How Much Compensation For Housing Disrepair?

How much compensation for housing disrepair you could claim will depend on how badly the conditions affected your home and how long you were expected to live with them. Compensation can reflect the loss of enjoyment and disruption caused by the disrepair, while additional losses may also be considered where your belongings were damaged or your health was affected.

Living in a rented home with unresolved problems can become exhausting, particularly when you have already raised the issue and are still waiting for something to be done. Problems such as persistent damp, inadequate heating or structural defects can make parts of your home difficult to use and leave you feeling as though the problem is being allowed to continue.

How Much Compensation works with a panel of solicitors who can assess whether your landlord was responsible for dealing with the disrepair and whether the circumstances could support a claim. They can also look at how the condition of the property affected you and identify the different types of compensation that may be relevant.

If you are unsure whether the problems in your home are serious enough to justify a claim, speaking to an advisor can give you a clearer idea of where you stand. How Much Compensation can discuss what has been happening in your property, the steps you have already taken with your landlord and whether a solicitor from the panel could help you take the matter further.

Select A Section

1. Can I Claim Compensation For A Property In Disrepair?
2. What Types Of Disrepair Could Lead To Compensation?
3. How Much Compensation For Housing Disrepair?
4. Can I Claim If I Suffered Injury Or Illness Due To The Disrepair?
5. What Injuries Can Be Caused By Housing Disrepair?
6. How Much Compensation Could I Receive For Disrepair-Related Injuries?
7. Starting A Housing Disrepair Compensation Claim
8. How Could Our Team Help With Your Disrepair Claim?
9. Learn More

Can I Claim Compensation For A Property In Disrepair?

You could claim compensation for a property in disrepair if your landlord was informed about a defect, they failed to carry out any maintenance or repair work within a suitable time period, and the unresolved conditions affected you, your home or your belongings.

When assessing whether you have grounds to make a housing disrepair claim, our advisors will consider the following criteria:

• You notified the landlord of a property defect. Your landlord needs to have been aware that a repair was required before they could be expected to put the problem right. Your previous reports can establish when the defect was brought to their attention and how long it remained unresolved.
• Your landlord failed to complete the repair in good time. Once the problem had been reported, your landlord needed sufficient time to investigate and arrange work for which they were responsible. The appropriate timeframe will depend on the nature and seriousness of the defect and the conditions you were left living with while the repair remained outstanding.
• The unresolved disrepair affected you or caused further loss. As well as the inconvenience of living in substandard accommodation, a claim can also account for damage to personal property and a loss of enjoyment.

If you were left living with disrepair after asking your landlord to put the problem right, you can speak with our team to understand whether your circumstances meet the requirements for a housing disrepair claim and what options are available to you.

What Types Of Disrepair Could Lead To Compensation?

Types of housing disrepair that could lead to compensation include defects affecting the safety, condition or essential facilities within your rented home. The relevant disrepair can range from problems with electrical or gas installations to defects affecting the structure and fixtures of the property.

Examples include:

• Electrical issues: Defective wiring, damaged sockets and problems with the electrical installation can leave parts of your home unsafe to use.
• Faulty gas appliances: An unsafe boiler or other gas appliance can make essential facilities within the property unsafe and require repair or replacement.
• Damp and Mould: Persistent mould can spread across surfaces of the property as well as your personal possessions when the underlying problem remains unresolved.
• Collapsing ceilings: Cracked or deteriorating ceiling material can indicate a serious defect requiring repair.
• Broken fixtures and fittings: Defective fixtures such as handrails can leave parts of the property unsafe or difficult to use as intended and result in slips and falls.

Living with unresolved defects can prevent you from using and enjoying your rented home as you should be able to. Speak to one of our advisors about the conditions you experienced and whether the disrepair could form part of a compensation claim.

How Much Compensation For Housing Disrepair?

How much compensation for housing disrepair you could receive depends on the extent to which the poor conditions interfered with your use and enjoyment of your rented home. This part of a housing disrepair claim compensates you for the disrepair itself and is separate from any compensation for injuries or ill health.

Compensation can reflect the inconvenience you experienced because you could not live in your home as you should have been able to. The amount will depend on the seriousness of the disrepair, how long it continued and the extent to which the conditions disrupted your daily life at home. The rent payable during the affected period can also be relevant when valuing this loss.

There is no fixed monetary figure or universal tariff for this part of a claim. A solicitor will need to assess your individual circumstances to determine an appropriate value for the loss of enjoyment and inconvenience you experienced.

If you want to understand what the disrepair in your home could mean for your compensation, contact How Much Compensation to discuss the conditions you lived with and how this part of your claim could be valued.

Can I Claim If I Suffered Injury Or Illness Due To The Disrepair?

You could claim if you suffered injury or illness due to the disrepair, or an existing physical or psychological condition was made worse. Compensation for this personal harm can form part of a housing disrepair claim, alongside compensation for living with the poor conditions themselves.

