We fight for your repairs and compensation
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While landlords often ignore housing disrepair, there are strict legal obligations in place that they must follow. These rules and regulations are there to ensure that your landlord maintains your property and that your living conditions are not damaging to your health or well-being. If you have told your landlord that your rented property has issues, and they still don’t help, you may be able to claim help. At CEL Solicitors you have nothing to pay up front. A share of your compensation is taken as a success fee when you win and nothing is taken if your case is unsuccessful!
We only charge a success fee if we win
Our dedicated housing disrepair team is highly experienced in securing vital repairs for properties in a state of disrepair and believes passionately in your right to the peaceful enjoyment of your home. If your landlord refuses to make necessary repairs to your home, we can help you.
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Cases won across the country
Landlords claimed against
Housing disrepair covers a wide range of issues, from small patches of damp through to cracks in walls, active leaks and even infestations. Below are some of the common types of housing disrepair we deal with.
Discover how we helped our past clients get much-needed repairs from their landlords.
Here are a few examples of cases we claimed against landlords.
53-year-old Stephanie Clark was successful in claiming against Hyde Housing Association and received £5,000 in compensation for the 10 years she spent living in disrepair without help.
Ms Clark’s home suffered so badly from damp and mould that mushrooms began to grow in her bathroom.
Despite agreeing to make the repairs within a reasonable time frame, the housing association failed to live up to their commitment and breached their agreement. Due to this, CEL Solicitors continued to work with Ms Clark until the repairs were completed.
Read more about Ms Clark’s case against Hyde Housing Association.
Veronica lived in a fourth-floor Southwark Council flat with her young son. The flat suffered from severe disrepair, with broken windows and doors, graffiti-covered walls and cockroach infestation which made the property essentially impossible to live in. The rented property also suffered from leaks both inside and outside the property as well as severe damp.
Despite complaining several times to the local authority over the 10 years she suffered with disrepair, Southwark council refused to offer help. After contacting CEL Solicitors, Southwark Council finally agreed to make the repairs and offered £2,000 in compensation. When Southwark then broke their agreement to make the repairs in a reasonable and agreed-upon time, Veronica won an additional £1,000 for the breach.
A tenant of Clarion Housing suffered from disrepair for more than 6 years without the landlord making any repairs. Among the disrepair, issues included rotting and cracked window frames, mould and damp, as well as poor ventilation. Clarion Housing regularly ranks among the worst housing associations when it comes to housing disrepair complaints.
These issues were spread around the property, affecting the kitchen, bathroom, hallway and bedroom. The latter of which suffered so badly from damp that the radiators were rusting!
Our housing disrepair team was successful in claiming for the repairs to be made, and an additional £1,500 in compensation for the tenant.
A heatmap of our successful housing disrepair claims.
Housing disrepair is the legal term referring to a rented property in need of repair. If a property is not safe and suitable for tenants to live in, then it is in disrepair.
Housing disrepair can affect the health, safety and comfort of the tenants and in extreme circumstances, may even cause damage to those living in the property and their belongings.
Landlords are required by law to ensure:
Once a landlord has been made aware of issues in a property that they are responsible for, they must carry out repairs within a reasonable timeframe. If they fail to carry out the repairs, it is then considered housing disrepair.
The amount of compensation received for housing disrepair is based on the severity of the disrepair, the length of time taken to make the repairs, and the impact of the disrepair on those living within the property.
This impact extends to things like having to vacate the property due to the property being uninhabitable, damage to belongings as a result of the disrepair, or even damage to your health requiring medical treatment.
Housing disrepair claims can take weeks, months or years depending on how long it takes for your landlord to finally make the repairs needed. While nobody wants to live in disrepair for any longer than absolutely necessary, the longer your landlord takes to make the repairs, the more compensation you may be entitled to.
While most other solicitors close a case once the landlord has agreed to the repairs and the compensation has been paid, we understand that for many, this is not the end. We only close a housing disrepair case once the repairs have actually been made, even if this means bringing additional claims against the landlord for breaching their agreements.
We understand how frustrating it can be to live in disrepair, however, we strongly advise against withholding rent. Withholding rent from your landlord can prevent you from claiming the repairs you need and may even put you at risk of eviction.
In a rented property, repairs can fall under the responsibility of the landlord or the tenant. Generally, your landlord is responsible for the structure and exterior of your home. This includes the windows, doors roof and drainage. They are also responsible for the heating and plumbing, electrical wiring, gas pipes and even bathroom facilities.
Your landlord is also responsible for ensuring that your home is fit for human habitation, as such it should not have serious damp or mould problems, active leaks or suffer from an insect/vermin infestation.
At CEL Solicitors we work on a no win, no fee basis so there is nothing to lose by getting in touch. Speak to one of our friendly housing disrepair solicitors today.
