When you hear the term ‘housing disrepair’ you may think of a property that is in an unrepairable condition and needs to be demolished. In some cases, this is true – but housing disrepair isn’t always as dramatic as this. Problems which many people face in their homes are considered to be examples of housing disrepair.

What is Housing Disrepair?

Legally speaking, the definition of disrepair is that there is damage that needs to be put right. When we refer to rental properties, this could mean damp, mould, insect infestations, structural issues, or defective plumbing.

While all of the above make for an uncomfortable living environment, some are more harmful than others. These issues, which are often caused by neglect from landlords, can be devastating for tenants. Mould and damp can have serious effects on a person’s mental and physical health – in severe cases it can even cause death.

Housing Disrepair Related Deaths

Although rare, housing disrepair can lead to injury and death. If a property is not structurally sound, areas of a building are at risk of collapsing and injuring those inside. In the same respect, untreated mould and damp can have devastating effects on the human respiratory system and can even cause death.

In December 2022 a family lost a young boy, with the post-mortem linking his death with the mould and damp conditions within his home.

A toddler passed away two weeks after his second birthday back in December 2020 after he breathed in damp and mould at the rental home where he lived with his family.

A post-mortem confirmed the young boy’s death was linked to the damp and mould exposure at his home with – acute airway oedema and severe granulosis bronchitis due to environmental lung exposure named as a contributing factor.

His devastated family had complained to their housing estate over the condition of their upstairs flat for years – even before he was born – as they believed it was in a state of disrepair.

Housing Disrepair Claims

If you believe your rental home is unsafe and unsuitable to live in due to conditions relating to housing disrepair, you are within your rights to bring a housing disrepair claim against your landlord. You may be entitled to compensation – but you first must establish whether the damage in your home is caused by negligence by your landlord. If you have notified your landlord of the issues which make your home unsafe, and they are refusing to repair or maintain your property, you will likely have a strong claim.

Our previous blog posts looks into the most common examples of housing disrepair, and offers advice on how to gather evidence to support your claim.

Get in Touch

Here at TEN Legal, our team of specialist solicitors can support and advise you throughout the process of making a claim.

We act on a no win, no fee basis, which means you will not pay a penny unless you win your claim. Should your claim be successful, our cut is capped at a maximum of 25%.

We welcome you to get in touch by calling our friendly team on 0161 402 0213, or alternatively fill in our contact form and we will arrange a time to have a no-obligation chat.