Property disrepairs are more common than you may think, especially if you are living in a council house or a property from the housing association. According to the latest English Housing Survey, there are around 76,814 homes that are in a “non-decent” state. That means that the property is not suitable to be lived in by any renter or their family. It can be a tricky situation to negotiate with your landlord, especially if they either ignore you or demand that you fix all of the repairs with your own money. Your landlord is responsible for the upkeep of your home. That’s why they should be the one to organize the repairs and ensure that you are safe and secure in your own home. If they do not do this then they could be guilty of negligence.
When it comes to property disrepairs, or housing disrepairs as they are more commonly known as, it’s important that you reach out to your landlord as quickly as possible to get them sorted. That way if your landlord is guilty of negligence, you can file a housing disrepair claim against them. Having an experienced solicitor on your side can ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve. But before you file your claim, it’s important to understand what to do if your home is suffering from disrepairs. That way you may be able to get the disrepairs sorted before they become an issue that affects your health, comfort and overall happiness.
Don’t forget that if you want to know more about Housing Disrepair Claims, call Gowing Law Solicitors on 0800 041 8350 or visit our website below:
What type of Property Disrepairs are there in the home?
Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, our main aim is to get you the compensation and justice that you deserve. That way if you need repairs made on your home, you can get them sorted quickly and efficiently. You can only make a housing disrepair claim if you still live in the property, which is why it is crucial that you establish the disrepairs to your landlord as quickly as possible. With that being said, there are many different types of property disrepairs. Some can only be small, such as painting chips or minor cracks in the flooring, however, there are times when the disrepairs can be more severe. Your landlord is responsible for these disrepairs, whether they are big or small. Some examples of these disrepairs can include:
As you can see, your landlord is responsible for quite a lot of your rented accommodation. After all, they own the property. If something goes wrong inside your home, it’s your landlord’s responsibility to ensure that it is fixed in a reasonable amount of time. Even during the lockdown, if a problem occurred then your landlord should have had an engineer sent out to assess the damages. Your landlord is responsible for fixing the damages in your home. They cannot turn around and tell you that you are responsible for the damages and their costs. This is because you do not legally own the property. You simply live in it and are renting it from the home owner. That means they need to take responsibility for the repairs. If they refuse then they could be guilty of negligence.
I have noticed some property damage: What should I do?
One of the most essential things you need to know about property disrepairs is that they were not your fault. Whilst your use of the accommodation may have exacerbated the problem, it does not mean that it was your fault. Instead, it may have been essential equipment that has broken down. You couldn’t avoid using this essential equipment. Therefore, it was likely that it was going to break eventually through constant use by yourself and previous residents of the council home.
We understand that property disrepairs can be extremely frustrating, but try to keep as calm as you can. The first thing that you should do is try your best to collect evidence about your disrepairs. Evidence can include:
- Photographs
- Videos/CCTV
- Witness Statements
- Diary Entries
- Medical Records
- Police Records
- Receipts (i.e. for disrepair payments or for replaced belongings)
You should take copies of this evidence and send it to your landlord. Make sure to do this through both written letters and email. That way if your complaints are ignored then you have proof that you tried different mediums to inform your landlord of the disrepairs. Your landlord should then come over to assess the damages for themselves. Prepare your house for them and arrange a time for them to come view the disrepairs. They will then organize the repair work. That way an engineer can come over to have the disrepairs sorted. If all progresses smoothly, your disrepairs can be sorted quickly and you can live in comfort once more.
When should I start considering making a housing disrepair claim?
Property disrepairs can be extremely unsettling, especially if you are trying to keep a regular routine in your home. You may feel embarrassed to show off your home to guests if there are obvious disrepairs that could make visitations uncomfortable. Worse still, the state of the disrepairs may be having an effect on your general quality of life. For instance, if there is mould and damp in your bedroom, that may mean that you can’t sleep in your bed and need to sleep in your living room or in a different house entirely. Although there may be delays in the repair work on your house, sometimes your landlord may completely ignore your disrepairs or try to force you to pay for them yourself.
If your landlord does this then this is an example of negligence. They have ignored their “duty of care” towards you and have pushed the blame onto you. That’s why it’s important that you hold them accountable for your property disrepairs, especially if you live in an old building that may have been created in the 1950’s or 1980’s. If you are thinking about making a housing disrepair claim, you could be eligible for compensation if your damages fall into at least one of these three categories:
Keep in mind that you can fall into several categories, depending on the extent of your damages. Falling back onto our previous example of mould/damp in a bedroom, this could exacerbate breathing problems. That means you could suffer from a personal injury. The mould was in a bedroom and so that stopped you from using the bed and getting a good night’s sleep. This is an example of inconvenience. If the mould has spread to your clothes, bedsheets and furniture coverings, this could be an example of damage to property. So, as you can see, there is a high chance that you could experience several damages that could increase the amount of compensation that you are owed. Speak to your solicitor for more information about your eligibility.
How much compensation could I claim for through property disrepairs?
Housing Disrepairs are unique for every resident. Some people may only experience minor disrepairs, others may have to live in terrible conditions. That’s why it’s essential that a housing disrepair claim is made to ensure that the tenant can have the repairs fixed and that they can get the compensation that they deserve. In our experience, compensation pay-outs tend to be around £1,000-£20,000. However, it depends on how long the negligence has been going on for, your landlord’s reaction and the extent of the damages. It’s essential that you speak to your solicitor about all of the damages in your home. That way they can use this as evidence when they speak to your landlord about a settlement agreement. For a specific estimate of your compensation, speak to your lawyer directly. They can help you figure out how much you could be owed.
How long will it take to make a housing disrepair claim?
If you are suffering from property disrepairs, we would highly recommend that you get in contact with a solicitor as quickly as possible. Once you move out of the property, you will no longer be able to make a claim. That’s why it’s crucial to let your solicitor have the maximum amount of time to get the disrepairs sorted out on your behalf and speak to your landlord. It will take them one day to assess the damages. From there, the time scale will depend on the complexity of your case. For instance, if your landlord refuses to admit their responsibility or ignores a meeting with your solicitor, this could mean it may take longer to have the disrepairs sorted out.
Your lawyer will always keep you updated about where your case is and how it is being handled. Feel free to ask them any questions that may be on your mind.
Gowing Law Solicitors is here to help you with your property disrepairs
Here at Gowing Law, we understand that making any type of housing disrepair claim on your own can be a daunting prospect. We want to ensure that your house’s disrepairs are taken care of. That way you can get on with your life and feel as if you can feel comfortable at home again. That’s why our law firm is here to offer you free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your claim, we can offer our services on a “no win-no fee” basis. This means you will never need to pay any hidden fees. Instead, you will only need to pay our solicitors if they win your case. Therefore, you will always come out on top.
Contact Gowing Law Solicitors today by phoning 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using our claim’s checker. Our team of specialists will then be in contact. The can help answer any additional questions you may have about making a claim.
Want to learn more about Housing Disrepair Claims?
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