Southern Housing Tenant Seeks Legal Action Over Longstanding Mould Problems

Housing Disrepair Helpline visited a Southern Housing property this week after a tenant reported longstanding problems with mould affecting the kitchen and bathroom.

The tenant’s name and address have been withheld for privacy.

Following its assessment, Housing Disrepair Helpline has appointed the Southern Housing tenant with a leading housing disrepair solicitor to investigate the condition of the property, the history of reports made to Southern Housing and whether the tenant may be entitled to repairs and compensation.

Mould Reported Throughout Kitchen and Bathroom

The Housing Disrepair Helpline report identifies Southern Housing as the landlord. It records that the tenant has lived at the property since September 1996 and currently pays £156 per week in rent.

The report describes mould growth affecting both the bathroom and adjoining kitchen. It records concerns that the mould may be associated with damp or an insulation problem. The flat is also recorded as being directly below the roof.

According to the report, there is mould across the kitchen ceiling, kitchen wall, window frame and bathroom wall.

Although an earlier part of the questionnaire refers to mould having been present since March 2026, the section specifically asking when the problem was first reported states March 2024. We have therefore used March 2024 as the reported start date for the compensation illustration below.

The report states that Southern Housing sent surveyors to the property, that photographs were taken, and that the tenant says no works have been carried out. It also records that the tenant has contacted Southern Housing more than five times, with the latest report being made at the end of September 2026.

These are allegations and information supplied by the tenant and have not been determined by a court. Southern Housing should have the opportunity to respond.

Potential Compensation for the Southern Housing Tenant

The report records weekly rent of £156 and states that the mould was first reported in March 2024.

Using 15% of the rent paid since March 2024 provides an illustration of the potential value of the claim.

From March 2024 to the beginning of October 2026 is approximately 31 months, or about 134 weeks.

Weekly rent: £156

15% of £156 = £23.40 per week

£23.40 × approximately 134 weeks = approximately £3,136

This therefore produces an illustrative potential compensation figure of approximately £3,100.

The reported period is well within the six-year maximum we use for these illustrations, so there is no need to cap the calculation at six years.

This figure is an estimate only and does not mean that the tenant will receive this amount. A solicitor would need to establish matters including when Southern Housing had notice, whether there was a breach of its repairing obligations, the precise duration and seriousness of the conditions and their effect on the tenant’s use and enjoyment of the home.

Southern Housing Tenant Has Now Been Appointed a Solicitor

Housing Disrepair Helpline has now appointed the Southern Housing tenant with a leading housing disrepair solicitor.

The solicitor can investigate the history of the mould, previous reports to Southern Housing, the surveyor visits and the tenant’s statement that no remedial works have yet been carried out.

Where appropriate, legal action can seek to require a landlord to carry out necessary repairs as well as pursue compensation for the period during which a tenant has been affected by actionable disrepair.

Why Use a Claims Management Company?

There can be significant benefits to a claimant using a specialist Claims Management Company when dealing with housing disrepair.

Claims Management Companies such as Housing Disrepair Helpline have many different solicitor firms on their panel, meaning that a tenant can be appointed to a solicitor with experience relevant to the particular problems affecting their home.

Different firms may specialise in different areas of housing disrepair, including damp and mould, water penetration, defective roofs, insulation problems, defective heating, leaks, structural defects and pest infestations.

This can be particularly valuable where problems have continued for a considerable period or where a landlord has inspected a property but the tenant believes the underlying problem remains unresolved.

Housing Disrepair Helpline – Helping Tenants for 11 Years

Housing Disrepair Helpline has helped more than 25,000 tenants get their homes fixed and obtain compensation over the last 11 years.

Tenants of Southern Housing and other housing associations and councils who are living with unresolved damp, mould, leaks, defective heating, structural problems or other serious housing conditions can contact Housing Disrepair Helpline for advice about the options available to them.