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How is housing disrepair compensation worked out?
There is no fixed price list. The amount depends on your evidence and your situation, and this guide explains what usually matters.
- Factors that affect the amount
- Why we will not quote a sum up front
- Repairs as well as compensation
The main types of loss
Compensation usually has two parts. The first is for the discomfort, inconvenience and loss of enjoyment of your home while the problem went unfixed. The second is for money you lost or things that were damaged, such as belongings, extra heating bills or cleaning costs. If your health was affected, a separate personal injury element may be possible, and it needs medical evidence.
What affects the amount
How long it lasted
Especially the time after your landlord knew about the problem and failed to fix it.
How serious it was
Whether it made rooms unusable, unsafe or unhealthy, and how many rooms were affected.
The effect on you
Children, older people or anyone with a health condition in the home can make a difference.
Damage and costs
Ruined belongings, extra bills and other money you had to spend because of the problem.
How your landlord responded
Missed appointments, repeated failed repairs and long delays all count.
How courts often look at it
One common approach is to look at the rent for the period and decide how much of the home's value was lost because of the problem, for example a share of the rent for the rooms affected. The right figure depends on the evidence, so be wary of anyone who quotes a fixed sum before reviewing your case.
Repairs as well as money
A claim can also ask for the repairs to be done. Many claims settle with the landlord agreeing to carry out the work and pay compensation, without a court hearing. Time limits apply and can run differently depending on your situation, so do not wait. For how our fees work, see our fees guide.
Questions
Can you tell me what my claim is worth?
Not before we have reviewed your case. Anyone quoting a fixed figure up front is guessing.
Can I claim for the time before I told my landlord?
Generally your landlord's duty to repair starts once they know about the problem, so the period before they were told is usually not included. There are exceptions.
Is compensation paid even if repairs are now done?
It can be, for the time you lived with the problem and any delay in fixing it.
Ready to find out where you stand?
It takes about two minutes and there is no obligation.
Check my claimHow our fees work
Disrepair Claims Hub is a trading style of Equitas Solicitors Ltd. Our own solicitors handle every claim from start to finish, and we explain our fees in writing before you sign anything. Read the full guide to our fees.
- Upfront: you pay nothing to start.
- If your claim succeeds: your landlord usually pays most of our costs. If it does not pay all of them, a success fee may apply, capped at 25% of your damages. The insurance premium, a flat £425 plus Insurance Premium Tax (£476.00 in total at the current 12% rate), is payable only if you win and comes out of your compensation. VAT [applies / does not apply] to our fees.
- If it does not succeed: you do not pay our charges, provided you have kept to your agreement with us. Your insurance is designed to cover the other side's costs and the expenses it insures. Cover can be lost in some situations, and in a few you may have to pay our charges. These are explained in the full guide.
- What's included: [list the stages covered], usually taking [X to Y months].
- Cooling-off: you have 14 days to cancel after signing without charge. If you cancel, your insurance ends too.
Complaints
We want to put things right. If you're unhappy, tell us at Enquiries@disrepairclaimshub.co.uk, on [phone] or in writing to [address]. We'll acknowledge your complaint within [X] working days and aim to reply within [Y] weeks. [Insert the steps of your procedure.]
If we can't resolve it, you can complain to the Legal Ombudsman, normally within six months of our final written response. [COLP to confirm current time limits.] You can also report concerns about our conduct to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Privacy notice
Equitas Solicitors Ltd is the data controller. We use the details you give us to assess your enquiry, contact you and, if you instruct us, handle your claim. Our lawful bases are [list them]. We share data only with [service providers, insurers, experts, courts] and keep it for [retention period]. If you upload photos or videos, we use them only to assess your claim, and they may contain location data.
You can ask to see, correct or delete your data, restrict or object to its use, or ask for a copy. Contact Enquiries@disrepairclaimshub.co.uk. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office. We only send news and offers if you tick the optional box, and you can opt out at any time. [Replace with your full UK GDPR privacy notice.]
Who we are
Disrepair Claims Hub is a trading style of Equitas Solicitors Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, SRA number 459787. Company number 5871121. Registered office: Muirfields Buildings, 5 Fairways Office Park, Pittman Way, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9LF.