Clarion Housing agreed to pay £1,000 in compensation and to complete the necessary repairs for a tenant who had been submitting complaints for years.
The tenant, who had first complained about the disrepair in 2013, had struggled to get any response despite complaining on multiple occasions over six years. In 2019, they made the decision to contact CEL Solicitors in hopes that they would finally get the necessary repairs completed. Further compensation was also awarded.
Among the issues reported were rotten window frames, cracks by the windows, mould, damp and poor ventilation, all of which are basic repairs that the landlord must carry out under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
Despite paying compensation Clarion Housing didn’t make the repairs in the agreed timeframe, which resulted in them paying additional compensation for the delays. Gavin Spruin, a housing disrepair specialist at CEL Solicitors, said: “Unfortunately, it’s commonplace for landlords to pay compensation but then fail to complete the repairs on time”.
CEL Solicitors has a dedicated housing disrepair repairs team who will remain in contact with the tenant after the case has settled and bring additional breach claims if the repairs aren’t made as promised. “Everyone deserves to live in a safe and well-maintained home and will continue to hold landlords to account where they appear to be failing in their obligations” continued Gavin.
READ: A MyLondon article with CEL Solicitors on the subject of tenants forced to live in unsuitable housing.
Commenting on the impact delays have on clients, Gavin said: “Issues with delays can cause a series of other problems for tenants, including consequences for their mental and physical health. What is most frustrating and concerning is that, even after the case was settled, the defendant still failed to comply with their obligations. While some repairs have been done, this is not good enough and we won’t stop until all repairs are made”.
