If you rent your home in Stow 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 Stow force those repairs through and claim the compensation they are owed, on a no win, no fee basis.
Your landlord's repair duties in Stow
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, every landlord in Stow 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 Stow alike.
The most common problems we see in Stow homes include:
- Wall problems
- Roofing problems
- Pest problems
- Ceiling problems
- Guttering problems
- Cracks problems
- Windows problems
- Any other defect that affects your health, safety or use of the home
How a housing disrepair claim works in Stow
Making a claim is simpler than most tenants in Stow expect, and we handle the difficult parts for you.
- 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 gather your photos, letters, texts and emails, and arrange for an independent surveyor to inspect your home in Stow and prepare a report.
- 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. Once agreed, the landlord must complete the works and pay your compensation. If they will not cooperate, we can take the case to court.
Compensation for tenants in Stow
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 Stow 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 £2,340 over 1 year, before adding anything for damaged belongings or ill health. Claims can go back up to six years.
Disrepair problems we help Stow 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 Stow
Housing disrepair in Stow: 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.
What repairs is my landlord responsible for in Stow?
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.
I am a private tenant in Stow. 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.
Will someone need to inspect my home in Stow?
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.
Can I make a housing disrepair claim against the council in Stow?
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 Stow are against social landlords.