Your landlord in Windmill Hill 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 Windmill Hill
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, every landlord in Windmill Hill 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 Windmill Hill alike.
Typical disrepair issues in and around Windmill Hill include:
- Electric problems
- Structural problems
- Ceiling problems
- Bathroom problems
- Wall problems
- Windows problems
- Leaking problems
- Any other defect that affects your health, safety or use of the home
How a housing disrepair claim works in Windmill Hill
Here is what happens when you ask us to look at a housing disrepair claim in Windmill Hill.
- 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. 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 Windmill Hill
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 Windmill Hill paying £900 a month (£10,800 a year) whose claim is valued at 25% would receive around £2,700 for each year of disrepair, or about £2,700 over 1 year, before adding anything for damaged belongings or ill health. Claims can go back up to six years.
Disrepair problems we help Windmill Hill 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 Windmill Hill
Housing disrepair in Windmill Hill: frequently asked questions
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.
What evidence do I need for a disrepair claim in Windmill Hill?
Photos and videos of the problems, dated if possible; copies of letters, emails, texts or online repair requests to your landlord; receipts for damaged belongings or extra heating costs; and GP or hospital records if your health has been affected. Do not worry if you do not have everything. An independent surveyor's report usually becomes the main evidence.
How long does a housing disrepair claim in Windmill Hill 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.
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.
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.