Housing disrepair claim FAQs.

You are likely eligible if you rent from a council or housing association, there is genuine disrepair in your home, you have reported it, a reasonable time has passed without it being fixed, and you have suffered damage or inconvenience. Take our 5-question test.

Private tenants have legal rights but limited funding options for a solicitor-led claim. See our private tenant guide.

Six years for property damage, three years for personal injury. Each new failure to repair is a fresh breach. See time limits.

Yes. Disrepair and rent arrears are separate matters legally. Arrears may be set off against your settlement but they do not stop the claim. See rent arrears.

Yes. You can claim after ending the tenancy as long as you are within the limitation period.

Most UK housing disrepair settlements fall between £1,000 and £15,000. The figure depends on severity, duration, damage and health impact. See compensation guide.

Courts apply the Wallace v Manchester City Council formula — typically 25% to 50% of rent paid during the disrepair period, plus damaged belongings, personal injury, additional bills and general damages.

No. Personal injury and distress compensation is not taxable in the UK.

A lump sum may affect means-tested benefits if it takes your savings over the threshold. We can advise on protecting your position.

Usually within 21 to 28 days of the settlement being agreed.

Most settle within 6 to 12 months. Court proceedings (rare) add 6–12 months.

Almost certainly not. The vast majority of claims settle without a hearing.

The surveyor inspects and photographs the disrepair and writes an expert report. It usually takes 1–2 hours and we arrange it at your convenience.

Yes. You have a 14-day cooling-off period to cancel with no charge.

Photos, a record of when you reported the issues, written correspondence, GP records if health is affected, and receipts for losses. See evidence checklist.

Landlord repair records must be disclosed under the Pre-Action Protocol. Any written records you do have strengthen the case further.

No. Social landlords cannot lawfully evict you for making a disrepair claim. Private tenants have meaningful protections too. See can I be evicted?.

Yes — a disrepair claim is brought in your name. But the landlord cannot retaliate lawfully.

Repairs being done does not cancel compensation for the period you lived with the disrepair. We pursue compensation separately.

Yes. If we lose, you pay us nothing. If we win, we take a success fee (capped at 25% of damages). See no win, no fee explained.

No. The surveyor cost is covered by our no win, no fee arrangement.

This is the genuine risk in any litigation. We arrange After-The-Event insurance that covers you. The premium is only payable if you win and comes out of the compensation.

The settlement includes a binding schedule of works. If the landlord fails to do them, we can enforce it through the court.

Yes, if new disrepair arises. You cannot re-open the same claim for the same period though.