£4,500 at Trial After the Landlord Offered Just £550

Our clients recently succeeded at trial in a housing disrepair claim against their housing association landlord. The court awarded £4,500 in damages plus £224.38 in interest. Seventeen months earlier, the landlord's opening offer had been just £550.

A leak the landlord knew about before the tenancy began

It was our case that the landlord was on notice of a leak as early as April 2022, before our clients' tenancy had even started. Rather than carrying out a proper repair, the landlord attempted patch repairs to a hole in the roof. The leak recurred, further complaints followed, and the problem continued to affect the home.

The landlord's own surveyor confirmed the presence of an active leak, a wet ceiling, and French doors that were beyond repair. On the landlord's own evidence, the remedial works required were valued at £2,615.41. Despite that, the roof took over two years to repair, and it was some 33 months before the works were satisfactorily completed.

Why this claim went all the way to trial

Most housing disrepair claims settle before a final hearing. This one did not. The claim was issued and, almost two years later, was decided by a judge at trial. The court held that the landlord did not achieve the required standard of works in 2022, breached its repairing obligations, and failed to act within a reasonable period of time.

The gap between the landlord's position and the court's is the point of this case study. An offer of £550 was on the table 17 months before trial. The final award, including interest, was more than eight times that figure. Tenants who accept an early offer without advice can leave a substantial part of their claim behind.