heating disrepair compensation claims

We are reliable no win, no fee housing disrepair experts that will support you with filing a claim for heating disrepair.

Prefer to speak to someone? Call us

0800 900 1000

Home » Housing Disrepair Claims » heating issues
A group of lawyers meet to decide on a strategy for their newest heating disrepair case

20+

Awards

2.8K

Satisfied customers

Contact us about your claim

Claiming compensation for heating disrepair issues

Every year in the UK, numerous tenants endure hardship due to their landlords’ inattention. A prevalent issue is the non-addressal of heating disrepair in the property, which can precipitate serious health problems and damage to personal items.

If you’re residing in a council or housing association rented property and are contending with heating disrepair, while your landlord neglects essential repairs, you might be eligible for compensation. Our team of housing disrepair specialists is at your service. We operate on a No Win No Fee basis, which means you only incur charges if we triumph in your case. Our success fee is economical and among the most competitive in the industry.

Start your claim now

The most important things to remember when making a heating compensation claim:

Landlords are responsible for ensuring tenants have a safe property to live in

Regardless of your type of employment you should be able to make a claim

Compensation can cover you for damages such as financial, general, and personal injury

Landlords must be given reasonable notice to resolve issues before a claim can be made

Always keep evidence of any disrepair and communications with the landlord

What is the time frame for claiming compensation for heating disrepair?

If you are a tenant who has suffered due to heating disrepair, you may be entitled to claim compensation from your landlord. This could be due to the landlord’s failure to perform repairs in a reasonable time, poor quality of repairs, or if your home becomes unfit for living due to heating issues. All types of tenants, including those in council housing, housing associations, and private renters, can ask for compensation. However, if you are a private tenant facing a potential section 21 notice, it is advised to wait until your tenancy ends to make a claim.

Claims can be made for various outcomes such as inconvenience, financial loss, damage to belongings, or health problems caused or exacerbated by the poor housing conditions. For instance, you could claim for higher electric bills incurred from using plug-in heaters because of an unfixed broken boiler. Compensation can also be claimed for time spent waiting for builders or inspections, inability to use all rooms in the house, or even disruption to your daily life.

Other things to take note of

Before considering a complaint or court action, it’s recommended that you ask your landlord for compensation directly. Evidence such as receipts, bills and hospital reports should be kept as proof of the issues you’ve faced. If your landlord does not agree to compensation, you can consider taking further steps such as complaining to the Housing Ombudsman if you rent from a council or housing association, or using a letting agent redress scheme if you rent through an agent.

If your claim needs to be taken to court, you can take legal action either during your tenancy or after it ends. However, it’s crucial that you have reported the problem to your landlord during your tenancy. The statute of limitations allows you to claim for up to six years from when the repair work should have been done by your landlord, or three years in the case of a personal injury claim.

What details are needed to process a disrepair claim?

To process a disrepair claim, specific details are crucial. Firstly, you must be renting the property in question from either the council or a housing association and your rent payments should be up to date. The disrepair that you wish to claim for must be the responsibility of the landlord, as per the terms of your lease agreement.

Before making a claim, the disrepair should have been reported to your landlord. In this regard, it is always advised to leave a paper trail to provide evidence of your report. This could be in the form of emails or formal letters. If the landlord has failed to repair the issue within a reasonable amount of time, typically specified as 28 days by the UK government, you can then proceed to make your claim.

When you first get in touch with a solicitor regarding your claim, provide as much information as you can. The more detailed your case, the better chance of successfully resolving it. Legal experts will then guide you through the process, explaining what documents are necessary for you to provide in order for them to proceed with your claim.

Important points to note are that landlords are legally responsible for repairs to both the exterior and interior of properties, including heating, hot water, gas appliances, and electrical systems. If the landlord is refusing to make these repairs, they may be breaching the law. For this reason, it is advised to hire a housing disrepair solicitor to discuss your options.

You can make your disrepair claim during your tenancy or after it ends, provided you are making the claim within 6 years of the date on which you informed your landlord about the disrepair. In case you are making personal injury claims related to housing disrepair, you need to do so within 3 years of the date that you informed your landlord.

An accident at work lawyer discussing a potential claim with a client in a meeting room.

How we could help you

By working with we do any claim, you can ensure you receive maximum compensation for your housing disrepair. Our expertise can help build you a strong case, take care of legal proceedings and get you the support you deserve. 

