If your council home is suffering from housing disrepair, it’s likely that there are interior and exterior problems that can only be fixed by your landlord. As you are renting your accommodation, your landlord owes you a “duty of care” to ensure that your home is habitable for both you and your family. However, as you may have seen recently from the ITV housing reports, there are many landlords all over the country that are neglecting the needs of their tenants. These tenants are living in homes that are full of damp, mould and potential safety hazards. Not only does it put them at risk of a personal injury, angry questions may be raised about why they are paying rent to live in a home that exposes them to these dangers.
Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we understand the frustration from our clients when it comes to their Housing Disrepair Claims. That’s why we want to provide as much support as possible to ensure they get the compensation that they deserve. It’s important you know exactly what to do if your council home is in need of a repair. That way, if your landlord ignores your request or refuses to help, you can focus on making a compensation claim. Call Gowing Law Solicitors today on 0800 041 8350 or visit our Housing Disrepair Claims page below:
What disrepairs is my landlord responsible for?
When it comes to any type of council home or property from the housing accommodation, your landlord owes the tenant a “duty of care”. This means that they are responsible for your safety whilst you live in the property. They have to make sure that uphold the UK’s health and safety standards. If your home is found to be in a state of disrepair, the council of your area must act in order to improve it. This includes:
- Carrying out an informal negotiation with your landlord to improve your home
- Acting out a formal enforcement to incite action from your landlord
If you are worried about the condition of your home, you can ask for the Housing Health and Safety Rating System or an environmental officer to check out your home. Your landlord is responsible for the majority of the property, including its fire safety, security, structure, mould and damp as well as the sanitation, electricity, water, gas and heating structures in the property. Your landlord is financially responsible for these structures breaking down. They need to send out the appropriate engineer or repair team in order to get the repair fixed. You should not have to pay for these repairs to be made. That’s why, if your landlord does ignore you, refuses to help or tells you that you need to pay a fee to have the repairs done, you could make a claim against them. This is due to the fact that they are guilty of negligence.
What should I do if I believe my home is suffering from Housing Disrepair?
It’s important to let you landlord know about any problems in your home as soon as they happen. That way the problem won’t get any worse and you can get your home back in a good condition to live in. There is a chance that your landlord could ignore you and be guilty of negligence. However, if you want to build a strong case you need to show that you did everything possible to get the repair sorted. Take a look at the infographic below to find out how to do this:
Another thing that you may need to consider is evidence. Don’t forget to take pictures, videos and have witnesses corroborate your story through a statement. That way, if your landlord refuses to take any notice of the damages, you can have evidence on your side to prove that your house did suffer from neglect. Your solicitor can then get started on helping you make a Housing Disrepair Claim.
What should I do if my landlord fails to help me with my Housing Disrepairs?
It’s never nice being ignored by your landlord, especially if your home is suffering from severe issues that require their urgent attention. Sometimes landlords may believe that it is the responsibility of their tenants to see to the larger problems. Whilst it is your duty to keep your home in a good living standard, larger problems should be seen to by your landlord. If they ultimately refuse to help you, it may be time for you to make a Housing Disrepair Claim. Your eligibility depends on three main factors. Take a look at the gif below to find out if you are eligible:
If you have fallen into any of these categories, you could claim compensation for your damages. You were put in harm’s way due to the negligence of your landlord. That is why you deserve compensation. If you believe that you are eligible for a claim, the best thing you can do is go to an expert Housing Disrepair Claims solicitor. They can talk to your landlord on your behalf and make sure that they know they are liable for the damages in your home. A solicitor can ensure that no mistakes are made and that you get the full amount of compensation that you deserve. Housing Disrepair can have a severe effect on your mental health. So, you should take the time to recover whilst your solicitor helps move your case forward.
Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your Housing Disrepair Claim
Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, our lawyers are here to help you get the compensation that you deserve. We know that any type of legal claim can be daunting. That’s why it’s helpful to have an experienced solicitor on your side during these challenging times. Our lawyers can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your claim, they can work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top. You will never need to pay any hidden fees.
Contact Gowing Law Solicitors today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. One of our specialists will then be in contact to discuss your claim. Feel free to direct any questions you may have towards them.
Read more about Housing Disrepair
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