Social housing landlords will have to investigate and fix damp and mould in their properties within strict new time limits, Housing Secretary Michael Gove announced Thursday 9 February.
As the Social Housing Regulation (SHR) Bill 2022-23 approaches its final report stage in the House of Commons our Housing Disrepair Solicitors thought it would be useful to set out why this Bill is so important and how it will improve the rights of tenants.
Since the conditions in which Awaab Ishak lived were made public and after the publication of the health problems that he suffered which led to his death, the Government and The Housing Ombudsman announced new regulations to monitor the quality and conditions of homes owned by local councils and housing associations.
Following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from a respiratory condition exacerbated by damp and mould present in his flat, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) sent letters to registered providers of social housing reminding them:
This week’s ruling by a Coroner that two-year-old Awaab Ishak died of a respiratory condition caused by exposure to the mould in his flat has shaken the social housing industry and left politicians and advocates for healthy, safe homes demanding to know how such a thing could have happened in 2020 (the year Awaab died).
This Housing Disrepair Claim Guide gives information on housing disrepair claims.
It explains the tenant’s and landlord’s responsibilities to do repairs and what options the tenant has if the landlord doesn’t meet their obligations.
If you are a Council or Housing Association tenant and living in substandard or poor living conditions due to leaks, damp, mould, faulty heating/electrics and so on… then you are living in disrepair. It can be a frustrating and emotionally taxing situation to be in, especially if your pleas are being ignored.
If you live in a Council Property it is their responsibility to provide a safe, secure, and well-maintained home. Therefore, the Council or Local Authority must repair any reported issues they are legally responsible for, especially if the conditions are affecting your health. If you have complained and they have not fixed the issue in a reasonable timeframe or are ignoring the problem entirely, Nicholson Jones Sutton Solicitors can give you the help you deserve by ensuring the repairs are completed.
Whilst we all have our own preferences on the standard of living, a standard that is not acceptable is a home in disrepair.
It is a legal right for tenants to live in a safe environment and it is a legal obligation for your landlord to repair any issues that may compromise it. If you rent from a Housing Association, or a Local Council, you may be entitled to compensation if they fail to repair the property.
NJS Law Limited is a Limited company which is UK based registration number 15170704.
Our services are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. www.sra.org.uk
