Property in disrepair,

What should I do if my property is in disrepair, or I consider it is unfit for human habitation?

If your property is suffering from disrepair or you believe that it is unfit for human habitation first and foremost you must report the issues to your landlord and allow your landlord a reasonable period of time in which to carry out repairs.

We would recommend the following steps are taken:

• Document all issues you are having with the property and if possible, take photographic and video evidence showing the date the same was taken.
• Complain to your landlord regarding the disrepair and keep a record of each time you have complained. We would suggest you keep a record of the date and time of the complaint, the name of the person you spoke to and the reason for your complaint.

If you have reported a problem in your property that has been ignored by your landlord or your landlord has failed to carry out repairs to a reasonable standard, then you should seek legal advice at your earliest opportunity as you may be entitled to bring a claim for housing disrepair.
How do I make a claim?

If you have a housing disrepair dispute with your landlord, we can help you. We have a specialist team of lawyers who will be able to guide you through the process.

We will carry out a simple assessment to see whether you are eligible to make a claim. It is important to note that your landlord cannot evict you for bringing a claim for housing disrepair.

How much will it cost me?

We offer free initial advice and work on a no-win, no-fee basis. This means that we will fund your claim, so you won’t have to worry about paying upfront legal fees such as courts fees and specialist surveyors fees. If you win your case your landlord will pay our reasonable fees. If we are unsuccessful, we won’t charge you. All we ask is that you are honest and co-operate with us throughout the duration of the claim.

Who is at risk?

Living in a damp and mouldy property is not good for anyone’s health but some members of society are more sensitive than others, including:

• Babies and children
• Older people
• Those with existing skin problems such as atopic eczema
• Those with respiratory problems, such as allergies and asthma
• Those with weakened immune system, such as chemotherapy. These people should not be exposed to damp or mouldy living conditions.

Causes of Damp and Mould

Mould and damp are caused by excess moisture. Moisture in building can be caused by leaking pipes, rising damp in basement or ground floors, or rain seeping in because of leaking gutters, missing or slipped roof slates/tiles, defective pointing, damage to the roof or around the window frames.

Excessive moisture can also be caused by condensation. If you have mould or damp it is important to find out why you have excess moisture if your home. We can help you do this by instructing an expert surveyor to ascertain what is causing the issues in your home.

Can I bring a claim for personal injury?

If your health or that of a family member has been exacerbated by living in damp and mouldy conditions and your landlord has failure to carry out remedial works, despite being on notice of the disrepair, then as well as any damages you may be entitled to in respect of living in a property that has been in disrepair you may be entitled to additional damages for personal injury. Our highly trained and experienced lawyers will be able to advise you of the prospects of bringing such a claim.