Help with housing disrepair claims
Free initial assessment. Specialist solicitors. Help with repairs and compensation.
Damp, mould, leaks, pests and unsafe conditions can raise legal repair obligations. In England, relevant duties include section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. The rules depend on your tenancy, the defect and the reports made to your landlord.
Housing Disrepair Helpline connects you with specialist solicitors who handle claims against housing associations, councils, and private freeholders across England and Wales — on a 100% no win, no fee basis.
Call free: 0800 612 4690 | Mon-Sun, 9am-9pm
Your landlord is legally required to fix these problems
These problems may support a claim where your landlord is responsible and has failed to meet their obligations. Your solicitor assesses the facts and applicable law.
Problem |
Your right |
| Damp and mould | Specific investigation and safety deadlines under Awaab’s Law (where risk to health) |
| No heating or hot water | Urgent action where the defect creates an emergency hazard |
| Structural defects (roof, walls, windows) | Repair obligation under Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 |
| Pest infestations (rats, mice, cockroaches) | Landlord responsible for structural entry points |
| Flooding or water damage | Urgent repair obligation |
| Communal area failures (lifts, stairwells) | Responsibility depends on the lease and applicable law |
| Electrical hazards | Electrical safety and repair duties; urgency depends on the hazard |
Awaab’s Law sets specific deadlines for social landlords in England to investigate and make qualifying hazards safe. See the government guidance on Awaab’s Law. Different rules apply in Wales and to different types of occupation.
What is a housing disrepair claim?
A housing disrepair claim is a legal claim against a landlord who has failed to fix defects they are responsible for, such as damp, mould, leaks, pests or structural faults. Housing Disrepair Helpline connects eligible residents with specialist solicitors who can seek repairs and compensation.
- Repairs. Your solicitor assesses the repair obligations, notifies the landlord formally and seeks an agreement or court order where appropriate. Outcomes and timescales depend on the case.
- Compensation. You can claim for:
- Living in unacceptable conditions for the period of disrepair
- Damaged personal belongings (clothes, furniture, electronics)
- Health impacts caused by damp, mould, or other hazards
- Any out-of-pocket costs incurred because of the disrepair
Compensation depends on the severity and duration of the disrepair, its impact on you and evidence of losses. Your solicitor will assess a realistic figure. There is no guaranteed award.
How a housing disrepair claim works
We keep the process simple. Here’s what happens after you call:
Step 1: Free eligibility check (5 minutes) Tell us about your property and what’s been reported to your landlord. We confirm whether you have a valid claim at no cost.
Step 2: Solicitor instruction (same day) We connect you with a specialist housing disrepair solicitor from our panel. They review your case and confirm the no win, no fee agreement.
Step 3: Pre-action letter sent Your solicitor sends a formal legal letter under the Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions Claims. This puts landlords on notice and triggers a legal repair obligation.
Step 4: Repairs begin In the vast majority of cases, landlords begin repairs within weeks of receiving the pre-action letter. No court appearance needed.
Step 5: Compensation settled Once repairs are confirmed, your solicitor pursues compensation. Most cases settle without going to court.
Your tenancy is protected throughout. Landlords cannot legally evict you in retaliation for bringing a disrepair claim.
Who we help
Council Tenant — We handle claims against all London boroughs and councils across England and Wales, including cases where the council has repeatedly delayed or ignored repair requests.
Housing Association Tenant — We have experience with all major registered providers: Peabody, L&Q, Clarion, Hyde, Sanctuary, Riverside, Home Group, MTVH, Notting Hill Genesis, Places for People, and more.
Leaseholders and shared owners — We help leaseholders whose freeholders (housing associations, councils, or private freeholders) have failed to maintain the structure or communal areas of their building.
No win, no fee — what it actually means
No win, no fee means you do not pay your solicitor’s legal fees upfront. If the claim is unsuccessful you generally do not pay their fees, subject to your agreement. If it succeeds, costs may be recovered from the landlord and deductions may be made from compensation. Your solicitor explains the fees, insurance and other terms in writing before you sign.
A conditional fee agreement (CFA) means:
- You pay nothing upfront. Not a penny.
- If the claim is unsuccessful, you generally do not pay your solicitor’s fees, subject to the terms of your agreement.
- If your claim succeeds, costs may be recovered from your landlord and deductions may be made from compensation. Your solicitor explains the success fee, insurance and any other charges in writing before you sign.
- Your solicitor will explain cancellation rights and any circumstances in which charges may apply.
97% win rate
97% win rate on verified claims, based on the last five years of data held by Housing Disrepair Helpline.
Call free for advice
0800 612 4690
Our solicitor panel has resolved thousands of housing disrepair cases across England and Wales.
The benefit of using a claims management company is that we work with a panel of solicitors who each specialise in different areas of housing law, we are able to match you with the solicitor who best suits your housing situation.
“My flat had black mould covering two bedroom walls for 18 months. L&Q ignored every letter. Within 8 weeks of contacting Housing Disrepair Helpline, the mould was treated, the walls were replastered, and I received £4,200 compensation.” — Donna T., L&Q tenant, London
“Peabody kept fobbing me off about a collapsed ceiling for nearly a year. My solicitor got it repaired in 6 weeks and won £3,500 for my belongings.” — Marcus W., Peabody tenant, South London
“My freeholder ignored the leaking roof for two years. The Housing Disrepair Helpline solicitors forced the repair and got me £6,000 compensation — and it cost me nothing.” — Sarah K., Leaseholder, East London
Frequently asked questions
What evidence do I need?
Keep photographs of the disrepair, copies of reports to your landlord, repair correspondence and details of when the problems started. Your solicitor will advise what further evidence is needed.
Can leaseholders and shared owners claim?
Leaseholders and shared owners may have a claim where the freeholder, landlord or management company has failed to meet repair obligations under the lease or applicable law. A solicitor must review the lease and circumstances.
Do I need to report repairs first?
Tell your landlord about the problems and keep a record. The notice required and time allowed for action depend on the defect, urgency and applicable law. Contact us if you need help understanding the next step.
It is your legal right to live without constant leaks, damp, rotting windows, a broken boiler or rodent or cockroach infestation.
97% win rate on verified claims, based on the last five years of data held by Housing Disrepair Helpline.
Housing Disrepair Helpline is a claims management company. It is possible to make a claim yourself for free through the Housing Ombudsman service.