If you rent your home in East Ham and your landlord has ignored repairs, you do not have to put up with it. Whether you are a council tenant, a housing association tenant or you rent privately, the law says your landlord must keep your home safe, dry and in good repair. We help tenants in East Ham force those repairs through and claim the compensation they are owed, on a no win, no fee basis.
Your landlord's repair duties in East Ham
Whoever your landlord in East Ham is, the law is the same. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 makes them responsible for the structure and outside of the building and for the pipes, wiring, boiler and sanitary fittings inside it. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 adds a duty to keep the property free from serious hazards such as damp, mould, cold and dangerous electrics. You cannot sign these rights away, and your tenancy agreement cannot remove them.
The most common problems we see in East Ham homes include:
- Pest problems
- Heating problems
- Leaking problems
- Bathroom problems
- Windows problems
- Toilet problems
- Plumbing problems
- Any other defect that affects your health, safety or use of the home
How a housing disrepair claim works in East Ham
Here is what happens when you ask us to look at a housing disrepair claim in East Ham.
- Free claim check. Call us or fill in the short form. We ask about the problems, how long they have been going on and what your landlord has done about them.
- Evidence and inspection. We build the case with your evidence and a professional survey of the property, so the landlord cannot dispute what is wrong.
- Letter of claim. Your solicitor writes formally to the landlord under the Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions Claims, setting out the repairs required and the compensation claimed.
- 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 East Ham
Compensation for housing disrepair is usually worked out as a percentage of the rent you paid while the problems were unresolved, typically between 20% and 50% depending on how serious the disrepair was and how much of your home it affected. It does not matter whether you pay the rent yourself or it is covered by Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.
For example, a tenant in East Ham paying £650 a month (£7,800 a year) whose claim is valued at 30% would receive around £2,340 for each year of disrepair, or about £7,020 over 3 years, before adding anything for damaged belongings or ill health. Claims can go back up to six years.
Disrepair problems we help East Ham 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 East Ham
Housing disrepair in East Ham: frequently asked questions
What if my landlord in East Ham says the damp is my fault?
"Lifestyle" or "condensation" is a common response from landlords, but it is often wrong. Damp caused by leaking pipes, defective roofs, failed damp-proof courses or inadequate ventilation and heating is the landlord's responsibility. A surveyor can identify the real cause, and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act makes landlords responsible for homes that are unfit because of damp and mould.
How far back can a housing disrepair claim go?
You can usually claim for up to six years of disrepair, counting back from the date the claim is started. Children have longer: a claim for a child's ill health can be brought up to three years after their 18th birthday.
I am a private tenant in East Ham. Can I still claim?
Yes. Private landlords have the same repairing obligations as councils and housing associations. The main difference is the type of tenancy you hold, which affects your security of tenure. We will explain how that applies to you before you decide to proceed.
What repairs is my landlord responsible for in East Ham?
The structure and exterior of the building (roof, walls, windows, doors, gutters and drains), the installations for water, gas and electricity, sanitary fittings such as baths, toilets and sinks, and the heating and hot water system. They must also keep the home free from hazards such as damp, mould, pests and dangerous electrics.
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.