Home / Things you can claim / Structural defects
Cracks, crumbling plaster or structural problems? You may be able to claim.
Structural defects can make your home unsafe and unpleasant. If your landlord hasn't dealt with a problem you've reported, 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 structural defect cases
Types of structural problem
Cracks and movement
Wide, growing or stepped cracks, doors and windows that jam, and sloping floors can point to movement. Photograph cracks with a ruler and note whether they grow.
Plaster, walls and ceilings
Crumbling or bulging plaster, sagging ceilings and loose brickwork often follow long-running damp or leaks. A bulging ceiling can be dangerous, so keep clear.
Floors, stairs, windows and doors
Rotten floorboards, loose stair treads, rotten frames and broken locks affect safety and security, and can cause falls.
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. That includes walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, windows and external doors.
A home with serious structural defects may also not be fit to live in.
Why it matters
Structural problems can get worse quickly and can cause injuries. If a defect has hurt you, such as a fall on a broken stair, you may also have a personal injury claim. Tell us.
If there is immediate danger, keep clear and call 999. Your landlord can't lawfully evict you for reporting a problem or making a claim.
What to do right now
- Take dated photos with a ruler, and mark the ends of cracks in pencil with the date
- Avoid using unsafe stairs, floors or rooms
- Report it in writing, and phone if it's urgent
- Keep all replies, visit notes and call logs
- Keep receipts for damaged belongings and extra costs
- See a doctor if you've been hurt, and keep the records
What affects compensation
Each case is different, and we can't promise an amount. Solicitors usually look at:
- How serious and how dangerous the defect is
- How long it went unfixed after you reported it
- Whether rooms were unusable
- Damage to belongings, and any injury, which may be a separate claim
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 structural defect claim works
1. Report it and gather evidence
Tell your landlord about the structural problem in writing and keep a copy. Dated photos with a ruler show whether cracks are growing.
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 building surveyor or structural engineer may be asked to inspect.
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.
Structural defect claims: your questions
Do I need a surveyor?
Not to start. Photos and your reports are a good start. If needed, your solicitor can arrange an expert inspection.
Who is responsible for subsidence?
It depends on the cause and the building. Your landlord should tell their buildings insurer. Tell us what you've been told.
Are small cracks a problem?
Hairline cracks can be cosmetic, but cracks that widen, run through the wall or come with sticking doors should be reported.
What if I've been injured?
If a defect caused an injury, you may have a personal injury claim as well. Our solicitors can look at both.
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.