Living with disrepair in Marple Bridge is stressful, unhealthy and, in many cases, unlawful. Landlords of rented homes, including councils, housing associations and private landlords, have a legal duty to carry out repairs within a reasonable time of being told about them. When they fail, our specialist team can step in, get the repairs done and recover compensation for everything you have been through.
Your landlord's repair duties in Marple Bridge
Tenants in Marple Bridge sometimes assume that because a repair has been "reported" they have done all they can. In fact, once a landlord knows about a problem they have a legal duty, under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, to put it right within a reasonable time. What counts as reasonable depends on the problem: a dangerous electrical fault or total loss of heating in winter should be dealt with in days, not months.
Typical disrepair issues in and around Marple Bridge include:
- Windows problems
- Bathroom problems
- Heating problems
- Structural problems
- Roofing problems
- Toilet problems
- Wall problems
- Any other defect that affects your health, safety or use of the home
How a housing disrepair claim works in Marple Bridge
Here is what happens when you ask us to look at a housing disrepair claim in Marple Bridge.
- Free claim check. A quick conversation is usually enough to tell whether your landlord in Marple Bridge has broken their repairing duties.
- 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. A formal letter puts the landlord on notice. Most landlords, including councils and housing associations, settle at this stage rather than go to court.
- 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 Marple Bridge
Most awards are based on the rent paid during the period of disrepair. Mild problems in one room might attract around 20% of rent; a home made largely uninhabitable by damp, mould or no heating can attract 50% or more. Damaged furniture, clothing and carpets, and any health effects, are added on top.
For example, a tenant in Marple Bridge paying £550 a month (£6,600 a year) whose claim is valued at 30% would receive around £1,980 for each year of disrepair, or about £1,980 over 1 year, before adding anything for damaged belongings or ill health. Claims can go back up to six years.
Disrepair problems we help Marple Bridge 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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Map of Marple Bridge
Housing disrepair in Marple Bridge: frequently asked questions
Can I make a housing disrepair claim against the council in Marple Bridge?
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 Marple Bridge are against social landlords.
What if the repairs have now been done?
You can still claim compensation for the time you lived with the disrepair before it was fixed, provided you had reported it to the landlord and the claim is brought within six years.
Will someone need to inspect my home in Marple Bridge?
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.
What if my landlord in Marple Bridge 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.
I am a private tenant in Marple Bridge. 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.