Housing in Newcastle — Key Figures
A snapshot of the local social housing landscape and the legal standards that apply to Newcastle landlords.
~26,000
council homes managed by YHN
~30%
of Newcastle households in social housing
24 hours
for emergency repairs under Awaab's Law
Who is Housing Repair Help?
The facts about who we are, how we work and what you pay, set out plainly.
Who operates the service
Housing Repair Help is a trading style of Reclaim Experts Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 16058317) with its registered office at Innovation Centre, 49 Oxford Street, Leicester, LE1 5XY.
FCA status
Reclaim Experts Ltd is a Claims Management Company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 1030701. You can check its entry on the FCA Register. It is also registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (registration number ZB869483).
What our role is
We provide free, plain-English information about housing disrepair, run a free eligibility check based on the details and evidence you provide, and help organise photos, reports and correspondence into a clear case file. Housing Repair Help is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal representation.
What happens after you submit an enquiry
Every enquiry is reviewed against the same criteria before it is passed on: whether the disrepair falls within the landlord's repairing obligations, whether the landlord was told about the problem and given a reasonable chance to fix it, the severity of the problem, the quality of the evidence, and how long it has continued. If your case is not suitable we tell you and point you to free routes such as the Housing Ombudsman Service, Citizens Advice and Shelter.
Our relationship with the solicitor
Suitable cases are introduced to specialist housing disrepair solicitors on our panel. Those firms are independent of us and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. They decide whether to take a case on, and any legal advice comes from them once they have been formally instructed and a client care agreement is in place.
How referrals work
When a case is suitable, we pass it to a specialist housing disrepair solicitor on our panel. Reclaim Experts Ltd receives a fee from the solicitor for any successful recommendation. You are never charged for the introduction.
What you pay
You pay nothing to Housing Repair Help. We do not charge tenants a fee for our eligibility check or our introduction service.
What "No Win No Fee" means
The solicitors on our panel may offer to run your claim under a No Win No Fee agreement. Under such an agreement, the solicitor's fee is only payable if your claim succeeds, and is then usually recovered from your compensation. If your claim does not succeed, you do not pay the solicitor a fee for their time. The solicitor will explain the full terms before you sign anything, and you are free to choose a solicitor of your own instead.
Reporting Repairs to Your Landlord in Newcastle
Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) / Newcastle City Council
Your Homes Newcastle handles council housing repairs across the city. You can report repairs at yhn.org.uk, via the YHN App, or by phoning 0191 278 8600 (24-hour). Newcastle City Council Environmental Health on 0191 278 7878 covers private rented standards.
Visit official repairs pageHousing associations active in Newcastle:
Bernicia · Karbon Homes · Home Group · Riverside
Tenants of these housing associations have the same legal protections as council tenants.
Council House Disrepair in Newcastle
Council house disrepair in Newcastle can involve persistent leaks, defective heating, damaged windows or structural problems. For council tenants in England, Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 generally requires the landlord to keep the structure, exterior and essential installations for water, sanitation, heating and electricity in repair. Responsibility depends on the defect and tenancy; not every maintenance issue is the council’s responsibility.
Check your tenancy agreement before reporting: a former council home may now belong to a housing association. If the council is your landlord, use its official repairs service and describe the affected rooms, when the problem began and any immediate safety concerns. Keep the job reference and follow a telephone report with an email or written confirmation. Use the landlord’s emergency reporting route for an immediate hazard rather than waiting for a claim assessment.
If repairs remain outstanding, keep dated photographs, appointment records and copies of reminders. Ask for an update and use the landlord’s formal complaints procedure if the response does not resolve the problem. The Housing Ombudsman can help with complaints about social landlords in England; its complaint process is separate from a legal claim.
Specialist review may be worth exploring where the council knew about a defect within its repairing responsibilities but did not act within a reasonable time. Evidence, urgency and the impact on your household matter; compensation is not automatic. Our council house disrepair guide explains the reporting and claim considerations in more detail.
