What the Council don’t want you to know about Disrepair

There are a few things you may not know as a Tenant. For instance:

● The Council’s or Housing Association’s responsibilies
● Your Tenant Rights
● How a Solicitor can help

It is their responsibility…

To ensure a reasonable standard of living conditions, which include a safe, secure, and well-maintained home. Therefore, it is their duty to repair any reported issues that they are legally responsible for in a reasonable timeframe, which include:

● Damage to the interior and exterior structure of the home, for instance, the foundation, brickwork, walls, roof, guttering, and windows.
● Any leaks and causes of damp/mould.
● Faults with your heating, radiators, gas, and electrics.

This is something they are legally bound by Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. As a result, the tenancy agreement discloses that the above are expected to be kept in repair and proper working order and is the obligation of your Council/Housing Association to do so.

Your tenant rights

Just like it is the Council’s responsibility to maintain and repair the property, it is your legal right as a tenant to live in a property safe and free from any issues of disrepair. They owe you a “duty of care” and therefore, if they fail to repair the reported issue, they could be found guilty of negligence.

In this case, you may be eligible to make a Housing Disrepair claim. This is where a solicitor is necessary.

How a Solicitor can help

You may find the idea of getting a solicitor involved to be daunting, but NJS Law is sympathetic, understanding, and are here to help you every step of the way. Our Housing Disrepair professionals have extensive experience with making claims against Councils and Local Authorities and can ensure the crucial repairs are completed.

There are no upfront costs and even if you are not sure if you have a case, we offer no obligation consultations. But, if the disrepair is impacting your standard of living, affecting your health, causing damage to your belongings, or has resulted in personal injury, you are likely to be entitled to make a Housing Disrepair claim.

NJS Law is here for you. Contact us today.

Furthermore, depending on the disrepair, the timeframe, and the severity of your case, you may be entitled to compensation. Our expert team at NJS Law can talk you through the process if your individual claim meets the requirements.

Which repairs are the Council responsible for?

You will first need to check your Tenancy Agreement to get an idea of what duties they have as your landlord. But generally, it is their role to repair the following:

● Damage to the interior and exterior structure of the home, for instance, the foundation, brickwork, walls, roof, guttering, and windows.
● Any leaks and causes of damp.
● Faults with your heating, radiators, gas, and electrics.

However, your Local Council can only make these repairs if you notify them of the problem. It is vital you keep a timeline of the disrepair, the correspondence between you and your landlord, and the ongoing impacts the disrepair has had on you- such as health issues, disruption to your day-to-day life, and impact on your mental health.

In addition, the costs of these repairs are their responsibility, meaning they are not allowed to pass any costs onto you. Unless you or your visitors have caused damage to the property, then it is your responsibility to arrange and pay for the repair.

Do I have a case?

If you have notified your Local Council and they are aware of the disrepair, but they have failed to act, you may be able to make a claim against them.

This is especially valid if they are slow to do the repair or have carried out an inspection but seemingly done nothing of action to rectify the disrepair. You can also make a claim if they have done the work to a low standard, and consequently, the issue is still ongoing.

Disrepairs like the ones mentioned above, impair the function of your home. You may not only feel inconvenienced but also unsafe. It can be a stressful situation to experience which is why our understanding team at NJS Law is here to help.

Next Steps…

Our Housing Disrepair Specialists have extensive experience with making claims against Councils and Local Authorities. They can ensure the crucial repairs are completed in the appropriate amount of time.

You may also be entitled to compensation if:

• The disrepair has caused you personal injury, from respiratory illness to physical harm.
• There is damage to your belongings.
• It has caused a significant inconvenience and/or emotional distress.

NJS Law operate on a No Win No Fee basis, so you have nothing to lose by contacting us today.

Contact NJS Law on 01625 667 166 or email disrepair@njslaw.co.uk