Your landlord in Bowers Gifford is responsible for the structure of your home, its heating, water, gas and electrics, and for keeping it free from damp and mould. If you have reported a problem and nothing has happened, you could be entitled to repairs and compensation. We deal with your landlord for you, with no win, no fee, so you are never left out of pocket.
Your landlord's repair duties in Bowers Gifford
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, every landlord in Bowers Gifford must keep the structure and exterior of your home in repair, along with the installations for water, gas, electricity, sanitation, heating and hot water. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 goes further: your home must be fit to live in from the day your tenancy starts and for as long as it lasts. These duties apply to council homes, housing association properties and private rentals in Bowers Gifford alike.
Tenants in Bowers Gifford most often contact us about:
- Ceiling problems
- Leaking problems
- Cracks problems
- Heating problems
- Electric problems
- Pest problems
- Roofing problems
- Any other defect that affects your health, safety or use of the home
How a housing disrepair claim works in Bowers Gifford
Making a claim is simpler than most tenants in Bowers Gifford expect, and we handle the difficult parts for you.
- Free claim check. Tell us what is wrong, when you first reported it and who your landlord is. We will tell you honestly whether you have a claim.
- Evidence and inspection. An independent expert visits your home, records every defect and sets out exactly what your landlord needs to do to fix it.
- Letter of claim. Your landlord receives a formal letter of claim and has a set period to respond, carry out repairs and make an offer.
- Repairs and compensation. You get the repairs done, you get paid, and because the claim is no win, no fee, our costs are recovered from the landlord.
Compensation for tenants in Bowers Gifford
There is no fixed tariff, but courts and landlords generally value disrepair claims as a share of your rent for the affected period, commonly 20% to 50%. On top of that you can claim for damaged belongings, extra heating costs and any injury or illness the conditions caused.
For example, a tenant in Bowers Gifford paying £600 a month (£7,200 a year) whose claim is valued at 25% would receive around £1,800 for each year of disrepair, or about £3,600 over 2 years, before adding anything for damaged belongings or ill health. Claims can go back up to six years.
Disrepair problems we help Bowers Gifford tenants with
Choose the problem closest to yours for detailed guidance.
Heating disrepair
No heating or hot water, a boiler that keeps breaking down or radiators that never get warm: your landlord must fix it…
Leaks and water damage
Leaks from roofs, pipes, bathrooms or the flat above that your landlord has failed to trace and fix, and the damage…
Damp, mould and wall problems
Damp patches, black mould, crumbling plaster, failed cavity wall insulation or a broken damp-proof course: wall…
Window and door disrepair
Rotten frames, broken glass, windows that will not open or close, failed double glazing, draughts and doors that do not…
Bathroom disrepair
Leaking baths and showers, cracked basins, mould that keeps returning, no hot water, broken extractor fans and…
Guttering disrepair
Blocked, broken or missing gutters and downpipes that pour water down the walls, causing penetrating damp, mould and…
Plumbing disrepair
Burst or leaking pipes, blocked drains, no water pressure, faulty stopcocks and waste pipes that back up into your home.
Structural disrepair
Subsidence, movement, tree root damage, failed lintels, dangerous stairs and balconies and other defects in the…
Cracks in walls and ceilings
Cracked plaster, render and brickwork that your landlord has ignored, from cosmetic cracks that hide damp to cracks…
Roof disrepair
Missing tiles, leaking flat roofs, defective flashing, rotten roof timbers and chimneys letting water in: roof problems…
Kitchen disrepair
Leaking sinks, broken units, dangerous worktops, faulty cooker connections, pests and damp that make the kitchen unsafe…
Toilet disrepair
Blocked, leaking, cracked or constantly running toilets, broken cisterns and soil pipes, and homes left without a…
Pest infestations
Mice, rats, cockroaches, bed bugs, ants and other infestations caused or allowed to continue by defects your landlord…
Ceiling disrepair
Stained, cracked, sagging or collapsed ceilings caused by leaks from roofs, bathrooms or the flat above that your…
Electrical disrepair
Dangerous wiring, tripping fuse boards, broken sockets and lights, no electrical safety certificate and water near…
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Case studies
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Map of Bowers Gifford
Housing disrepair in Bowers Gifford: frequently asked questions
Can I make a housing disrepair claim against the council in Bowers Gifford?
Yes. Local councils and housing associations are landlords like any other and have exactly the same repairing duties under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. Many of the claims we deal with for tenants in Bowers Gifford are against social landlords.
Does Housing Benefit or Universal Credit affect my claim?
No. Compensation is calculated on the rent charged for the property, whoever pays it. If your rent is paid in full or in part by Housing Benefit or Universal Credit you can still claim, and the compensation is paid to you.
Will someone need to inspect my home in Bowers Gifford?
Usually yes. An independent surveyor visits at a time that suits you, photographs and measures every defect and writes a report. The visit normally takes an hour or two and the report becomes the backbone of your claim.
Will I be evicted for making a claim in Bowers Gifford?
Secure and assured tenants of councils and housing associations cannot be evicted for making a disrepair claim. Private tenants in England are protected from "retaliatory eviction" where the council has served an improvement notice, and the Renters' Rights reforms have strengthened protection further. We will explain your position before you decide to go ahead.
Do I have to pay anything?
No. We work on a no win, no fee basis. There is nothing to pay up front, and if the claim is unsuccessful you pay nothing. If the claim succeeds, legal costs are recovered from your landlord and an agreed success fee is deducted from your compensation, which we explain clearly before you sign anything.