Housing Association Disrepair in Newcastle
Housing association disrepair in Newcastle should be reported to the organisation named as your landlord, rather than automatically to the local council. The local landlord information above includes Bernicia, Karbon Homes, Home Group, Riverside; check your tenancy agreement to confirm which organisation is responsible for your home. Housing associations have repairing obligations for the structure, exterior and essential services. Their own reporting channels and repair policies explain how to request work.
Use your landlord’s repairs portal, email address or telephone service, and save confirmation of each report. Explain whether the problem is recurring, whether an earlier repair failed and how it affects daily use of the home. Tell the landlord about relevant health concerns or household vulnerabilities so it can consider urgency. Keep photographs over time, repair references, contractor messages and a record of missed or cancelled visits.
A visit does not necessarily mean the underlying defect has been resolved. If a leak returns, heating remains unreliable or mould reappears, report the continuing problem and refer to the earlier job number. Ask what work remains and when you can expect an update. Where repair requests are repeatedly ignored or closed without a lasting repair, make a formal complaint and request escalation through the association’s complaints procedure if needed.
The Housing Ombudsman offers a free complaint route for social housing tenants in England. Specialist legal advice may also be appropriate if the landlord has been notified but a repair within its responsibilities remains unresolved. A solicitor can assess the evidence and explain possible options without guaranteeing a claim outcome. Read our guide to housing associations ignoring repairs for practical next steps.
Complaints Route and the Housing Ombudsman in Newcastle
Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) manages council housing for Newcastle City Council, so a repairs complaint starts with YHN. Quote the job references from the YHN App and set out how long the problem has run.
Step 1 — YHN Stage 1 complaint
Complain via yhn.org.uk, the YHN App or on 0191 278 8600. A Stage 1 response is due within 10 working days.
Step 2 — Stage 2 review
Escalate to the final stage if the repair is still not done — a response is due within 20 working days.
Step 3 — Refer to the Housing Ombudsman
Once the landlord's complaints process is exhausted — or it fails to respond within the Code's timescales — you can refer the case to the Housing Ombudsman Service free of charge at housing-ombudsman.org.uk or on 0300 111 3000. The Ombudsman can order an apology, compensation and completion of works, but cannot award damages on the same basis as a court.
Housing Ombudsman Service
The Housing Ombudsman investigates complaints about council and housing association landlords in England. Its service is free, and using it does not stop you from also bringing a disrepair claim — the two can run alongside each other.
housing-ombudsman.org.ukPrivate rented enforcement
Newcastle City Council Environmental Health covers private rented standards and can inspect for hazards — 0191 278 7878.
Other social landlords
Karbon Homes, Bernicia and Home Group tenants complain to their own landlord first, then refer to the Ombudsman.
Local Disrepair Issues Reported in Newcastle
Based on the housing stock and local reporting patterns, these are the disrepair issues most commonly raised by Newcastle tenants.
Damp in Tyneside flats
Pre-1919 Tyneside flats in Heaton, Byker and Walker commonly report rising damp, condensation and mould due to solid walls and limited ventilation.
Tower-block heating failures
Communal heating in Newcastle high-rises (Cruddas Park, Kenton Bar) regularly fails in winter.
Roof leaks in Gosforth & Jesmond
Edwardian terraces in Gosforth, Jesmond and Sandyford frequently develop roof and chimney leaks causing internal damp.
YHN Repairs: Timescales and What to Do When They Are Missed
Your Homes Newcastle categorises repairs by urgency. Emergencies — such as a total loss of heating or hot water, a major leak, or an unsafe electrical fault — should be made safe within 24 hours. Urgent repairs are usually targeted within a few working days, and routine repairs within a matter of weeks. Since Awaab's Law took effect, damp and mould hazards must be investigated within set deadlines and emergency hazards acted on within 24 hours.
If YHN repairs are repeatedly booked and missed, closed as 'completed' when the problem is still there, or left outstanding beyond the published timescale, that record of delay is exactly what supports a housing disrepair claim. Log every appointment, job reference and no-show — screenshots from the YHN App are strong evidence.
- Report in writing (YHN App or online form) so there is a dated record.
- Keep every job reference number and photograph the issue each month.
- Escalate through YHN's formal complaints procedure if repairs stall.
- After 8 weeks without resolution you can approach the Housing Ombudsman.
