If your landlord has failed to maintain the property or has refused to make repairs when asked, he or she could be in breach of your tenancy agreement and you can likely ask the court to compel your landlord to make the repairs as well as make a claim for compensation.
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The responsibilities of your landlord will depend on the terms of your contract. However, as a minimum your landlord will be expected to keep the property structurally safe and to repair faults when they arise within the property.
Some landlords are responsible for the maintenance of the whole property, including the exterior, any communal areas and garden, and the white goods used in the house. However, as a guide, landlord responsibilities include:
Housing disrepair risks include the following:
When a claim is made for housing disrepair against a landlord, many factors need to be considered, including the level of inconvenience and stress caused by living in the property or whether you’ve had to move out because of the disrepair, and the amount of damage to belongings or to you personally as a result.
Factors that are taken into account with a housing disrepair claim, include:
Compensation is usually awarded as a percentage of the amount of rent you pay depending on your suffering and loss, and it doesn’t matter if someone else pays your rent, such as the Housing Benefits department, as it’s simply a way of calculating the amount of compensation you should receive. In rare cases where the property has been without heating, water and electricity plus has had a risk of structural failings, the tenant may receive 100percent of the rent – normally however, compensation is in the region of 25-50percent of the rent.
Our experienced property solicitors have handled all types of claims against landlords for disrepair and are here to help you if you’ve suffered an illness or injury, stress or loss, due to property disrepair and want to make a claim for compensation.
There is a Housing Disrepair Protocol we all follow and a process for making compensation and we will guide you through each step. It can be a daunting prospect to make a housing disrepair claim, which is why we provide support from the outset – from the initial consultation to decide the details of your claim for compensation right through to the outcome of your claim, we will support you at every step to make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
For advice and guidance on your housing situation or to speak to one of our property solicitors about making a housing disrepair claim, contact us on freephone 0800 988 3674 or Tel Chester: 01244 405 399 or email advice@bartletts.co.uk or complete the free enquiry below:
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