Durham County Council claims for compensation

If you live in council housing or a local housing association property in the uk, we can assist you in claiming compensation if the property you reside in has fallen into a state of disrepair. This is commonly known as filing a compensation claim for despair against a housing association landlord.

As we are NO WIN, NO FEE housing disrepair lawyers & solicitors, the entire process is free of charge to you.
Call us on 0333 050 8887 to start the process or fill in the form.

If you live in a council-owned property, we can also help you to make a disrepair claim against your local council.

<p>Durham County Council compensation claim</p>

Can you make a housing disrepair claim against Durham County Council?

Yes, the council is responsible for most repairs to your home, this includes things like small leaks as well as emergency repairs. If the council has failed to act on issues that you have notified them about, then you could be eligible to make a claim against them.

Making a claim could result in the court ordering the council to make a repair and you could even be awarded compensation.

You can claim compensation for various things including damage to your personal belongings, furnishings, clothes or other materials. You can also claim compensation for the damage that has been caused during repair work.

Living in a state of disrepair can have very serious effects on your health and wellbeing. If you have suffered from illness or injury as a result of the council’s failure to take action then you could also make a personal injury claim.

What are the council’s responsibilities to tenants?

As a council housing tenant, you are entitled to a good standard of living. The council must make sure that the dwellings they offer are in a reasonable condition and that disrepair issues, if any, are addressed promptly. Failing to do so may result in compensatory damages being awarded to tenants for injuries caused by the council/associations’ actions or inaction. At our firm, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial strains that renting poor housing can have on tenants and are committed to helping them receive the repairs they need.

Are you a Council or Housing association Tenant with housing disrepair issues?
If so we can help you claim compensation on a NO Win, NO Fee basis.

Instant Claim Calculator

Ashley Y

Council Tenant

We had been waiting for 12 months for the damp to be repaired by the council but got nowhere. We were told by a friend that this company could help and within 6 months we received compensation for damages & all the damp and mould was removed.

Liam M

Council Tenant

My flat was repaired in time for my child’s birth and I received rent refunds and compensation. The team were very helpful and understanding of my dangerous situation.

client 4

Wayne B

Housing Association Tenant

client 4 client 4 client 4 client 4 client 4

Couldn’t leave any clothes in any of the bedrooms due to dampness and mould, our clothes, possessions & electronics were ruined and not to mention the huge amounts of stress this caused over the years. I am so grateful for your help with getting my property repaired for me & the financial compensation awarded to me has changed my life. Thank you so much

What should I do if the council are not maintaining my home?

As your landlord, the council have a legal responsibility to ensure the property you are living in is in good, safe, living condition and are obliged to carry out regular maintenance checks and also to make sure repairs are made to any damages within the property or anywhere on the premises. Failure to do so could give you grounds to make council house disrepair claims against them.

The following should be maintained and repaired if necessary by the council, otherwise, they could be liable to pay you council house disrepair compensation for any damage caused:

  • Exterior areas – External walls, the roof and windows for example and also any structural issues that may arise.
  • Sanitary fixtures and fittings within the property such as toilets, sinks, baths, showers and also the relating drains, pipework and plumbing.
  • The Boiler – Boilers should be serviced regularly and any problems with heating and hot water solved immediately.
  • Any other gas appliances – As well as the boiler, over gas appliances such as heaters and fires, cookers and gas hobs for example, need to be serviced on a regular basis.
  • Electric – Wiring needs to be regularly maintained and if necessary replaced to ensure it is safe.
  • Chimney – If the property has a chimney, then the flue, pipes and ventilation need to be checked regularly.
  • Fire safety – All properties should have fire alarms fitted and serviced regularly.
  • For council property within a block such as apartments or flats, the council also have a responsibility to maintain access areas such as the communal entrance, hall, stairs and landings.

Regardless of whether the council use independent contractors to carry out maintenance and repairs, or whether they use their own contractors, they have a duty to ensure that they carry out any works necessary to maintain safe living properties for their tenants.

What else is the council responsible for?

If your rented council home or housing association property has not been repaired, you may be eligible to make a housing disrepair claim for the necessary repairs and compensation.

Are you a Council or Housing association Tenant with housing disrepair issues?
If so we can help you claim compensation on a NO Win, NO Fee basis.

Instant Claim Calculator

What can I include in my housing disrepair compensation claim with the Council?

All landlords have a legal duty to maintain the structure of their tenanted properties. This means that your landlord is required to keep your home in a good state of repair, making sure that you and any other occupiers are able to inhabit the property in comfort and safety.

