Housing Disrepair

Your Rights

We understand how difficult it can be to live in a home that is unsafe, unhealthy, or unfit for living. Your housing association or council landlord has a legal duty to maintain your home in a good state of repair. If they have failed to carry out necessary work despite you reporting the issue, they are in breach of their responsibilities.

One of your most important rights is to live in a home that is fit for human habitation. This means that your property must be free from serious hazards, such as damp and mould, leaks, faulty heating, broken windows or doors, unsafe electrics, or structural issues. If any of these problems make your home unsafe or unliveable, your landlord is legally required to fix them.

You also have the right to a landlord who takes action within a reasonable timeframe. If you report a problem in your home, the respective council or housing association must respond and carry out necessary repairs. The law does not allow them to ignore you or delay repairs indefinitely. What counts as a “reasonable timeframe” depends on how urgent the issue is. For example, a broken boiler in winter should be repaired much faster than minor cosmetic damage.

Your tenancy agreement is a key document that outlines your rights and your landlord’s responsibilities. It confirms which repairs they must carry out and what they are legally required to maintain. Even if your agreement does not mention specific repairs, the law still requires your landlord to keep the property in a good condition.

No Win No Free Housing Disrepair Claims

You should never have to live in conditions that put your health, safety, or wellbeing at risk. As experienced housing disrepair solicitors, we are dedicated to standing up for your rights. We have helped many tenants like you hold their landlords accountable, ensuring that essential repairs are carried out and if necessary that they receive the compensation they deserve. The first step is simple—reach out to us for a free consultation. We will listen to your concerns, assess your case, and explain your legal rights fully. Many of our clients worry about the cost of legal action, but you don’t need to. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means you won’t have to pay anything upfront.

To build a strong case, we need to show that the council/housing association has been made aware of the disrepair but has failed to act within a reasonable timeframe. If you have already reported the problem and they have ignored or delayed repairs, they are in breach of their legal responsibilities. We will guide you through the process of gathering evidence, such as photographs, repair requests, medical records if your health has been affected, and any other documentation that supports your claim.

Once we have reviewed your situation, we will formally notify your landlord of the disrepair and demand that they take immediate action. If they still refuse to carry out the necessary repairs, we will move forward with legal proceedings to ensure that your rights are protected. Many claims are settled without the need to go to court, but, if necessary, we will fight your case to secure the best possible outcome for you.

Time limits apply to housing disrepair claims, so it’s important to act quickly. In most cases, you have up to six years to bring a claim, but if your health has suffered because of poor housing conditions, the deadline may be shorter. The compensation you receive will depend on the severity of the disrepair, how long you have had to endure it, and the impact it has had on your life. In addition to financial compensation, a successful claim can result in a court order forcing your landlord to carry out the repairs as a legal obligation. For tenants in council and social housing, the expectation is that landlords will carry out essential repairs without delay, but for too many, these expectations are met with indifference, empty promises and outright silence.

If you are struggling with ongoing disrepair in your home and your complaints are not been listened to, let alone acted upon, don’t wait any longer.

Contact us today.