One of the questions most commonly asked of our expert housing disrepair solicitors is ‘How much compensation for housing disrepair?’ The answer depends on a variety of factors, including the severity and duration of the issue and how much rent you pay for the property.
Our housing disrepair solicitors, with their vast expertise and experience in housing disrepair claims, are adept at swiftly and accurately calculating the compensation our clients can expect. We will review the circumstances of your case, assess the evidence, and advise you on the compensation you deserve and how to secure it.
To speak to our property experts please call us free of charge on 0800 988 3674 or Make A Free Online Enquiry.
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What Is Housing Disrepair?
Your landlord has various duties to keep your home inhabitable, safe, and in good repair. The extent of their obligations should be detailed in your Tenancy Agreement, so our housing disrepair solicitors will begin by reviewing the terms of that agreement to establish whether their duties cover the disrepair you wish to claim compensation for.
Even if the specific disrepair you are experiencing is not covered by the Tenancy Agreement, your landlord has several obligations imposed by law. For example, whatever your Tenancy Agreement says, your landlord is always obliged to repair the following:
- Electrical wiring
- Gas appliances
- Pipes and drains
- Structural issues
- The exterior of the property.
Before you commence a housing disrepair claim, you must have notified your landlord of the issue and given them a reasonable time to carry out the repairs. What will constitute a ‘reasonable’ time depends on the nature of the repair and its urgency. For example, if your heating system breaks down in the middle of winter, it might be reasonable to expect the landlord to act within 24-48 hours. For non-urgent, routine repairs, a reasonable time will likely be around 14 days.
Martin – Thank you so much for all you have done for me and making my claim successful. I will always be very thankful for what I have received. Once again many thanks
How Is Housing Disrepair Compensation Calculated?
Compensation in housing disrepair claims is legally known as ‘damages’. There are two distinct types of damages, known as ‘special’ and ‘general’.
General damages are intended to compensate you for the distress and inconvenience caused by having to live with the disrepair. Since each case and sufferer is unique, so too is the level of general damages you can expect. However, the damages award is usually based on the amount of rent you paid for the property during the period of disrepair. The overall rent is then adjusted to reflect the severity of the issue. The worse the state of disrepair, the higher the percentage of the rent you can expect to recover.
Special damages are intended to make good any out-of-pocket expenses you have incurred as a result of the disrepair. These expenses might include increased heating bills if the issue meant you were forced to have the central heating on more than expected.
What Evidence Do You Need To Support Your Housing Disrepair Compensation Claim?
How much compensation for housing disrepair depends largely on the evidence you have to support your case. The more evidence you can produce, the stronger your case will be. Examples of the types of evidence that may assist you include the following:
- Photographs of the disrepair
- Photographs of any personal property or belongings damaged by the disrepair
- Your Tenancy Agreement
- Correspondence between you and your landlord relating to the issue. You should put your complaints in writing wherever possible and follow up any conversations with an email
- Medical reports if the disrepair caused you to suffer physical or psychological harm
- Evidence of any out-of-pocket expenses you incurred as a result of the disrepair, such as increased heating bills.
How Can Our Solicitors Assist You In Securing Compensation For Housing Disrepair?
At Bartlett’s, we have extensive experience in assisting clients in securing the compensation they deserve for the distress and inconvenience they have suffered as a result of their homes being in disrepair, and to make good any financial losses. We will help you collate the evidence you need to support your case and liaise with your landlord or their legal advisors to secure a settlement without recourse to Court proceedings and on the most favourable terms possible. If the circumstances of your case are such that a resolution without the Court’s involvement proves impossible, we will guide you through the litigation process, fighting your corner at every stage.
Our clients’ interests are at the heart of everything we do, and we pride ourselves on coupling outstanding legal advice with exceptional standards of client care. Clients regularly comment on our solicitors’ ‘friendly’, ‘cheerful’, and ‘helpful’ manner and note that we went ‘above and beyond’ to achieve the very best result for them.
To speak to our property experts please call us free of charge on 0800 988 3674 or Make A Free Online Enquiry.
Admin staff answered phone promptly and were always friendly and cheerful. My questions and concerns were always addressed promptly and response to was was swift. My conveyancer took great care to explain complex issues and ensure I understood. I felt he always had my best interests at heart.
