Living with disrepair in Shelley 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 Shelley
Whoever your landlord in Shelley 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.
Typical disrepair issues in and around Shelley include:
- Structural problems
- Plumbing problems
- Bathroom problems
- Guttering problems
- Leaking problems
- Windows problems
- Ceiling problems
- Any other defect that affects your health, safety or use of the home
How a housing disrepair claim works in Shelley
Here is what happens when you ask us to look at a housing disrepair claim in Shelley.
- Free claim check. A quick conversation is usually enough to tell whether your landlord in Shelley has broken their repairing duties.
- Evidence and inspection. We gather your photos, letters, texts and emails, and arrange for an independent surveyor to inspect your home in Shelley and prepare a report.
- 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. The repairs are completed to the surveyor's specification and your compensation is paid. If the landlord refuses, court proceedings can be issued on your behalf.
Compensation for tenants in Shelley
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 Shelley paying £500 a month (£6,000 a year) whose claim is valued at 25% would receive around £1,500 for each year of disrepair, or about £4,500 over 3 years, before adding anything for damaged belongings or ill health. Claims can go back up to six years.
Disrepair problems we help Shelley 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…
What tenants say
Reviews from tenants we have helped will appear here. Have we helped you? Leave a review.
Case studies
Case studies describing real claims (with the tenant's permission and details anonymised) will be published here.
Map of Shelley
Housing disrepair in Shelley: frequently asked questions
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 Shelley. 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.
How long does a housing disrepair claim in Shelley take?
Many claims settle within six to nine months of the letter of claim. Urgent repairs can often be forced through much sooner, and if your landlord accepts liability early the whole process can be quicker. Cases that go to court take longer, but that is rare.
Can I claim if I have already moved out?
Yes, as long as the disrepair happened within the last six years and you reported it to your landlord at the time. You can claim compensation for the period you lived with the problems even though repairs are no longer needed for you.
What repairs is my landlord responsible for in Shelley?
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.