If you rent a property from a landlord and it's in a bad state, you may be entitled to compensation. This is called a Housing disrepair claim and can involve a number of issues such as mould, infestation, plumbing problems and faulty heating.
It can also involve personal injury claims if people living in the property suffer from an illness or injury as a result of the disrepair. Our expert Housing disrepair Solicitors can help you to claim for any damage caused by your landlord's negligence.
Damage to Personal Property
If your landlord has failed to repair or maintain the property that they rented to you, you could make a claim for compensation. This would include any damage to your personal belongings, such as furniture, curtains, carpets and clothes.
If you have a leaky roof, damp walls or faulty plumbing, it can cause problems with your personal property and health. For example, it can lead to respiratory issues or exacerbate pre-existing illnesses such as asthma.
Likewise, if there are vermin on the property such as rats and mice, it can be detrimental to your health and wellbeing. If the rat infestation has caused you to suffer from poor air quality, this could also be a reason for making a pest infestation claim against your landlord.
In any case, it is your landlord’s legal responsibility to ensure that the property that they rented to you is in good condition for living. This includes keeping drains, guttering and external pipes clear and working properly.
Loss of Amenities
When you are living in a house that is suffering from disrepair issues, it can be difficult to live in. It can also affect your mental wellbeing and leave you feeling depressed.
However, the law protects you and if you have lived in your home with these issues for an extended period of time then you should be able to claim compensation. The amount of this compensation is based on a percentage of your rent over the duration that you suffered from the housing disrepair.
You should try and report the problem to your landlord as soon as possible. They should then take action and make the necessary repairs, if not, you should then contact an expert Housing disrepair claims solicitor to progress the matter further.
Pain and Suffering
Housing disrepair can be a serious problem for those living in council or social housing. It can lead to problems with your health, damage to your possessions and make your home unsafe to live in.
If you have been affected by housing disrepair, you can claim compensation for your pain and suffering. The amount of compensation you receive for this is based on the physical and mental injury you have suffered as a result of your landlord’s negligence.
There are several ways to calculate how much you will be awarded for pain and suffering, including the multiplier method or per diem method. However, these methods are not always accurate or fair, so it’s best to speak with a solicitor to get an idea of how much you can expect to be awarded for your injuries.
Inconvenience
If you have suffered due to your landlord failing to make repairs and causing damage to your home, you can claim for compensation from them. This could include a rent reduction, costs for the repair, and pain and suffering caused by living in unsuitable accommodation.
The inconvenience of housing disrepair can be a major source of stress and frustration for tenants. It can cause a huge loss of quality of life and deteriorate your health.
It’s important to remember that your landlord has a legal duty to maintain their property in a reasonable state of repair, and you are under an obligation to let them know if there is a problem.
When you report an issue, your landlord has a legal duty to take action immediately. If they don’t, it’s a breach of your tenancy agreement and you can ask us to help. We can use court proceedings to compel them to do the necessary work and ask for compensation.
