Housing Providers
All housing providers can have occasions when repairs are missed or delayed, but some perform worse than others. The Regulator of Social Housing has downgraded some providers and identified serious failings in others, including problems with repairs, safety and the condition of tenants’ homes. Read the regulator’s findings.
Housing disrepair awards and settlements
These published examples show how serious repair failures can lead to compensation. They include court awards and negotiated settlements, rather than four court judgments. They are not presented as cases handled by Housing Disrepair Helpline or its panel solicitors.
Dezitter v Hammersmith and Fulham Homes — £54,664.95
Central London County Court, 7 November 2023
The tenant’s tenancy began in May 2010. Her claim concerned cracking in walls and ceilings, poorly fitting doors and windows, damp and mould, hanging light fittings, ceiling watermarks and recurring boiler-pressure problems. Evidence showed complaints dating back to the start of her tenancy.
The landlord did not plead a limitation defence, allowing the court to consider the period from 2010 to 2023. Although contractual disrepair claims usually have a six-year limitation period, the defence must be raised for it to apply.
A single joint expert found the property unfit for human habitation from 20 March 2020, when the fitness obligation became applicable to this existing tenancy. The court assessed damages at 100% of rent for that period up to the hearing.
The reported award was £53,664.95 in general damages, including the uplift, plus £1,000 in special damages: £54,664.95 overall. The court also ordered outstanding repairs to be completed within 70 days.
E v The London Borough of Lambeth — £33,990.09
Wandsworth County Court, 17 April 2024
The property had extensive damp and mould associated with external brickwork, pointing, chimney defects and failed damp-proof courses. A leak began in December 2022, followed by a living-room ceiling collapse in January 2023. In February, the electrics failed, leaving the tenant without working electrics for six weeks.
The court assessed damages at 30% of rent before the leak and 90% of rent for the later period when the home was unfit for human habitation. These percentages were used to calculate compensation, rather than an instruction to stop paying rent.
The total award was £33,990.09, including £17,687 in special damages. Lambeth was also ordered to pay the claimant’s assessed legal costs.
Clarion Housing Association — £8,000 settlement
Disrepair settlement agreed in August 2023
A Housing Ombudsman report records complaints about front and rear doors and frames, including draughts and water ingress. A survey found that the front doorframe was beyond economical repair and the rear door and frame needed replacement.
The resident pursued a disrepair claim through a solicitor. The report records delays and access difficulties during the repair process and states that an £8,000 settlement was agreed in August 2023. This was a legal disrepair settlement reported by the Ombudsman, rather than an £8,000 Ombudsman award.
Notting Hill Genesis — £45,000 settlement
Negotiated damages plus legal costs
Osbornes Law reports that its client’s tenancy began in May 2012 at £460 per week. The home suffered from inadequate heating and hot water, persistent draughts and water ingress causing damp, despite repeated complaints.
Following a formal Letter Before Action, the tenant secured permanent alternative accommodation in December 2018. An initial compensation offer of £5,000 was rejected as insufficient.
Osbornes Law subsequently negotiated £45,000 in damages, with the landlord also agreeing to pay the tenant’s legal costs. The published account describes a negotiated settlement; it does not establish that a court awarded that sum.
Compensation depends on the facts, evidence and impact of each case. These outcomes do not guarantee the same result in another claim.
Choose your housing association or council to explore published reports, Ombudsman findings and repair-rights guidance.
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How Housing Disrepair Helpline can help
Struggling to get your landlord to deal with damp, mould, leaks or outstanding repairs? Housing Disrepair Helpline helps council and housing association tenants, leaseholders and shared owners find specialist legal support to get their homes repaired and pursue compensation where appropriate.
Founded in 2015 by Will Angood, with a passion for housing and supporting tenants’ rights, we have grown from one person with a bag of leaflets to a team of more than 25. Over 11 years, our panel solicitors have won more than 25,000 cases. Success means getting homes fixed as well as securing compensation.
We are a claims management company, initially regulated by the Ministry of Justice and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority since 2019, with an unblemished regulatory record. We work with a panel of solicitors experienced in tenant, leaseholder and shared owner disrepair claims.
Why use Housing Disrepair Helpline?
- Free initial assessment: tell us about the problems in your home and the steps you have taken to report them.
- Specialist solicitor matching: our panel gives us access to a range of experienced firms, helping us identify a suitable solicitor for your circumstances.
- Home visits: we can arrange a free visit to assess the repair problems. Our in-house surveyors may identify defects that have previously been overlooked.
- Repairs and compensation: your appointed solicitor can advise on the work your landlord should carry out and whether you may be entitled to damages.
We are a claims management company rather than a firm of solicitors. Your appointed solicitor will explain the merits of your claim, any funding arrangement and applicable fees before you proceed.
These reports cover published findings and are not presented as cases handled by our panel solicitors.
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