A recent client contacted Bartletts Solicitors after he was injured when a cupboard fell on him at his rented flat that he had only been living in for three days. Mr T was in the kitchen, when he opened the door of a wall mounted kitchen storage cupboard and the fixture fell on him, knocking him to the floor. It later emerged that the rail to which the cabinet was attached with hanging brackets had come loose from the wall, meaning that the slightest pressure was all that was needed to dislodge the unit. Mr T sustained a broken rib, extensive bruising to his upper body and a sprained wrist in the accident, and his girlfriend called an ambulance due to the pain and shock he was in. After being treated in hospital, Mr T was off work for two weeks while recovering from his injuries, and did not earn any money during that time due to his self-employed status. He subsequently decided to get in touch with our firm after researching property disrepair and the responsibilities of landlords online.
Suing Landlords for Unsafe Furniture at Rented Properties
Mr T’s main question was; can I sue a landlord for unsafe furniture at a rented property? The answer is that where furniture is provided with a rented property as part of the tenancy agreement, it needs to be safe and in a state of good repair. Normally a landlord must be given notice to replace or repair dangerous furniture (as per section 4 of the Defective Premises Act 1972), however, in this instance, Mr T was injured before he had had time to discover the loose rail supporting the kitchen cupboard, and it was reasonable to expect that the landlord should have known about the issue prior to the tenant moving in. We wrote to the landlord and their insurers outlining the circumstances of the accident, and enclosing photographs showing the holes in the wall left by the loose screws which had attached the kitchen cupboard to the wall. After liability was established, Mr T received £3,500 in compensation for being injured by the falling cupboard.
Our Experience With Accidents at Home
We have won a variety of cases for clients who have been injured at rented properties, ranging from a claim on behalf of a tenant who fell down poorly lit communal stairs, to a claim on behalf of a child who was injured by discarded building materials at a rented property.
The Claims Process
Claiming with us is easy. Get a free no obligation initial consultation about your case, your rights, and our no win no fee agreement. All information can be taken over the phone. Medical treatment is local to you. We aim to keep the claims process short by keeping claims out of court. If your claim does need to go to court it is unlikely that you will need to attend court, as cases settle before the final hearing.
Your Compensation
Compensation will pay for private healthcare treatment. It will also cover:
- Physiotherapy
- Psychological therapy
- Expenses (such as the cost of travel to hospital appointments)
- Loss of income
- Household adaptations
The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and the likelihood that you’ll make a full recovery. We’ll seek expert opinions on what care you’ll need to ensure that the compensation we claim will be sufficient.
Make a free compensation enquiry today
For specialist advice on your personal injury claim, call us now on Liverpool 0151 227 3391 or Chester 01244 645830 or Wrexham 01978 360056 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will soon be in touch.