If you want to remove the hassle of making a claim, or just need to see if you are eligible for a claim then get in touch today to learn more about how we can help.

Contact us to learn how much you can get

Why Choose Us?

No-Win-No-Fee

Get in touch with the assurance that you’ll never face financial risk when claiming with us. We handle all legal expenses, never request fees in advance, and we only receive payment if you do.

Advanced payments

We recognise how housing disrepair and no heating can impact your personal life. Where possible, we endeavour to secure an early compensation (interim) payment.

We handle your case

Our team includes claim specialists for each kind of housing disrepair claim, ensuring you receive the finest assistance available. We pride ourselves on successfully securing compensation for our clients.

What happens if a landlord ignores requests for repairs?

Housing Disrepair Claims are designed to safeguard tenants if their home has severe damages that the landlord is neglecting to fix. Regardless of the type of disrepairs, if they are not addressed within a reasonable timeframe, within a month for example, the tenant has the right to initiate a case against the landlord. This is particularly relevant in council houses or properties from the housing association where damage may occur due to the age or poor maintenance of the building. The landlord is responsible for damage to a range of equipment and structures inside and outside the home.

If a landlord fails to respond to a repair request within a month, the tenant should think about making a housing disrepair claim. The landlord’s negligence could escalate the damages, making it worse over time. In these cases, contacting a solicitor quickly should be a priority. The faster a claim is initiated, the less likely the damages will worsen.

If the property is left uninhabitable due to the landlord’s neglect, causing personal injury or illness to the tenant or their family, the landlord could be accused of negligence. A solicitor can help handle such situations, making a housing disrepair claim and speaking to the landlord on the tenant’s behalf. If the tenant feels uncomfortable or unsafe speaking to the landlord about the damages, a solicitor can take up the case for them.

According to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the landlord is obligated to ensure the maintenance of the gas, electricity, and water supply. They also need to ensure the installations in the home for heating water and space are well-maintained. If the heating system breaks down, the landlord is legally obliged to restore it within 24 hours. Failure to do so could put the tenant’s health and quality of life at risk, and the tenant can consider making housing disrepair claims.

What are the potential effects of broken heating on the structure of the house and the tenant’s health?

The malfunction of a heating system in a rental property can have severe repercussions, both on the physical structure of the house and on the health of its occupants. A functional heating system is vital during cold months, and its prolonged breakdown can expose tenants to freezing conditions, potentially leading to hypothermia, which can be life-threatening.

Furthermore, the UK typically experiences around 13 days of rainfall or snowfall in December alone. Without a functional heating system to help eliminate dampness and cold from the house, the likelihood of mould and mildew formation increases significantly. Mould spores release toxins which can cause a range of health issues, including respiratory problems and allergic reactions. A perpetually damp home can also attract pests, further jeopardising the tenants’ health.

In addition to health risks, a broken heating system can also cause structural damage to the property. In winter, pipes can freeze and subsequently burst without adequate heat. This can lead to water leaks, causing extensive damage to the property’s structure and possibly even the tenants’ belongings. It also compromises the safety and habitability of the home, making it uncomfortable, if not unsafe, for tenants to inhabit.

How can an ombudsman or redress scheme help in heating disrepair claims?

An ombudsman or a redress scheme serves as a free and independent service that can resolve complaints; they become particularly beneficial when dealing with heating disrepair claims. They are capable of requiring compensation in certain situations. However, before availing of these services, it is mandatory to make your complaint to your landlord or letting agent. Typically, you should lodge your complaint within a year of receiving your landlord’s final response to the complaint.

If you are a tenant of a council or housing association, you can bring your complaints to the Housing Ombudsman. They can provide information about possible compensation amounts. On the other hand, private renters who have engaged a letting agent for their property can take their complaints to a redress scheme. It is compulsory for all agents and property managers to be a member of one of the two redress schemes. Private landlords managing their own properties are not required to join a redress scheme, but some choose to do so voluntarily.

In situations where the landlord refuses to agree to compensation, court action can be considered. However, it’s important to note that you can only take legal action to claim compensation during your tenancy or after it ends, given that you previously reported the problem to your landlord during your tenancy period. In order to protect the rights of tenants, certain regulations are in place to prevent private landlords from evicting tenants who request for repairs or compensation.

Want to know how much you
are entitled to?

We Do Any Claim