Living with unresolved disrepair is something no tenant should have to endure, yet it’s a reality many people face. Instances of housing disrepair are sadly on the rise across the UK as councils grapple with budget cuts and lack of funding for social housing.

In this case, our client had lived in their Housing Association terraced home since 1999. It was a property filled with memories, stability, and familiarity. But over time, serious defects began to develop, turning what should have been a safe and comfortable home into a source of stress and discomfort.

The Problems Began to Mount

By at least March 2022, the condition of the property had noticeably deteriorated.

The issues were not minor cosmetic complaints. They included:

• A defective front door
• Blown plaster around the doorway
• Damaged plaster in the living room
• Blown windows
• Damp and mould concerns
• Evidence of subsidence in the kitchen
• A defective exterior wall
• Damp and mould in the lobby area
• A blown bedroom window
• Concerns regarding pests beneath the flooring

Despite reporting these issues regularly, little meaningful action was taken.

The Human Impact of Disrepair

Housing disrepair is never just about bricks, plaster, or windows. It affects people’s comfort, wellbeing, peace of mind and in some cases, their safety.

Our client described the experience in their own words:

“The defects in the property are causing me great discomfort and inconvenience together with distress. I have no confidence in my landlord to get any of the disrepair I report fixed. It is not nice living with the disrepair and due to having open heart surgery I fear for my health living in a property full of disrepair.”

For this client, the stress of living with persistent defects was compounded by genuine concerns about their health.

When a Landlord Fails to Act

Landlords, including Housing Associations and councils, have clear legal responsibilities to maintain their properties. The law has become even tighter in recent years with the introduction of Awaab’s Law, the law that dictates how quickly landlords need to address issues of serious disrepair in their occupied properties.

We pursued the claim based on breaches of:

• Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
• Section 9A, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
• Contractual repairing obligations

Crucially, the client had done everything expected of them. They repeatedly reported the issues, allowed access for inspections and cooperated throughout the legal process. This significantly strengthened their claim.

A Strong Outcome for the Client

Following legal intervention, a positive resolution was achieved.

We secured:

• £5,250 in General Damages
• £3,675 Compensation to the Client
• Extensive Repair Works

The agreed works addressed numerous defects, including:

• Servicing and overhaul of the front door
• Replacement of defective glazing
• Plaster repairs and redecoration
• Structural investigations
• Treatment of affected walls

A Particularly Significant Win

One aspect of this case stands out.

The landlord agreed to demolish and fully rebuild the side extension to remedy the underlying subsidence issue.

This is a substantial structural commitment, and one many landlords strongly resist. Achieving this outcome reflects both the strength of the evidence and the effectiveness of legal pressure.

Lessons for Other Tenants

This case highlights several important points:

Report Problems Regularly

Landlords cannot be held responsible for issues they have not been informed about. If you are experiencing significant disrepair issues, you must report them to your landlord and continue to do so if they are unresponsive.

Keep Records

Without evidence of you reporting your disrepair, there is very little a lawyer can do to help you resolve the issue. Emails, letters, repair logs, photographs, and dates matter.

Allow Access

Refused access is a common defence used by landlords. It’s important to allow access to the property for inspections and repairs if they have been arranged as refusing inspections or repairs can weaken a claim. For more information on how you can avoid this common landlord defence, click here.

Seek Legal Advice Early

Delays often prolong discomfort unnecessarily. If you have experienced disrepair for longer than 3 months and you have been reporting it with no success of getting it sorted, reach out to us for support and we may be able to start your claim.

Client Satisfaction

Most importantly, the client was very satisfied with the outcome, both with the repairs secured and the compensation awarded.

Living With Disrepair? You Don’t Have To

If you are experiencing unresolved issues such as:

• Damp and mould
• Structural problems
• Defective windows or doors
• Persistent repairs being ignored

You may be entitled to repairs, compensation and legal protection. 

Contact our Housing Disrepair Solicitors today
At Emerald Law Solicitors, we specialise in helping council and housing associations bring claims against their landlords for unresolved housing disrepair issues. If you are living in disrepair, it’s important that you know you have rights. Under Awaab’s law your landlord has a legal responsibility to address these issues within strict timeframes. If your landlord has failed to do so, make an enquiry or call us on 0151 229 1170 to discuss your claim.