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Housing Disrepair In London: Know Your Rights!
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Last year, our helpline supported over 56,700 households, including hundreds across London in areas such as Newham, Southwark, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Brent, and Croydon.
Tenants Advice is a claims management company supporting renters across Greater London. While you can submit a housing disrepair claim yourself or through the Housing Ombudsman Service free of charge, we provide expert guidance to help you navigate the process effectively.
Housing Disrepair in Greater London & Your Landlord Responsibilities
For tenants across London, housing disrepair remains a widespread and growing issue. ‘Housing disrepair’ refers to situations where a landlord has failed to maintain a rental property in a safe, healthy, and liveable condition. Landlords have clear legal obligations to ensure that your home is fit for habitation. Their responsibilities include:
Repairs to Structure & Exterior
Landlords are legally required to keep the structure and exterior of the property in good repair. This includes walls, roofs, windows, doors, gutters, and external pipes. Failure to do so can lead to damp, leaks, and unsafe living conditions.
Ensuring Essential Services
Landlords must ensure that all gas, electrical, and heating systems are safe, working properly, and regularly maintained. This includes annual gas safety checks and ensuring tenants have access to reliable heating and hot water.
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Prevalent Housing Disrepair Problems Across London
Many properties across London, especially older Victorian terraces and pre-war flats, were built long before modern insulation and ventilation standards. As a result, they are often more prone to issues such as rising damp, water ingress, poor maintenance, and structural deterioration.
If your home suffers from any of the issues listed below, you may be eligible to make a housing disrepair claim.
Rising Damp and Mould
Leaks and Water Damage
Rotten Windows and Doors
Pest Infestations (rats, mice, bed bugs, etc)
The Results We Deliver.
Dangerous, exposed light fitting
Repaired and restored bedroom wall
Replastered and repair lounge wall
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Why Choose Tenants Advice for Your London Housing Disrepair Claim?
Dealing with housing disrepair in Greater London requires a team that not only knows the local landscape but is also deeply committed to your well-being.
At Tenants Advice, we pride ourselves on:
Expert Local Knowledge
Our team possesses a deep understanding of London Boroughs, the housing landscape and common disrepair issues.
Dedicated Support
We offer empathetic and dedicated support, clearly guiding you through your claim from start to finish.
Stress-Free Process
We make, what can be a complex claims process as straightforward as possible, so you can prioritise your well-being.
Expertise & Resources
At Tenants Advice, we have a team of experts to act on your behalf, advocate for your rights, and achieve a successful resolution.
Questions We Often Hear from Tenants in Greater London.
If you haven’t found the answer you were looking for in our FAQ’s below, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly. We’re here to assist you!
help@tenantsadvice.co.uk
Does my tenancy agreement affect my right to claim?
The type of tenancy agreement you have can affect your rights and responsibilities. Generally speaking, if you do not have exclusive use of any part of a property, you have a license to occupy. If you have exclusive use of part or the whole of the property, you are likely to have an assured or short-hold tenancy agreement.
Our experienced team of advisers can help you establish your rights with regards to your individual circumstances. Simply complete our online claim enquiry form to establish your right to make a claim.
What legal obligations does my landlord have?
Your landlord is under no obligation to improve your property, however, they are legally required to carry out repairs in order to maintain the property and ensure your safety.
They are specifically responsible for: The structure and exterior of the premises; Water pipes and instillations relating to water usage – such as baths, sinks, drainage systems and toilets; Gas pipes and electrical wiring; Heating systems (excluding cookers);
Will I be entitled to compensation?
If you have a valid claim for housing disrepair, aside from compelling the landlord to repair your property, you can also claim compensation for:
- Inconvenience caused;
- Damage to personal property;
- Personal injury or ill health resulting from the disrepair – including respiratory illness caused by damp conditions;
- Any financial losses suffered as a result of the failure to rectify the disrepair.
How much will I have to pay?
A no win, no fee agreement is a simple way of ensuring your costs are covered if you need to take legal action due to your council/housing association property being in an unliveable condition. Also known as a conditional fee agreement (CFA), it means that the lawyer representing you in the case will not take any payment until the end of the case.
In the event of a loss, the lawyer will take no fee and there will be no cost to the client at all.
After signing the CFA, there is a 14 day “cooling off” period during which the client may cancel at no cost. After this ’14 Day Cooling off’ period, any cancellation may incur legal fees, this is something that your panel solicitor would be able to advise you on. Our Panel of Solicitors will deduct 25% of any compensation awarded plus VAT.
If your case is successful, then the legal fees will be paid for by the client’s housing association or council. The solicitor will also take a deduction of any compensation received. We do not charge you a fee for our service, and you do not pay us any fee at any point for our service. If your claim is successful, we will be paid a fee for referring your claim to one of our panel Solicitor/Lawyer.
Call us on 0800 047 2017 to receive specialist advice on how Tenants Advice can assist you further.
How much compensation will I receive?
Each case is individual. The amount of compensation received is dependent on the severity of the disrepair, how long it has been an issue and the effect it has had upon you.
How long will it take to process my claim?
Each case is individual. On average, housing disrepair claims undertaken by our team are generally settled within a matter of months. During this time, we act entirely on your behalf, removing any stress from the process.
What do I need to do?
You need to report your housing issues to your landlord via telephone or writing. If the landlord does not fix the repairs within a reasonable period of time, you can get in touch with us. We will either provide free housing advice or force your landlord to carry out the repairs.
Knowing Who Is Responsible For What in Your Home.
For tenants in Birmingham, your landlord is legally obligated to carry out most repairs in your home. They must ensure your property is safe, healthy, and without hazards, and maintain the Fitness for Human Habitation standards throughout your tenancy.
Landlord’s Responsibilities
Your landlord is legally responsible for most repairs in your Birmingham home. They must ensure your property is safe, healthy, and free from hazards. It’s their duty to make sure the property consistently meets the Fitness for Human Habitation standards throughout your tenancy.
Their responsibilities include repairs to:
- Electrical wiring
- Gas pipes and boilers
- Heating and hot water
- Chimneys and ventilation
- Sinks, baths, toilets, pipes, and drains.
- Common areas including entrance halls and stairways.
- The structure and exterior of the building.
Tenant’s Responsibilities
While your landlord has significant duties, as a tenant in Birmingham, you also have responsibilities. You must treat your home with care and report any issues promptly. You could be charged for repairs or damage that go beyond normal wear and tear.
This means:
- Keeping your home reasonably clean
- Safety checks on electrical appliances you own
- Keeping gardens or outside areas in a reasonable state
- Minor maintenance such as changing light bulbs or smoke alarm batteries
Your London Housing Disrepair Experts
Tenants Advice are the experts in getting housing disrepair claims resolved throughout London. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation initial consultation.
We’ll discuss your unique situation, assess your eligibility, and clearly explain how we can help you secure the repairs you need and the compensation you deserve.
Alternatively call our helpline on 0800 098 2791 or fill out our online contact form to get started.