Housing Disrepair Cambridgeshire

Housing Disrepair Claims: What to Do When Your Cambridgeshire Home Is in Disrepair

Are you getting troubled by incessant dampness, mould, or leakage in your home of residence? If yes, it is best to seek professional support immediately to guide you into filing a housing disrepair claim.

Can I File a Housing Disrepair Claim?

The law guarantees tenants the right to a safe and habitable home, free from any disrepair that could cause harm to them or their loved ones.

The role of the landlord has been encapsulated in the distinct legal provisions, primarily like the Landlord and Tenant Act (LTA) 1985. Under Section 11 of this Act, landlords are obligated to:

• Ensure the building structure and its exterior installations, including drains, external pipes, and gutters, are in good condition.
• Maintain building installations for water, electricity, gas, and sanitation are in a good working state and are repaired promptly whenever they are faulty.
• Ensure the systems meant for hot water and space heating are in the right working condition and are repaired promptly whenever they are faulty.

To this regard, disrepair defines instances when the landlord has failed to maintain the property’s general structure and exterior in good and working condition. Problems with the functioning of essential utilities within the property, like water, gas, and electricity, also fall under the category of disrepair.

The main goal of filing a claim against a landlord is to make sure that proper repair works are carried out and completed quickly to ensure the house occupier enjoys living in a functioning and safe environment. Nonetheless, as a renter, you do not qualify to file a disrepair claim for your house if you were already planning to relocate or when the landlord has addressed the issue conclusively.

Eligibility for financial compensation in housing disrepair cases hinges on the landlord’s failure to address significant issues within a reasonable timeframe, leading to prolonged hardship, inconvenience, or even health problems for tenants.

If the above scenario is similar to your case, you may be qualifying to make the disrepair claim. On the other hand, make sure you file the claim before the landlord has addressed the concern or before you move out to be eligible to seek compensation.

Understanding Housing Disrepair Claims

It is the responsibility of every landlord, regardless of whether they are a private owner, a council, or a housing association, to ensure their properties are safe, secure, and in good repair. Tenants may have grounds to file a claim if their landlord fails to uphold these responsibilities, leading to unsafe or unhealthy living conditions.

Introduced in 2019, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act reinforces the rights of tenants to live in safe and suitable housing, enabling them to pursue legal action against negligent landlords. This legislation places a clear responsibility on landlords to ensure their rental properties meet adequate standards for human habitation.

If you are still living in a building in disrepair even after having informed the landlord of the issue, it may be the right time to commence legal action against the landlord by making a disrepair claim. The claim will help you get your due compensation or force the landlord to repair the building appropriately by addressing all issues hindering your safe enjoyment of the property.