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A property may fall into disrepair at any moment and to anyone, whether you are living in social housing accommodation or council accommodation.
In either situation, Tenant Rescue understands how distressing it may be when your landlord is not taking the necessary steps and precautions, to keep you and your family safe.
What do you do if your landlord is not helping to fix a housing disrepair or claims you are liable for any repair expenditures?
It's a big problem, especially if you live in council or social housing accommodation. It is your landlord's obligation to pay for any repairs and make sure that your living area is safe.
Fortunately there are ways to handle the situation. For example, reading through your tenancy agreement which is a legally binding document between a landlord and tenant. This will highlight who is responsible for what repairs, and is a valid piece of evidence, when seeking expert legal advice from a solicitor.
If your landlord is still not accepting responsibility for the housing disrepairs and costs incurred, speak to us here at Tenant Rescue.
Housing disrepair covers a wide range of issues such as:
Housing disrepair is something that affects millions of people in the UK and across the world. Poor housing conditions can leave tenants living with health conditions such as asthma, due to dampness in their homes, and has even been linked to depression.
Additionally, tenants may be disadvantaged throughout the financial year due to high energy bills if there are draughts or cracks in walls. Such draughts may result in reduced indoor temperatures and greater usage of heating supplies.
Residents may have been compelled to remain living in these types of residences over the last year owing to the lockdown and epidemic, which may have had a significant impact on their physical and mental health.
Having to live in a house infested with mould or damp for example, can cause tenants to become stressed and concerned about the consequences.
If you find that you are residing in a council or housing associations dwelling, where there is housing disrepair that your landlord will not acknowledge or repair, contact Tenant Rescue immediately.
The English Housing Survey released a report on March 13, 2019, revealing that a large number of properties owned by the local authorities were in bad shape.
This was a significant increase in disrepairs of around 5,500 residences year on year.
Worse still, new research shows there have been 6,500 more homes affected since the previous survey in 2018.
As previously stated, all council homes and homes that are owned by housing associations, must meet rigorous health and safety requirements.
This implies that homes are to be in good working order, free of any major hazards, contain up-to-date fixtures and have suitable heating and insulation.
Housing disrepair can be extremely dangerous and should not be taken lightly, especially if there are young children and or dependent children residing in the property.
Housing disrepair can also lead to serious accidents, such as fires or flooding which can cause devastating damage to your home and possessions.
If your rented property has mould issues, you are not alone.
Mould and dampness are common problems that can induce serious respiratory health issues, as well as aggravate Asthma and Bronchitis.
Mould may also cause serious damage to your furnishings, such as rotting your sofa, curtains and or bed.
According to Shelter, around 48% of British families and individuals in council housing do not feel safe in their own homes.
Unfortunately, some landlords and housing providers tend to place the blame on the tenant for any issues. As a result, tenants are forced to cover all costs, which can result in tenants struggling to pay their bills.
Housing disrepair can lead to homelessness, due to the financial inability of a tenant. For example; if a tenant is claiming universal credit, or has a low income, they may have to sacrifice paying their rent for a month or two, in order to fix the housing disrepair that their landlord is not willing to fix. This then puts them in arrears which can quickly spiral out of control.
Overall, housing disrepairs can make a resident feel minuscule and anxious about the damage. They may believe that they are entirely responsible for everything that has gone wrong.
Within the adult age group of 35 or under, the lack of affordable homes, means they have few alternatives but to live in squalid, dangerous homes. They can't afford housing costs and or, to move elsewhere. Even if they could, there are no places for them to go since there are no vacant houses available for purchase.
The Landlord and Tenant act was introduced in 1985, to help protect tenants against inadequate housing and poor living conditions, provided by landlords.
Below highlights the key responsibilities of the landlord which are laid down, by the law:
• A property must meet fire safety regulations
• Gas, electricity, water and sanitation must be in working order
• Central heating and wiring must be working and safe
• The landlord must provide adequate security for the property
• External structures such as gutters, must be kept clean and structurally sound
• The more recent Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 also contains the provision that a property must be free of mould and damp
If any of the above laws have been broken by a housing association or council landlord, the tenant is entitled and has the right to pursue a claim against them.
If a home's structure is in poor condition and poses a danger to the occupants, the landlord is responsible for having it repaired. Housing disrepair could prove fatal, and it must not be treated lightly, especially if children under the age of 18 are living there.
At Tenant Rescue, we collaborate closely with our clients and refer all claimants to a panel of expert Housing Disrepair Solicitors, who are members of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Here at Tenant Rescue, we don't charge a referral fee to tenants who want help finding legal representation, for housing disrepair claims or personal injury claims
Our panel of specialist Solicitors, work on a “no win, no fee” basis. This means that if they do not win your claim, you will not pay any fees to your specialist lawyers. If however your case is successful and you reach a settlement agreement, they will charge a success fee. This is usually a small percentage of the eventual damages that may be awarded.
If you provide rent to local authorities, councils or housing associations, and are local authority tenants, our team is ready to help you pursue your housing disrepair claim.
Please note we are unable to pursue housing disrepair claims against the following:
We are not able to offer advice or comment on the following:
Housing disrepair can lead to extreme stress and worry for tenants, which is why Tenant Rescue would like to help.
Contact us via telephone on 0800 085 8512 or email us Instructions@tenantrescue.com to speak to our housing disrepair claims specialists.
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