- You can pursue a disrepair claim alongside a complaint — they are not alternatives.
Newcastle Damp and Mould Compensation Claims
Damp and mould are the most frequently reported disrepair issues in Newcastle, particularly in solid-wall Tyneside flats in Byker, Walker, Heaton and Elswick where ventilation is limited and condensation builds quickly. Landlords cannot simply blame tenant lifestyle: where the underlying cause is a structural defect, a leak, failed ventilation or inadequate heating, it is a repair issue the landlord must resolve.
Newcastle damp and mould compensation claims usually combine a rent-reduction element (commonly 25%–50% of rent for the period affected) with damages for inconvenience, ruined belongings such as clothing, bedding and furniture, and any health impact — respiratory symptoms in particular. Medical records and photographs dated across the affected period materially strengthen a claim.
Newcastle Housing Disrepair Compensation Claims: What You Could Receive
There is no fixed tariff for Newcastle housing disrepair compensation claims. Awards reflect how serious the disrepair was, how long you lived with it after reporting it, how much of your home you lost the use of, and the effect on your health and belongings. Modest, short-lived issues often settle in the low thousands, while long-running mould, persistent leaks or structural defects affecting a family home can reach five figures.
As well as money, a successful claim can compel your landlord — YHN, a housing association such as Bernicia, Karbon Homes, Home Group or Riverside, or a private landlord — to carry out the outstanding works. You can read more in our guide to how compensation is assessed before deciding whether to proceed.
Housing Disrepair Solicitors in Newcastle
Our panel of SRA-regulated housing disrepair solicitors acts for tenants across Newcastle upon Tyne and the wider Tyne and Wear area on a no win no fee basis. That means no upfront cost and nothing to pay if the claim is unsuccessful. We are not a law firm — Housing Repair Help is a trading style of Reclaim Experts Ltd, an FCA-regulated claims management service (FRN: 1030701) that reviews your case and, where it is suitable, introduces it to a specialist firm.
A solicitor will typically arrange an independent property inspection, obtain the landlord's repair records, and where relevant a medical report, before putting a formal letter of claim to YHN, the housing association or the private landlord. Most Newcastle claims settle without a court hearing.
Common Housing Disrepair Problems in Newcastle
Tenants across Newcastle frequently report the following issues in both council and privately rented properties — including damp and mould, leaks and water damage, and structural problems. If you are experiencing any of these, you could be eligible for a housing disrepair claim in Newcastle.
Damp & Condensation
Persistent damp affecting walls, ceilings and floors in Newcastle properties.
Black Mould
Toxic mould growth caused by untreated moisture problems across Newcastle.
Broken Heating
Faulty boilers and radiators leaving Newcastle tenants without adequate heating.
Electrical Faults
Exposed wiring, faulty sockets and dangerous electrical systems in rented homes.
Structural Damage
Cracked walls, unstable floors and subsidence in Newcastle rental properties.
Pest Infestations
Rodent and insect infestations caused by gaps, cracks and poor property maintenance.
Can You Make a Housing Disrepair Claim in Newcastle?
You may be able to make a council housing disrepair claim or a private tenancy disrepair claim in Newcastle if the following conditions apply:
Reported in Writing
You notified your landlord about the disrepair via letter, email or your tenancy portal.
Landlord Failed to Act
Your landlord did not carry out the necessary repairs after being notified.
Reasonable Time Passed
A reasonable amount of time has elapsed since you first reported the issue.
If these conditions apply to your situation, you could be eligible for compensation and to have the repairs completed at your landlord's expense. We can check your enquiry free of charge and, where appropriate, refer you to an independent housing disrepair law firm.
How to Make a Housing Disrepair Claim
Report the Issue
Notify your landlord in writing about the disrepair. Keep copies of all letters, emails and messages.
Gather Evidence
Take photographs and videos of the damage. Keep records of medical appointments related to the disrepair.
Submit Your Details
Complete our online claim form. There is no obligation.
Legal Review
Our panel of housing disrepair solicitors will review your case and advise on next steps — at no cost to you.
How Much Compensation Can You Get?
