Housing Disrepair Claims are there to protect you if your landlord has refused to help you with the damages within your home. This includes external and internal structures. However, have you ever considered what you will do if the inside of your walls were the actual problem with your home? To be more precise, what would you do if you discovered asbestos inside of your wall? If you are exposed to this type of material, there is a chance that you could develop asbestosis. This could affect you for the rest of your life. That’s why it’s crucial that you hold your landlord responsible for the damages that happen inside your home.
Your landlord owes you a “duty of care.” That means they need to ensure the property does not cause you, or your family, any personal injuries or damages. If it does then you could be owed compensation for your losses.
Gowing Law Solicitors can help you with your Housing Disrepair Claims. If you feel as if you are the victim of your landlord’s negligence, and your house has untreated asbestos within it, it’s crucial that you seek the help of a lawyer. They can help you make your landlord take action to ensure the damages are fixed. That way you will no longer be exposed to dangerous materials. Get started on your claim by calling 0800 041 8350 or click the button below to find out more:
What is Asbestos?
In our video above, you can learn all about the basics of housing disrepair claims. However, what you’re really interested in is Asbestos. Well, Asbestos falls under a type of housing disrepair. It was used in the walls during the 1960’s in order to provide padding. However, back then people did not know that Asbestos could have a serious effect on the residents’ health. Most of the time you would find Asbestos in factories or old warehouses. However, it was also used in older residences. Right now, much council housing property and property from the housing association was created in the 1960’s and 1980’s. That means it is more likely that it is going to contain Asbestos.
Your landlord should issue a thorough inspection of the property to ensure that it is safe for you and your family, as well as any other residents, to live in. If it fails then it may need internal reconstruction. They will need to undertake these steps to ensure they adhere to their own safety code, as well as their “duty of care” towards you. Asbestos can be found as lining within the wall, used to pad it out. However, it can have extremely negative effects on breathing. That is why if it is discovered, your landlord will need to have it removed by specialists.
How could I get hurt from asbestos?
Asbestos is an extremely useful substance, due to the fact that it is made of materials that are soft enough to resist heat, corrosion and electricity. However, this exposure to these substances are what make it so toxic to humans. The particles of Asbestos are extremely strong. That means that if they get trapped within the body, there is no way for them to actually escape. This means there’s a high chance that they could cause the following physical damages:
The real danger of asbestos comes from “friable” dust. Friable means that the asbestos can be very fragile. Ultimately, if it does end up breaking that means the fibres will be released into the air. That means they’re more likely to be inhaled through the nose and mouth. This is why if you end up having repair work on an older house, and a builder drills or disturbs the structure of the house, it is more likely that asbestos will enter the air. If your landlord refuses to help sort out these damages, you should start looking into housing disrepair claims.
What could make it more likely that I develop a personal injury from Asbestos?
If you are suffering from housing disrepairs due to Asbestos, your chance of a personal injury could be heightened by three factors. These are:
- The duration of exposure to the Asbestos
- Your smoking status
- Your age
Unfortunately, for those who are young, it is more likely that they will develop Mesothelioma due to the fact that the fibres can spend longer in the lungs, meaning that there is more chance of damage. The same goes for those who smoke due to the fact that the lung tissue is weakened. It means that it is more likely for tissue tears to occur.
Asbestos can be classified as a housing disrepair if your landlord has refused to help have it removed, or sort out the process to have you put in suitable accommodation whilst the repairs are made. If engineers do need to go over and sort out the Asbestos, you will need to have your belongings moved as well. After all, they may suffer from damages if they are left inside the house. In addition to this, fibres from the asbestos could attach to them and you could unintentionally move them from one place to another.
When you discover asbestos in your home, it’s crucial that you speak to your landlord as quickly as possible. After all, this is a housing disrepair emergency! Your landlord should work with you to find alternative accommodation whilst the repairs in your home are being made. If they fail to do this, they ignore your requests for help, or they ask you to finance the damages, this could be classified as a sign of negligence. This is when you need to start looking into Housing Disrepair Claims.
How could I be eligible for Housing Disrepair Compensation?
If you want to file a Housing Disrepair Claim, your claim has to fall into one of three damage categories. You can fall into more than one, so make sure to alert your solicitor if you believe that you could be owed a large amount of compensation due to your damages. These categories are:
Once you have decided to make a Housing Disrepair Claim, it’s important that you speak to your solicitor about your eligibility. They can make an assessment of your damages and start the compensation process by getting in contact with your landlord. They can also send over a triage assessor to come make a formal assessment of the disrepairs in your house. The assessor will then take you through the following process:
It’s important that you follow this process to ensure that you get the highest amount of compensation possible. The amount of compensation you are owed will depend on the extent of your damages. If you have been a victim of negligence, you could be owed a higher sum than someone who has only experienced a few damages. The amount of time needed to make your claim will also vary, depending on the complexity of your claim and whether or not your landlord is willing to co-operate. Speak with your solicitor to receive personalized advice about how you can move forward with your claim. Housing Disrepair Claims may seem daunting but you will feel more secure having an experienced lawyer on your side.
Contact Gowing Law Solicitors about Housing Disrepair Claims
Housing Disrepair Claims are there to protect you if you are a victim of landlord negligence. That’s why it’s crucial that you speak to Gowing Law Solicitors about your claim to find out more how much compensation you could be owed for your damages. We can offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to work with our team of specialists, we will work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will always come out on top as there will be no hidden fees. Instead, you will only have to pay your solicitor if they win your case for you!
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 solicitors will then be in contact to answer any additional questions you may have. Feel free to contact them at any time.
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