Housing Disrepair Success Stories – Damp & Mould Growth
The Housing Team at Hodge Jones & Allen have been defending the rights of tenants since 1977 and we understand how your life can be turned upside down when a landlord refuses to make repairs to your home.
With this blog series, each week we plan to share the details of another successful settlement to show tenants that help to is available to get results and gain compensation.
This week’ Housing Disrepair case is as follows:
We were instructed to deal with a case involving serious housing disrepair, which included damp and mould growth around the property. Over a two year period there was intermittent water penetration from the flat above and, as a result of the water penetration, the ceiling in the bathroom of her property collapsed.
It is an implied term of the tenancy agreement, pursuant to Section 11 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 that her landlord would keep in repair the structure and exterior of the dwelling house and the installations therein for the supply of gas, water, electricity, sanitation and space heating.
Hodge Jones & Allen prepared a detailed Letter of Claim which was sent to the landlord. In addition, instructions were prepared and sent to an independent surveyor to attend the property and provide a report on the conditions of the property.
Upon receipt of the surveyor’s report, an updated Letter of Claim was sent to the landlord, however they failed to provide a substantive response. Our Housing Team issued proceedings against our client’s landlord for an order for specific performance, damages and costs. The claim was defended however shortly after filing a Defence, Ms W’s landlord agreed to carry out all necessary works.
Negotiations were subsequently entered into and the claim was settled shortly afterwards for the sum of £7,000.00.
The parties agreed upon terms of settlement including a timetable for completion of the works, payment of damages within 14 days and payment of Ms W’s legal costs.
Farzana Chowdhury is a partner in our leading Housing Team (ranked tier 1 by Legal 500 and Chambers UK legal directories). Farzana’s own specialist housing skills and expertise are also recognised by the two leading legal directories. Farzana has earned a reputation for taking on more complex housing cases and gaining excellent results for her clients.
