Home / Things you can claim / Leaks and water damage
Leaks and water damage in your rented home? You may be able to claim.
If water is getting into your home and your landlord hasn't fixed it, you may be entitled to repairs and compensation. Answer a few quick questions and we'll check where you stand.
- No win, no fee: nothing to pay upfront
- For council, housing association and private tenants
- Our own specialist solicitors handle leak and water damage cases
Where the water is coming from
Roof and gutters
Missing tiles, failed flashing and blocked gutters let rain in. Brown stains on ceilings and top-floor walls that spread after rain are a common sign.
Pipes and plumbing
Leaking or burst pipes, failed seals around baths and showers, and faulty waste pipes cause hidden damage. Bubbling paint, damp patches or an unexplained rise in your water bill can point to a leak.
Leaks from outside your home
Water can come from a flat above or from shared pipes and roofs. Who is responsible depends on who owns and manages that part of the building, so report it to your landlord anyway.
What your landlord must do
Under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, your landlord must keep the structure and exterior of your home in repair, including the roof, walls and gutters, along with the installations for water supply and sanitation. That generally covers leaking roofs, pipes and drains.
A burst pipe or major flooding is an emergency. Phone your landlord as well as writing, and say you need an emergency repair.
Why it needs fast action
Water damage spreads quickly. Ceilings can fail, electrics can be affected and mould often follows.
If water is near electrics or a ceiling is bulging, keep away, switch off the power at the consumer unit only if it's safe to do so, and call your landlord's emergency line. Your landlord can't lawfully evict you for reporting a problem or making a claim.
What to do right now
- Photograph and film the leak at different times, including after rain
- Note what has been damaged and move belongings out of the way
- Report it in writing, and phone as well for emergencies
- Keep every reply, repair visit note and call log
- Keep receipts for damaged or replaced items and extra costs
- Tell your contents insurer if belongings are damaged
What affects compensation
Each case is different, and we can't promise an amount. Solicitors usually look at:
- How long the leak went unfixed after you reported it
- How much of your home was affected or unusable
- Damage to your belongings and extra costs
- Any effect on your health, sleep or family life
How your claim works
Tell us the problem
Complete the short form with your landlord and the repairs needed.
We review it
We check the facts, the dates you reported the issue, and your evidence.
Our solicitors take over
If you have a claim, one of our specialist solicitors contacts you to take it forward.
Repairs and compensation
Your solicitor pursues the repairs and any compensation you're owed.
How a leak and water damage claim works
1. Report it and gather evidence
Tell your landlord about the leak in writing and keep a copy. Dated photos, damage lists and receipts help.
2. Your solicitor writes to your landlord
Before any court case, one of our specialist solicitors sends a formal letter setting out the problem and asking your landlord to inspect, repair and respond. A surveyor or plumber may inspect to find the source of the water.
3. Repairs and compensation
Many landlords agree to carry out repairs and pay compensation without a hearing. If they don't, the claim can go to court, where a judge can order repairs and award compensation. Each case is different, and we can't promise an outcome.
Can I claim if I've already moved out?
Often yes, for the time you lived with the problem, but time limits apply, so speak to us as soon as you can.
Leak claims: your questions
Who pays for my damaged belongings?
You may be able to recover the cost as part of a claim, and you may also be covered by your own contents insurance. Keep receipts and photographs.
What if the leak comes from the flat above?
Report it to your landlord straight away. They may be able to deal with the neighbour or the building's manager. Tell us what you've been told.
Is a one-off burst pipe a claim?
Possibly. A burst pipe that's fixed quickly may lead to less compensation, but delays or damage to your belongings can make a difference. Tell us what happened.
Do I have to let my landlord in?
Yes, allow reasonable access for repairs, with proper notice. Refusing access can weaken your claim.
How much will it cost me?
Nothing upfront. It's no win, no fee, but some costs can still apply in certain situations. See how our fees work.
How 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.