Your landlord has a legal duty to ensure the property you live in is in a good condition, structurally sound and with a comfortable interior – if this has not been your experience then it is vital you give your landlord notice of the disrepair at the time, in case you want to make a housing disrepair claim at a later date.
Notice Of Disrepair
Any disrepair issue with your rented home must be brought to the attention of your landlord and then a reasonable amount of time allowed for your landlord to make the repairs.
If your landlord has had both notice of the disrepair and a realistic amount of time to carry out repairs but has failed to rectify the issue, then you will likely be able to make a claim for housing disrepair compensation.
Why Does Notice Matter?
Without notice, your landlord could simply agree to carry out the necessary repairs but not compensate you for the discomfort, inconvenience and upset the disrepair has caused you whilst you’ve lived at the property.
How Should You Give Notice?
When you give notice of disrepair to your landlord, keep in mind that you’ll need evidence of notice if you decide to make a housing disrepair claim later on.
Telling your landlord about the issue over the phone can be hard to prove if your landlord doesn’t keep a record of this conversation or denies it happened.
Always give notice in writing – via email is best as this will give you a written record of the date and time and details of the complaint.
Do You Need To Report All Disrepair?
Ideally, yes – telling your landlord about every housing disrepair means you can prove ample notice was given and he or she failed to take action.
However, there is no need to report any disrepair issues to the exterior of the property – as your landlord does not need to enter the property to discover this disrepair, no notice is required. Although if the external issue is affecting something on the inside of the property, you should report the disrepair.
If your landlord inspects your property and the disrepair is visible to the naked eye then this is considered as constructive notice. However, this is risky as your landlord may deny the issue was visible and state that notice hadn’t in fact been given.
Therefore, it is advisable to always have a written record of giving your landlord notice of disrepair as this will prove essential evidence should you decide to make a claim at a later date.
How We Can Help You With Housing Disrepair Claims
We have a team of professional, friendly property solicitors who are experienced at handling a range of housing disrepair claims and ensuring clients experience a stress-free claims process and the maximum compensation they’re entitled to.
Compensation is calculated based on a number of different factors, including the time from the date a reasonable landlord could have carried out the repairs after receiving notice – so it’s important to remember to always give your landlord written notice of the disrepair in your home.
We will assist you at every stage of the claims process and ensure you receive compensation for the distress, damage and inconvenience caused by the housing disrepair.
To speak to one of our specialist solicitors about housing disrepair, contact us on freephone 0800 988 3674 or Chester Tel: 01244 311 633 or email advice@bartletts.co.uk