The amount of housing disrepair compensation you may receive depends on the severity and duration of the disrepair, the impact on your daily life, and any damage to your health or belongings. Typical awards include:
Minor Issues
£1,000 – £2,500
Small leaks, minor damp patches, cosmetic damage
Moderate Issues
£2,500 – £5,000
Persistent mould, broken heating, recurring leaks
Serious Issues
£5,000 – £10,000+
Structural damage, health impacts, long-term neglect
You may also be entitled to compensation for damage to personal belongings and for any personal injury or health conditions caused by damp, mould or unsafe living conditions in Newcastle.
What Can I Claim For in Newcastle?
When you make a housing disrepair claim, the court can order your landlord to carry out the repairs. As well as this, you may also be awarded compensation under several heads of loss, including:
Damage to Belongings
Compensation for any belongings damaged or destroyed as a result of the poor condition of the property. You may also be able to claim for items damaged during repairs carried out by your landlord.
Financial Loss
If you have suffered financial loss as a result of your landlord failing to carry out repairs, you may be able to claim for this. Please note that significant rent arrears can affect the outcome of your claim.
Personal Injury
If you have been injured as a result of your landlord's negligence, you could make a personal injury claim — for example respiratory problems caused by damp or mould, slip or trip injuries, or carbon monoxide exposure. Our panel can assist with medical reports, expert evidence and court proceedings.
Inconvenience
Compensation for general disruption to your daily life — including not being able to use parts of your home or having to wait long periods for repairs to be carried out.
Your Rights as a Tenant in Newcastle
Under the law in England and Wales, landlords have a legal duty to keep rented properties in a safe and habitable condition. Key legislation that protects tenants in Newcastle includes:
Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 — Requires landlords to maintain the structure, exterior, and essential installations of the property.
Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 — Gives tenants the right to take legal action if their home is unfit to live in.
Awaab's Law (2023) — Requires social landlords to investigate hazards within 14 days and begin emergency repairs within 24 hours.
If your landlord in Newcastle has breached any of these obligations, you may have grounds for a housing disrepair claim. Council and housing association tenants are equally protected, and our guide to reporting disrepair walks through the steps.
No Win No Fee Housing Disrepair Claims in Newcastle
Our panel of housing disrepair solicitors handle no win no fee claims in Newcastle. This means you will not pay any legal fees unless your claim is successful — there is no financial risk to you and no upfront costs. Whether you are a council tenant or a private renter in Newcastle, you can access expert legal representation at no cost. See typical awards in our compensation guide.
Serving tenants across Newcastle including Gosforth, Heaton, Jesmond, Byker, Walker and surrounding areas.
Why Tenants Trust Us With Housing Disrepair Claims
Tell us about your housing problem
Complete our online enquiry form with details of the repairs you have reported and the problems you are experiencing.
Initial eligibility check
We review the information you provide to assess whether your enquiry meets our criteria for onward referral.
Save & Return
Your answers are saved as you go, so you can finish your claim later.
Independent solicitor referral
Where appropriate, we may share your enquiry with an independent specialist housing disrepair law firm. The firm will independently decide whether it can assess your circumstances and take your matter forward.
Ready to Start Your Housing Disrepair Claim?
Submit your details today and our panel of SRA-regulated solicitors will review your case at no cost and with no obligation.
Start Your ClaimNo obligation.
Helpful Guides for Newcastle Tenants
These guides explain the repair standards your landlord in Newcastle must meet and what to do when they are missed.
How long does a landlord have to make repairs?
Emergency, urgent and routine repair timescales — and what counts as an unreasonable delay.
Landlord ignoring damp and mould?
The steps to take when damp and mould reports are closed without a proper fix.
How disrepair compensation is calculated
Rent-reduction bands, damages for belongings and typical settlement ranges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Solicitors Regulation Authority
All our panel of solicitors are registered with the SRA who conduct housing work.
Solicitors Regulation Authority
The independent regulator of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales.
sra.org.uk →Free Independent Advice
You can get free, independent advice from Citizens Advice or Shelter.
Locations We Cover
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Housing Repair Help is not a law firm. Cases are referred to our panel of SRA-regulated solicitors who will assess your claim independently. Outcomes and compensation amounts vary depending on individual circumstances.