Southwark Council Tenant Seeks Help Over Long-Running Disrepair Problems

Housing Disrepair Helpline visited a Southwark Council property this week after concerns were raised about a number of repair problems affecting the home.

The property is a three-bedroom home managed by Southwark Council. During the assessment, a number of issues were reported, including problems affecting the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms and hallway.

Water Leaking Into the Kitchen

One of the main concerns is a reported water leak from the bathroom into the kitchen below. According to the information provided during the assessment, water enters the kitchen whenever the shower is used.

There is also a separate reported leak in the hallway. The tenant says that during periods of heavy rain, water comes through from the roof, with the most recent occurrence reported as being only last week.

Cracked Windows and Broken Sash Cords

Problems have also been reported with the bedroom windows. The assessment records that windows are cracked and that the sash cords are broken.

The tenant reports that workmen attended in 2018 to paint the windows but that the windows were subsequently left cracked. The tenant also reported that sash cords broke when a window was opened.

These are not described as recent problems. The assessment records that the disrepair issues date back to 2002, while the tenant estimates that Southwark Council has been contacted more than 10 times during the period of disrepair. It also records a further visit by workmen in December 2024 to inspect the problems.

Housing Disrepair Helpline Appoints Specialist Solicitor

Following this week’s visit, Housing Disrepair Helpline has appointed the tenant with a leading housing disrepair solicitor to investigate the case and the repair problems reported at the Southwark Council property.

The tenant’s name and address have deliberately not been published to protect their privacy.

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

Why Use a Claims Management Company for Housing Disrepair?

One potential benefit of using a Claims Management Company (CMC) such as Housing Disrepair Helpline is access to a panel containing a number of different solicitor firms.

Housing disrepair cases can vary considerably. One claim may principally concern damp and mould, while another may involve leaks, defective windows, structural problems or more complex circumstances.

By working with a number of different firms, a Claims Management Company can appoint a solicitor whose experience is suited to the particular disrepair issues involved in an individual case.

In this case, Housing Disrepair Helpline has appointed a housing disrepair solicitor to assist the Southwark Council tenant with the next stages of their case.