Archives July 2023

Social housing is supposed to provide affordable, safe, and secure housing for those who need it. However, in recent years, there have been increasing reports of social housing landlords ignoring tenants’ requests for repairs.

There are a number of reasons why social housing landlords might choose to ignore repairs. One reason is that they may not have the funds to carry out the repairs. Social housing landlords are often under-funded, and they may not have the money to fix all of the problems that their tenants report.

Another reason why social housing landlords might ignore repairs is that they may not think that the repairs are necessary. They may believe that the problems are not serious enough to warrant the expense of repairs.

In some cases, landlords may ignore repairs because they do not want to upset their tenants. They may worry that if they fix the repairs, their tenants will start to expect more repairs in the future.

Whatever the reason, ignoring repairs is a serious problem. It can lead to tenants living in substandard housing, and it can put their health and safety at risk.

If you are a tenant and you have a repair that needs to be done, it is important to know your rights. You have the right to a safe and habitable home, and your landlord is legally obligated to make repairs.

If your landlord refuses to make repairs, you can take action. You can file a complaint with your local housing authority, or you can take your landlord to court.

It is important to remember that you are not alone. There are many other tenants who are facing the same problem. By speaking up and taking action, you can help to improve the quality of housing for everyone.

Important links:

Housing disrepair advice https://housingdisrepairadvice.org/contact

Housing Ombudsman https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/

If you are a renter living with housing disrepair issues, you may be wondering how long it will take to fix the problem. The answer to this issue depends on a variety of factors, including the degree of the deterioration, the landlord’s willingness to comply, and the legal process’s intricacy.

In general, however, most housing disrepair claims take between 3 and 9 months to resolve from start to finish. This includes the time it takes to:

• Report the disrepair to the landlord
• Give the landlord a reasonable amount of time to fix the problem (90 days)
• If necessary, make a formal complaint or try the housing Ombudsman
• If the above fails seek legal advice from a specialist law firm
• Go through the court process, if your case does ever get to court as most social landlord tend to settle way before that point.

A variety of circumstances can either speed up or slow down the process of filing a home disrepair claim. For example, if the landlord cooperates and agrees to promptly address the problem, the claim may be resolved within a few weeks or months. If the landlord is difficult to work with or refuses to address the problem, the claim may take significantly longer to resolve.

Here are some tips for tenants who are considering making a housing disrepair claim:

• Keep good records of all communications with your landlord, including dates, times, and what was said.
• Take photographs or videos of the disrepair.
• Get an independent expert to assess the disrepair and its impact on your health and safety.
• Be prepared to go to court if necessary.

If you are facing housing disrepair, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. An experienced housing lawyer can help you to understand your rights and options, and to represent you in court if necessary.

Here are a few links you find useful:

Housing Ombudsman https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/

Housing Disrepair Advice: https://housingdisrepairadvice.org/contact

Social housing providers in the United Kingdom have a duty to provide their tenants with safe and habitable dwelling. However, a number of flaws in the way repairs are carried out have been identified.

Slow response times

One of the most prevalent tenant complaints is that social housing providers are slow to respond to repair requests. This might result in renters living in dilapidated homes for extended periods of time, which can have a significant influence on their health and well-being.

Poor quality of repairs

When repairs are finally carried out, they are often of poor quality. This can lead to further problems down the line, and it can also be a safety hazard.

Lack of communication

Social housing providers often do not communicate effectively with their tenants about repairs. This can leave tenants feeling frustrated and confused, and it can make it difficult to resolve problems.

Discrimination

There have also been instances of social housing providers discriminating against renters in the repair process. Some suppliers, for example, have been accused of refusing to perform repairs in residences occupied by members of ethnic minority groups.

What can be done to improve the situation?

A variety of actions can be taken to improve the situation. Social landlords must be held accountable for their shortcomings, and they must become more attentive to the needs of their tenants. There should also be more transparency in the manner repairs are performed, and renters should be given more information about their rights.

If you are a social housing tenant and you have experienced problems with repairs, you can complain to your landlord or to the Housing Ombudsman https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/. You can also contact your local councillor or MP for help.

If all these other avenues have failed. Then you can look at taking legal action. Find out if we can help you today https://housingdisrepairadvice.org/contact