If you rent your home in Syderstone and your landlord has ignored repairs, you do not have to put up with it. Whether you are a council tenant, a housing association tenant or you rent privately, the law says your landlord must keep your home safe, dry and in good repair. We help tenants in Syderstone force those repairs through and claim the compensation they are owed, on a no win, no fee basis.
Your landlord's repair duties in Syderstone
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, every landlord in Syderstone must keep the structure and exterior of your home in repair, along with the installations for water, gas, electricity, sanitation, heating and hot water. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 goes further: your home must be fit to live in from the day your tenancy starts and for as long as it lasts. These duties apply to council homes, housing association properties and private rentals in Syderstone alike.
Typical disrepair issues in and around Syderstone include:
- Bathroom problems
- Cracks problems
- Toilet problems
- Heating problems
- Pest problems
- Plumbing problems
- Leaking problems
- Any other defect that affects your health, safety or use of the home
How a housing disrepair claim works in Syderstone
Here is what happens when you ask us to look at a housing disrepair claim in Syderstone.
- Free claim check. Tell us what is wrong, when you first reported it and who your landlord is. We will tell you honestly whether you have a claim.
- Evidence and inspection. We gather your photos, letters, texts and emails, and arrange for an independent surveyor to inspect your home in Syderstone and prepare a report.
- Letter of claim. Your solicitor writes formally to the landlord under the Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions Claims, setting out the repairs required and the compensation claimed.
- Repairs and compensation. Once agreed, the landlord must complete the works and pay your compensation. If they will not cooperate, we can take the case to court.
Compensation for tenants in Syderstone
Most awards are based on the rent paid during the period of disrepair. Mild problems in one room might attract around 20% of rent; a home made largely uninhabitable by damp, mould or no heating can attract 50% or more. Damaged furniture, clothing and carpets, and any health effects, are added on top.
For example, a tenant in Syderstone paying £800 a month (£9,600 a year) whose claim is valued at 25% would receive around £2,400 for each year of disrepair, or about £7,200 over 3 years, before adding anything for damaged belongings or ill health. Claims can go back up to six years.
Disrepair problems we help Syderstone tenants with
Choose the problem closest to yours for detailed guidance.
Heating disrepair
No heating or hot water, a boiler that keeps breaking down or radiators that never get warm: your landlord must fix it…
Leaks and water damage
Leaks from roofs, pipes, bathrooms or the flat above that your landlord has failed to trace and fix, and the damage…
Damp, mould and wall problems
Damp patches, black mould, crumbling plaster, failed cavity wall insulation or a broken damp-proof course: wall…
Window and door disrepair
Rotten frames, broken glass, windows that will not open or close, failed double glazing, draughts and doors that do not…
Bathroom disrepair
Leaking baths and showers, cracked basins, mould that keeps returning, no hot water, broken extractor fans and…
Guttering disrepair
Blocked, broken or missing gutters and downpipes that pour water down the walls, causing penetrating damp, mould and…
Plumbing disrepair
Burst or leaking pipes, blocked drains, no water pressure, faulty stopcocks and waste pipes that back up into your home.
Structural disrepair
Subsidence, movement, tree root damage, failed lintels, dangerous stairs and balconies and other defects in the…
Cracks in walls and ceilings
Cracked plaster, render and brickwork that your landlord has ignored, from cosmetic cracks that hide damp to cracks…
Roof disrepair
Missing tiles, leaking flat roofs, defective flashing, rotten roof timbers and chimneys letting water in: roof problems…
Kitchen disrepair
Leaking sinks, broken units, dangerous worktops, faulty cooker connections, pests and damp that make the kitchen unsafe…
Toilet disrepair
Blocked, leaking, cracked or constantly running toilets, broken cisterns and soil pipes, and homes left without a…
Pest infestations
Mice, rats, cockroaches, bed bugs, ants and other infestations caused or allowed to continue by defects your landlord…
Ceiling disrepair
Stained, cracked, sagging or collapsed ceilings caused by leaks from roofs, bathrooms or the flat above that your…
Electrical disrepair
Dangerous wiring, tripping fuse boards, broken sockets and lights, no electrical safety certificate and water near…
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Map of Syderstone
Housing disrepair in Syderstone: frequently asked questions
I am a private tenant in Syderstone. Can I still claim?
Yes. Private landlords have the same repairing obligations as councils and housing associations. The main difference is the type of tenancy you hold, which affects your security of tenure. We will explain how that applies to you before you decide to proceed.
How long does a housing disrepair claim in Syderstone take?
Many claims settle within six to nine months of the letter of claim. Urgent repairs can often be forced through much sooner, and if your landlord accepts liability early the whole process can be quicker. Cases that go to court take longer, but that is rare.
Will someone need to inspect my home in Syderstone?
Usually yes. An independent surveyor visits at a time that suits you, photographs and measures every defect and writes a report. The visit normally takes an hour or two and the report becomes the backbone of your claim.
What repairs is my landlord responsible for in Syderstone?
The structure and exterior of the building (roof, walls, windows, doors, gutters and drains), the installations for water, gas and electricity, sanitary fittings such as baths, toilets and sinks, and the heating and hot water system. They must also keep the home free from hazards such as damp, mould, pests and dangerous electrics.
What if the repairs have now been done?
You can still claim compensation for the time you lived with the disrepair before it was fixed, provided you had reported it to the landlord and the claim is brought within six years.