Housing disrepair can pose severe challenges, affecting a property’s habitability and the well-being of its residents. Structural issues, dampness, mould, leaks, faulty plumbing or heating systems, and other conditions can render a property unfit for living. If your attempts to get necessary repairs from your landlord have been met with silence, you might be eligible for compensation. Building a strong housing disrepair claim involves several key steps.
1. Reporting the Issue: Initiate your case by contacting a housing disrepair solicitor. However, remember to firstly report the disrepair promptly to your landlord. Keeping a systematic record of all communication, whether through emails, text messages, or recorded phone conversations, is crucial to prove that you have alerted them to the issue.
2. Collecting Evidence of the Disrepair: Substantiate your claim by gathering evidence of the actual disrepair. Photographs are invaluable, offering a visual record of the issue’s extent and duration. Consider engaging a surveyor or structural engineer for a specialist assessment to evaluate severity and causation.
3. Documenting Damage to Personal Belongings: If the disrepair has resulted in damage to your personal belongings, document the affected items through photographs. Additionally, retain receipts for any items that were replaced or repaired, including damaged clothing, furniture, and soft furnishings.
4. Evidence of Physical Injuries: If the disrepair has led to physical injuries or worsened existing health conditions, consult your GP for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Request a copy of your medical records, which can serve as evidence linking your health issues to the housing disrepair. Depending on the severity of the injuries, you may require a medical expert’s assessment and report.
5. Financial Losses: For those who have suffered financial losses due to housing disrepair, gather evidence supporting your claim. This may encompass past and future earnings, expenses for temporary accommodation, travel costs, medication, specialist equipment, and utility bills. Maintain a meticulous record of all relevant expenses, and retain receipts whenever possible. Bank statements, pay slips, and utility bills can also serve as supporting evidence.
6. Documenting Other Damages: In addition to physical injuries and financial losses, you may have experienced other damages, such as stress and inconvenience. To substantiate your claim, provide a witness statement describing how these damages have impacted your life. This statement can shed light on the non-financial repercussions of housing disrepair.
7. Photographing the Disrepair: When photographing disrepairs, you don’t need a professional photographer, inspection and preparation are key. Inspect both the interior and exterior of your premises, making a list of areas that require attention. Conduct your photographic documentation during daylight hours for optimal lighting conditions. Pay close attention to issues with the guttering, roof, windows, brickwork, and chimney stack when examining the property’s exterior. Inside, common signs of disrepair include structural cracks, dampness, mould, leaks, and broken fittings.
Repeat the process for each room affected by disrepair. In some cases, consider using videos, especially when documenting water leaks or malfunctioning heating systems.
8. Addressing Bad Lighting Conditions: Bad lighting conditions in photography refer to situations where the available light is insufficient, uneven, or harsh, making it challenging to capture well-exposed and clear photographs. To address this, adjust your camera settings using the exposure compensation feature if available, typically represented by a “+/-” symbol. Increase exposure slightly to brighten your photos.
Set your phone to HDR mode to capture more detail. Stabilise your hands or use a tripod to avoid blurriness. Utilise the grid feature on your camera app to compose your shots. Additionally, consider using external lighting sources, such as a flashlight or a smartphone with the flashlight on, to improve the lighting for your subject.
By following these steps, you’ll be well-prepared to gather the necessary evidence to support your housing disrepair claim. Maintain a systematic record of all relevant correspondence, photographs, receipts, medical documents, and witness statements. Organise your files by naming them according to the disrepair and the room they pertain to for easy tracking and organisation.
Finally, reach out to housing disrepair solicitors and discuss the evidence you’ve collected. Many of them offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning you won’t incur fees unless your case succeeds. With the guidance of experienced housing disrepair solicitors, you can build a successful case and enhance your prospects of receiving fair compensation for your losses.
Don’t forget to inquire with your housing disrepair solicitor about the most effective way to submit evidence. In cases where your photos or recordings have large file sizes, utilising services like Google Drive or other free transfer platforms may be necessary. Building a comprehensive case increases your chances of a successful claim and ensures your rights are protected throughout the process.