Council housing & housing association disrepair claims

Can I claim against my council or housing association for disrepair?

You can make a claim against your council or the housing association if landlords employed by them have been neglecting your property. To begin, you have to first notify your landlord to give them a chance to fix the problem before any legal action is taken. If they still fail to address the problem, you could be entitled to compensation.

Use this handy eligibility checklist to see if you’re eligible to make a claim:

If all answers are yes, you can proceed with your claim.

How much compensation can I get for making a housing disrepair claim against the council or housing association?

The amount of compensation you should hope for when making a council or housing association disrepair claim depends entirely on a few factors. It depends how severe the problem with your property is, how it is impacting you as a tenant, if it has damaged any of your personal belongings and how inconvenient it has made your everyday life. Compensation will vary depending on these factors. For a good idea of the level of compensation you should expect to receive, use our handy compensation calculator:

How long is the housing disrepair claim process?

Just like other legal compensation claims, the length of a housing disrepair claim will be different each and every time. A case with less complexity will usually be settled within a few months, whereas cases with multiple claimants, disputing landlords and less evidence can take much longer.

What sort of evidence will I need to make a compensation claim against my council or housing association?

When making a council house or housing association disrepair claim, the greater the quantity of hard evidence you have to back up your case, the faster and more successful you will be. Here’s some of the best evidence you can gather to support your claim:

• Photographic evidence — Document the problem with the council house or housing association property with clear photos, highlighting any hazards for review. Also, take photographs of any injuries or personal property damage caused because of the problem to record the extent and severity.
• Medical records — Gather all pertinent medical documents, such as doctor’s notes, X-rays, and other relevant reports that link any injury or illness you’ve suffered to your housing disrepair claim. These documents will be vital to your case.
• Witness statements — Compile contact information from witnesses and collect their accounts of the problem. Witness statements can significantly assist in your claim.
• Personal diary — Maintain a diary detailing the impact of the problem on your daily activities. This could include loss of work (if you are home-based), lack of sleep and more.

If you require assistance in gathering or organising evidence for your claim, our experienced solicitors are here to guide you through the entire process.

What are the time limits for making a housing disrepair claim against the council or housing association?

Normally, the time limit to make a housing disrepair claim against the council or housing association is six years. But, if you have been unfortunate enough to have been injured or have fallen ill because of your property, you’ll only have three years to make a claim as a personal injury.

Do I need to pay rent if I am going to make a housing disrepair claim?

You have to continue paying rent if you want to make a housing disrepair claim of any kind. If you withhold rent to make a point against your landlord, this might negatively affect your case, especially if it goes to court. By following the legal procedures as set out by an experienced solicitor, you can be sure you are adhering to the law and are the right party to win the case.

Why choose Express Solicitors?

At Express, we have over 20 years experience in handling legal claims. Our mission is to secure the justice you deserve for any suffering you have experienced, either down to personal injury or a range of other grievances.

With over 20 years of experience, Express Solicitors have successfully assisted many thousands of clients. If you have suffered at the hands of the council or the housing association, we’ll make it our mission to get you compensation.

With our no-win, no-fee agreement — you can feel confident to kick off a housing disrepair claim without stressing over upfront costs or legal fees.

We’re proud of our “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot and our accreditation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). It shows just how committed we are to professional integrity and making our clients happy.

So, why wait? Reach out today to kickstart your council house or housing association disrepair claim and see how much you could be entitled to.