The harm caused by housing disrepair will depend on the defect and your circumstances. Prolonged exposure to mould, for example, can contribute to respiratory problems, while a collapsing ceiling can cause a physical injury. Living with unsafe or persistently poor conditions can also affect your psychological health.

For compensation to include personal injury or ill health, you will need to establish that the unresolved housing conditions caused or materially contributed to the harm you suffered. Appropriate medical evidence can document the nature and severity of that harm. It can also help establish whether the disrepair caused the problem or worsened an existing illness or psychological condition.

If you became injured or unwell while living with unresolved disrepair, you can talk to one of our advisors about what you experienced and understand whether the effect on your health could be included in your compensation claim.

What Injuries Can Be Caused By Housing Disrepair?

Housing disrepair can cause injuries and health problems ranging from respiratory conditions to physical and psychological harm.

Examples include:

• Respiratory conditions: Damp and mould can contribute to breathing problems or worsen an existing respiratory condition such as asthma.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning: An unsafe gas appliance can expose you to carbon monoxide, with severe poisoning potentially leading to loss of consciousness.
• Burns and electrical injuries: Faulty electrical installations can give you an electric shock or lead to burn injuries.
• Fractures and soft tissue injuries: Falling because of a defective stair or handrail can leave you with a broken bone or soft tissue injury.
• Head injuries: Material collapsing from an unstable ceiling can strike your head and cause an injury such as concussion.
• Psychological harm: Persistently poor housing conditions can affect your psychological health and cause symptoms such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder in serious cases.

When housing disrepair has affected your health as well as your home, it is important that the full extent of what you experienced is considered. One of our advisors can go through the injuries or health problems you suffered and what they could mean for your claim.

How Much Compensation Could I Receive For Disrepair-Related Injuries?

How much compensation for disrepair-related injuries you could receive will depend on the severity and lasting effects of your injury or illness, together with the financial losses it caused you.

When this part of your claim is valued, compensation can be divided into two heads of loss:

• General damages: This compensates for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by your injury or illness. Loss of amenity refers to the effect on your ability to enjoy your usual activities and everyday life. The amount will reflect the severity of your condition and your medical prognosis, including whether you are expected to make a full recovery.
• Special damages: This compensates for expenses resulting from your injury or illness, such as earnings you lost because you were unable to work. Past losses can be calculated from the evidence available, while future losses can also be included where appropriate evidence supports them.

Because general damages focus on the nature and impact of your injury or illness, solicitors may refer to published guideline brackets when considering what this part of the claim could be worth. The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) is such a document. It contains guideline compensation listings for various harms and injuries. Solicitors can consider the relevant bracket alongside your medical evidence when assessing general damages.

The table below uses JCG compensation brackets to illustrate the amounts that could be awarded for injuries relevant to housing disrepair claims. The top figure was not taken from the JCG.

Compensation Table

Please be aware this information is intended as guidance only.

Injury / Harm	Compensation	Notes
Multiple very serious injuries with special damages	Up to £250,000+	Very serious harm involving multiple injuries alongside substantial financial losses, such as lost earnings and long-term care costs.
Brain damage - Moderate (iii)	£56,890 to £119,860	Concentration and memory are affected, with a reduced ability to work and very limited dependence on others.
Brain or head injury - Minor	£2,920 to £16,870	Brain damage, if any, is minimal. Recovery time and continuing symptoms influence the award.
Asthma - Severe and permanent disabling	£56,890 to £86,860	Severe permanent asthma substantially restricts physical activity and employment prospects.
Asthma - Chronic	£34,740 to £56,820	Chronic breathing difficulties with restricted employment prospects and an uncertain prognosis.
Asthma - Relatively mild	£14,060 to £25,370	Covers relatively mild asthma-like symptoms and breathing difficulties with a substantial recovery.
Ankle injury - Severe	£41,370 to £66,140	Significant residual disability can include instability and severely restricted walking ability.
Ankle injury - Modest	Up to £18,150	Covers less serious fractures, sprains and ligament injuries with continuing symptoms.
Simple fractures of the forearm	£8,730 to £25,370	Applies to straightforward fractures affecting the forearm.
Psychiatric damage - Moderate	£7,740 to £25,190	Marked improvement has occurred and the prognosis is good.

What Financial Losses Could Be Included In A Housing Disrepair Injury Claim?

Financial losses that could be included in a housing disrepair injury claim are costs and lost income resulting from an injury or illness caused by the poor conditions in your rented home. How much compensation for housing disrepair you can claim is therefore heavily influenced by this figure.

Financial losses you could receive payments for include:

• Loss of earnings: If damp and mould aggravated a respiratory condition to the point that you could not work, or a defect such as a broken stair caused an injury that kept you off work, the income you lost during that absence could be included.
• Treatment and medication costs: You may be able to recover reasonable expenses for treatment required because of the disrepair-related harm. This could include prescription charges for medication or physiotherapy.
• Care during recovery: A physical injury caused by a housing defect may leave you temporarily unable to manage personal tasks without help. For example, assistance from a relative after suffering a fracture in a fall on an unsafe staircase could potentially be reflected in the personal injury claim.
• Help with household tasks: Where a disrepair-related injury or respiratory condition prevents you from carrying out tasks you previously managed yourself, the reasonable value of additional help with activities such as cleaning or preparing meals may also be considered.

