice to get the disrepair fixed. If they fail to help you then you may need to get started on making a housing disrepair. This is due to the fact that you have started to suffer from your landlord’s negligence, especially if they have left the disrepair to get worse. Examples of landlord negligence can include:

  • Having your requests for help ignored
  • Your landlord gets angry or violent with you
  • The disrepairs are repaired cheaply by your landlord and are dangerous
  • Your landlord makes the disrepairs worse

Your landlord should be trying to help get the disrepairs fixed. However, if they fail to do it in a timely manner, the disrepairs may end up getting worse. That’s why it’s crucial that you get started on a Housing Disrepair Claim. We don’t want your Christmas to be ruined. It’s been a hard year and you deserve to have a break. You can rely on our team of specialists to assist you.

Am I responsible for the rat infestation

How could rat and mice become  housing disrepairs?

During the winter time, vermin will want to enter your home because it is warm and they are looking for a cosy spot to make their nest. Keep an eye out for any:

  • Loose roofing
  • Cracks in the exterior of your house
  • Holes in your roofing
  • Spaces in your floor boards
  • Hidden/ exposed areas in your garden, fence, basement or garage

These small areas of exposure can make it very easy for a rat or mouse to slip inside your home to start making its nest. Rats and mice would not be a problem if they did not spread disease. Unfortunately, diseases from vermin can have serious effects, especially on children and the elderly. The aftermath of contracting an illness from a rat or mouse can take months to overcome.

You can catch a disease from a rat or mouse by:

Diseases from rats in housing disrepairs

There are a wide variety of diseases that can be spread by mice and rats. They can even be spread to dogs and cats that eat them. After all, if they have worms, the worms could be passed on to your furry friends! It is likely that you could catch a disease from a rat infestation. Potential diseases include:

  • Rat bite fever
  • Toxoplasmosis
    Tularaemia
  • Echinococcosis
  • Weil’s Disease
  • Salmonellosis

If you feel ill or have any symptoms of the aforementioned illnesses, you should see a doctor as quickly as possible. You could end up with some serious side effects and may need future treatment if you leave it to get worse. By suffering from a personal injury during a housing disrepair claim, this could make you eligible for compensation.

Don't forget for Housing Disrepairs

Housing Disrepairs: How do I know if I have a rat infestation?

There are many signs of a rat infestation when you look around your house and outside garden. As it is winter time, it is likely that rats and mice are going to try and invade your home to make their nests. If you are worried about mice and rats invading your home, we would recommend that you leave out mice traps around vulnerable areas. These don’t have to be traps that hurt the rat or mouse. Instead, they can be cages that you can use to release them back into the wild. With that said, if you are scared they have already started to nest in your house, keep an eye out for these common infestation signs:

  • Rat/Mice droppings
  • Chewed through walls/insulation
  • Grease trails
  • Nesting in confined spaces
  • Scratching/shuffling noises
  • The smell of urine/ammonia
  • Broken piping
  • Chewed food/ Food with disturbed wrapping

The moment you notice any of these signs, you will need to reach out to your landlord to get the vermin problem sorted out. They are legally obligated to help you with this type of infestation.

Is my landlord responsible for vermin infestation

Housing Disrepairs: What will happen if I leave an infestation?

If you leave an infestation, or your landlord leaves the infestation to get worse, it’s very likely that the number of rats or mice in your home will continue to grow. This is due to the fact that they will continue to make more nests and destroy different areas of your house.

When you have a rat infestation, it’s likely that you will see areas of your house quickly fall into disarray. Not only can mice and rats chew through electrical wiring, you will see that they can cause damage to your roof, flooring and the plasterboard of your walls. This includes creating holes within the insulation.

You may even find that your local housing department blames you for a rat infestation because you did not take any action to have it sorted out. This fine could be anywhere from £2,000 – £27,000, depending on the extent of the damages. Your landlord will be responsible for getting the disrepairs sorted from rat infestation, especially if they knew about the infestation before you moved in. They will need to help with any structural damages, electrical wiring problems or rodent catching. If the damages are that bad, or your home requires fumigation, they may even be responsible to find you another property to live in until it is safe to move back in.

Structure problems in Housing Disrepairs

What should I do if I have a rat infestation?

The first thing you need to do is see if your infestation will fall under a housing disrepair claim. In most cases of a rat infestation or mouse infestation, the answer will be yes. But you should still take a look at the categories below to make sure you know which category your claim will fall under:

Housing Disrepair Claim Infographic

There is a chance that your disrepair could fall under all three of these categories. If your landlord is ignoring your requests for help, you should go to a solicitor to get started on your claim. Your solicitor will help you collect evidence and will organize a triage assessor to inspect your home. They will then decide whether or not it is worth pursuing your case and what sort of repairs will be required to get the house sorted. In this case, you may require a fumigator pest control to enter your residence. Your solicitor will work on the compensation side of your claim, and your triage assessor will work on the repairs. You could be owed around £20,000 in damages for your case. So, get in contact with a lawyer from Gowing Law Solicitors to get started on your housing disrepair claim for rat infestation.

Are you ready to get your rat infestation sorted out?

Housing Disrepairs Website

Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are determined to make sure that you end up having the best Christmas. The last thing you need is for your home to be invaded by rats, mice or even bats. Therefore, it’s up to your landlord to get pest control into your house and sort out any housing disrepairs. If they refuse to do this, it’s time to get started on a housing disrepair claim through Gowing Law Solicitors.

Our experts can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your claim, our solicitors can work with you on a “no win – no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top because you will never have to pay any hidden fees. Instead, you will only need to pay your lawyer if they win your case for you. So, what’s stopping you from getting started?

Find out more by calling Gowing Law Solicitors today on 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claims checker. One our specialists will then be in touch to answer any additional questions you may have.

Learn more about Housing Disrepairs and Housing Disrepair Claims

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Gowing Law Solicitors is determined to help you grow your understanding of different types of legal claims. That way when you start your own case, you will know what you are getting into. If you are interested in learning more, make sure to read through Gowing Law’s latest blogs. We update our blog page regularly with new content. This includes information about our law firm, seasonal events, competitions, giveaways and information about UK law. We have wrote a lot about housing disrepair claims over the last year. Make sure to check them out. You can also suggest topics for our blog by sending them to info@gowinglaw.co.uk. Find out more by also signing up to our newsletter below:



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