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Housing Disrepair

Live in a Council or Housing Association Property That’s in Disrepair? If you’re experiencing damp, mould, leaks, or other serious housing disrepair issues, you could be entitled to compensation and repairs.

Start your Housing Disrepair Claim Now

For a FREE no obligation assessment and check if you have a valid claim – You may be entitled to compensation and repairs fixed.

What Is Housing Disrepair?

Housing disrepair refers to any situation where your rented home falls below the legal standards of maintenance and repair. This can include:

  • Damp and mould growth in living areas or bedrooms

  • Leaks from roofs, gutters, or plumbing

  • Structural issues such as cracked walls or subsidence

  • Broken heating systems or unsafe electrics

  • Faulty windows, doors, or security features

If your landlord has been informed of these issues and hasn’t repaired them within a reasonable timeframe, you have the right to make a claim.

Housing Disrepair

Damp in Council Homes: Causes, Risks, and Your Rights.

Damp and mould are often the result of excess moisture in your home. In council and housing association properties, this moisture can be caused by leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors, or rainwater entering through damaged roofs, broken guttering, or faulty window frames.

Living with damp and mould in a rented property is more than just an inconvenience — it’s a serious health risk.

If you are dealing with damp in your council home, your landlord has a legal duty to repair the problem. You can read more about landlord repair obligations in the UK Housing Disrepair Pre-Action Protocol.

What mould can do to your health

It is important to know that if you’ve Inhaling mould fragments or spores this can inflame the airways, causing nasal congestion, wheezing, chest tightness, coughing and throat irritation.

Prolonged exposure to high levels of indoor dampness can reduce lung function and cause chronic health problems such as asthma.

In some cases, mould in your home can make you sick. Whether or not you’re allergic to moulds, mould exposure can irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs.

Leaks in Council or Housing Association Homes

If there is a leak on your property you’ll need to fix it as quickly as possible. If left unattended, leaking water can also cause flooding and ground movement.

A water leak can cause a number of housing issues from rotten woodwork, penetrating damp, rising damp, mould, ceiling damage and many more.

You will need to quickly establish where the leak is coming from which could be a leaking roof, gutters, drains, damaged or broken pipes internally or externally.

Leaks
Heating Issues

Faulty Heating in Council Housing – Know Your Rights

Heating issues can cause a number of problems within your property for you and or your family, these issues can be caused from a faulty boiler, faulty radiators, faulty storage heater or even no hot water.

Cold homes can cause high blood pressure and even heart attacks and pneumonia. They can also lead to social isolation, loss of sleep, stress and mental illness.

Faulty Electrics in Rented Housing

Having electricity makes life easier, but when problems occur electricity can be hazardous and highly dangerous.

There are a number of electrical hazards that could arise in any home for example poor wiring, defective electric wires, outlets close to water or leaks within the property.

Anyone can be exposed to electric problems within the home and can lead to electric shocks which can result in anything from a slight tingling sensation to immediate cardiac arrest.

Structural Repairs and Safety in Social Housing

Structural problems in council or housing association homes — such as foundation damage, cracked walls, or sagging roofs — can put your safety at risk. When your property’s structure is compromised, it may no longer fully support the building, increasing the danger of serious damage or collapse.

Common warning signs include cracks in walls or brickwork, uneven floors, doors or windows that stick, or chimneys starting to lean.

Spotting these issues early is essential, but your landlord is legally responsible for repairing them. If you have structural damage in your rented home, you may be eligible to make a housing disrepair claim to ensure repairs are carried out and to seek compensation.

Housing Disrepair: Know Your Rights and Make a Claim

If you’re a council tenant or live in a housing association property, you have a legal right to live in a safe, well-maintained home. Problems such as damp, mould, leaks, structural damage, or faulty heating aren’t just inconvenient — they can harm your health and reduce your quality of life.

When your landlord fails to repair these issues, you may be entitled to pursue a housing disrepair claim. Successful claims can result in your home being repaired to the required standard and financial compensation for the inconvenience and any impact on your health or belongings.

Our specialist housing disrepair team works with tenants across England and Wales to connect them with experienced solicitors who can act on a *No Win, No Fee* basis. Whether you’re facing damp in a council home, unsafe electrical wiring, or damage caused by water leaks, we can help you take action

Awaab’s Law: Stronger Protections for Tenants in Social Housing

Following the tragic case of Awaab Ishak, who died due to prolonged exposure to mould in his council flat, the UK government has introduced Awaab’s Law, coming into force in October 2025. This law places strict time limits on council and housing association landlords to investigate and repair serious hazards such as damp and mould.

If you are living in a council property or housing association home affected by disrepair, including persistent damp, leaks, or unsafe conditions, your landlord will soon have a legal duty to carry out repairs within a fixed timeframe. Failure to do so could make them liable for compensation under housing disrepair claims.

The ITV News investigation into the housing crisis has highlighted just how widespread these issues are, with many tenants forced to live in unsafe conditions for months or even years. You have the right to a safe, healthy home—and if your landlord fails to meet that standard, you may be entitled to take legal action.

Fail the Decent Home Standard
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Social Homes have at least one category hazard
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Social houses have damp
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According to Shelter Submission Inquiry link here

Your Right to a Safe, Liveable Home
Your Right to a Safe, Liveable Home

If you’re renting from a council or housing association, your landlord has a legal duty to keep your home in good repair. This includes fixing issues like damp, mould, leaks, heating faults, electrical hazards, and structural problems within a reasonable time.

When repairs are ignored, you may be able to make a housing disrepair claim to:

  • Get essential repairs carried out
  • Claim compensation for damage to belongings or health problems caused by disrepair
  • Hold your landlord accountable for meeting their legal responsibilities

Read more about the Housing Disrepair Pre-Action Protocol to understand your rights before making a claim.

Our panel of housing disrepair solicitors have decades of combined experience in Housing Disrepair Law, achieving successful repair claims for tenants across England and Wales.

They work to ensure your home is repaired to a safe, high standard and will pursue the maximum compensation you are entitled to under the law

Start your claim today! could be eligible to claim compensation & repairs.

News and Updates

Start your Housing Disrepair Claim Now

For a FREE no obligation assessment and check if you have a claim – You may be entitled to claim compensation and repairs fixed. Start your Housing Disrepair Claim Now

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