Supporting evidence helps establish the amount you lost and its connection to your injury or illness. This could include payslips, treatment invoices, travel records and records of paid care or domestic assistance.

One of our advisors can look at the costs you incurred and income you lost because of the harm caused by the conditions in your home.

Starting A Housing Disrepair Compensation Claim

Starting a housing disrepair compensation claim involves documenting the unresolved conditions in your home, bringing the claim within the applicable time limit and deciding how your legal costs will be funded. The following sections explain these points in more detail.

What Evidence Can Help To Support Your Claim?

Evidence that can help to support your claim includes records showing the defects in your rented home, when your landlord became aware of them and how the unresolved conditions affected you. Medical records and proof of financial losses are especially useful for determining how much compensation for housing disrepair you could be entitled to.

The evidence used in a housing disrepair claim includes:

• Photographs and videos: Images can document problems such as mould or structural damage and show how they developed while repairs remained outstanding.
• Reports to your landlord: Emails, messages, letters and complaint records can establish when you notified the landlord or property agent about the disrepair and their response.
• Inspection and repair records: Surveyor reports, inspection records and documents relating to attempted repairs can provide information about the nature, cause and history of the defects.
• Medical evidence: Your medical records can document the injuries or illnesses you experienced and the treatment you received. Where necessary, an independent medical assessment can help establish whether the disrepair caused or contributed to the harm you suffered.
• Evidence of financial losses: Payslips, invoices, and any purchase receipts can support any costs or lost income being included in your compensation claim.

You do not need to have every piece of evidence before seeking legal advice. How Much Compensation’s panel of solicitors can identify what information is relevant to your circumstances and obtain further records where necessary.

Time Limits For Bringing A Housing Disrepair Claim

Under the Limitation Act 1980, a 6-year limitation period can apply to housing disrepair claims. The point from which this period runs depends on the legal basis and circumstances of the claim, while different time limits can apply where compensation is sought for personal injury. Our guide about the limitation period contains details about the 3-year limit to start a personal injury claim, or you can phone our advisors who can give you further guidance on the time limit that applies to your circumstances.

Funding A Housing Disrepair Claim Through A No Win No Fee Agreement

A housing disrepair claim could be funded through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), a type of No Win No Fee contract. Under a CFA, you do not pay solicitor service fees upfront, during the claim process or if the claim is unsuccessful.

If your claim succeeds, your solicitor can deduct a success fee from your compensation. The percentage and other relevant terms will be explained before you agree to proceed. The percentage will also be limited by the agreement.

Contact How Much Compensation to find out whether this type of funding could allow you to pursue compensation without paying solicitor service fees upfront.

How Could Our Team Help With Your Disrepair Claim?

Our team could help with your disrepair claim by connecting you with a solicitor who can take over the legal work and pursue compensation on your behalf. After dealing with unresolved problems in your rented home, this gives your claim clear direction without leaving you to manage the process yourself.

The solicitor handling your claim can:

• Investigate your landlord’s handling of the disrepair: Your solicitor can determine when your landlord became aware of the problem and examine what action was taken afterwards. You will not have to piece together the history of repeated reports and delayed repairs on your own.
• Obtain evidence of the housing conditions: Relevant records can be requested from your landlord and an expert inspection arranged where necessary. Your solicitor can bring this evidence together so the condition of the property and repairs required are properly documented.
• Establish the effect on your health: Your solicitor can obtain your medical records and arrange an independent assessment to help establish what injuries or ill health the housing defects have caused you. This allows the effect on your health to be properly addressed while you focus on your recovery.
• Value your compensation claim: Your solicitor can assess the effect that living with the disrepair had on your use and enjoyment of the property. Any resulting injury or financial losses can then be incorporated into a carefully prepared valuation.
• Handle negotiations on your behalf: Your solicitor can manage communications with your landlord or their representatives and respond to disputes over responsibility or valuation. They can then negotiate a settlement that reflects the impact the housing disrepair had on you.

Speak With One Of Our Advisors

Talk to our friendly advisors and check if you could make a housing disrepair claim today. You can:

• Call us on 0800 408 7826.
• Open the live chat on your screen.
• Or contact us by completing a callback form.

Learn More

Read some of our other personal injury claims guides:

• Find out when you could claim for a hand injury here.
• Read a guide on how much compensation for a fall you could be entitled to.
• Learn more about suing the council with this guide.

We’ve also provided a few external resources for further information:

• The government has published this resource on keeping your building safe for both residents and owners.
• Find out when to call 999 using this NHS page.
• Get more information on repairs and housing conditions from Citizens Advice.

Thank you for reading our guide on how much compensation for housing disrepair you could receive.