So, if you have notified your landlord of an issue that they have failed to address within a reasonable period of time, you may be entitled to compensation. These issues may include:

 

  • Mould or damp (including on walls, skirting boards, ceilings and floors)
  • Water damage (including leaks from windows, doors, the roof, radiators, bathroom or kitchen fittings and pipework)
  • Defective or leaking roof (such as guttering downpipes or drains)
  • Defective windows and doors (including rot and draughts)
  • Defective bathroom fittings
  • Internal damage (including damage to paintwork, carpets, wallpaper and curtains)
  • Defective electrical wiring (including sockets or other fixtures, like extractor fans)
  • Defective radiators and heating systems
  • Defective pipework (including both gas and water)
  • Pests (such as rats and mice)
  • Any other damage (no matter how minor)

Claim compensation from the council if repairs are not carried out

As a tenant of any rented house, be that with your local council or housing association, you have the right to live in a safe and well-maintained property. Your landlord has a responsibility to carry out repairs you have reported to them in a timely manner and to a satisfactory standard.

If disrepair problems in your home have made you or someone in your household ill, damaged your belongings or caused you inconvenience you should be eligible to claim compensation. You can also claim back rent if you haven’t been able to use part or all of your home because of the disrepair*.

Council house disrepair compensation claims for personal belongings

If you have suffered damage to your personal belongings as a result of the inaction of your landlord or local authority, you may wish to consider making a compensation claim.

This could include compensation for any damage to clothing, bedding, furniture, or other personal belongings, which was caused by mould, a water leak, or any other incident for which the landlord or local authority was responsible. It is also possible to claim for any damage that may have been caused during repair works. If you would like more information on how to go about making a compensation claim, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice.

Council house disrepair compensation claim for sickness

If you have suffered illness as a result of your council landlord’s failure to maintain their property in a satisfactory condition, you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation.

You will need to provide evidence of your illness, such as a doctor’s note, and prove that the council had a duty of care to you as their tenant. The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the severity of the illness and how long it lasted. You can also include claims for loss of earnings and care costs if necessary. Make sure you get in touch with a legal professional to find out more and start the process of claiming the compensation you deserve.

Are you a Council or Housing association Tenant with housing disrepair issues?
If so we can help you claim compensation on a NO Win, NO Fee basis.

Instant Claim Calculator

No win no fee council housing disrepair compensation claims

No Win No Fee gives you the best possible chance to seek council house disrepair compensation without having to worry about any of the financial implications of doing so. If we do not win your case, there are no hidden or upfront costs to pay us anything at all- this is completely free legal help with no strings attached! You are only required to pay for our fees if we take on your case and win, but again the maximum fee we can charge is a small percentage of your awarded amount.

There are no hidden or upfront costs involved and you do not have anything to lose! We operate on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning there are no financial risks to you whatsoever.

Am I eligible to make a housing association disrepair claim?

If you have been injured or suffered ill health in the last 3 years because of an accident that occurred in a Housing Association property, you may be able to file a housing disrepair compensation claim against your landlords. If your injury occurred through no fault of your own because the property was ill-maintained and the Housing Association landlords failed to put right a defect in an acceptable time-frame having been notified in writing of the problem, our personal injury solicitors would discuss your case with you before offering valuable advice on how best to proceed in filing your claim.

What is housing disrepair?

Housing disrepair is a situation in which the condition of a rented house or flat has deteriorated or changed negatively since the tenant moved in. This can be damage or deterioration to the exterior that is connected to or forms part of the actual dwelling, or interior of the house or flat, their structure and common parts in case of a building divided into flats. The lease outlines whose responsibility it is to maintain the place and failure to do so can result in legal action being taken.

Claiming compensation for disrepair in council housing

If you’re a council tenant, you have a right to a good standard of living – no matter who you live with, what age you are, or what your background is. If you’re not being given that, our solicitors can help you take action and get compensated for the suffering you have had to endure at the hands of your local council.

Our housing disrepair experts can help council tenants claim for necessary repairs to be made to their home if their council has failed to do so. In addition to claiming for repairs we can also help you claim for compensation if you have suffered from injury, illness or financial setbacks as a result of the disrepair in your home.

Disrepair most often presents itself as extreme cases of mould and damp in homes, cracks in walls, broken and/or unsafe doors and windows, water damage or lack of hot water and/or central heating. Most structural defects to your home will be seen as disrepair and when the damage is becoming severe and your local council is failing to act it’s time to seek legal advice.

Are you a Council or Housing association Tenant with housing disrepair issues?
If so we can help you claim compensation on a NO Win, NO Fee basis.

Instant Claim Calculator

We are National Housing Association Disrepair experts.

We cover thee whole of the UK, contact us via email, telephone or live chat.