Claim for Disrepair: How the Process Works for Tenants
Housing Repair Help Editorial Team · Reclaim Experts Ltd is a Claims Management Company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 1030701. You do not have to use a claims management company to pursue a complaint or explore your legal options. You can report repair problems directly to your landlord. If you have an unresolved housing complaint, eligible tenants can also use the Housing Ombudsman Service free of charge: https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/residents/.
Published 1 October 2025. Last reviewed and updated 20 April 2026.
Deciding to make a claim for disrepair can feel like a big step. If you've been dealing with repair issues in your rented home that your landlord has failed to address, you may be wondering what the process actually involves and whether it's worth pursuing.
This guide walks you through how the claims process typically works — from the initial assessment through to resolution — so you can make an informed decision about your next steps.
Am I Eligible to Claim for Disrepair?
While every situation is different, you may be eligible to claim for disrepair if:
You are a current tenant renting a property in England or Wales
Your home has one or more repair issues that your landlord is responsible for
You have reported the problem to your landlord (ideally in writing)
Your landlord has failed to carry out the repairs within a reasonable time
The disrepair has affected your quality of life, health, or belongings
This applies whether you rent privately, from a local council, or from a housing association. The type of disrepair can vary — from damp and mould to leaks and structural damage.
The 7 Steps of a Disrepair Claim
Report the Problem to Your Landlord
Before a claim can be considered, you need to have notified your landlord of the disrepair. The best approach is to report in writing — by email, letter, or through an official complaints procedure. Keep copies of everything. If you have already reported verbally, follow up with a written confirmation.
If your landlord has not responded, consider reporting the disrepair to your local council.
Gather Your Evidence
Evidence plays a crucial role in any housing disrepair claim. The more evidence you can provide, the stronger your case is likely to be.
Photos & Videos
Take regular, dated images showing the disrepair including close-ups and wider shots.
Correspondence
All emails, letters, and messages exchanged with your landlord about repairs.
Medical Evidence
GP records or hospital letters if the disrepair has affected your health.
Council Reports
Environmental health inspection findings providing independent evidence.
Receipts & Invoices
Records of any expenses incurred as a result of the disrepair.
Tenancy Agreement
Sets out your landlord's obligations and helps establish responsibility.
Submit Your Details for Review
Once you've gathered your evidence, you can submit your details to have your situation assessed by a specialist. This typically involves providing information about the property and the issues, describing how the disrepair has affected you, and sharing any evidence you have.
You can submit your case for review through our online form. Your answers are saved as you go, and there is no obligation to proceed.
Professional Assessment
If the initial review suggests your case may have merit, the next step usually involves a more detailed assessment:
Property Inspection
An independent surveyor may visit your property to assess the extent of the disrepair.
Solicitor Review
Your case may be referred to a specialist solicitor who reviews all evidence and advises on outcomes.
Many solicitors operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, meaning you typically would not need to pay upfront legal fees.
Landlord Notification
Once a solicitor is involved, they will typically write to your landlord setting out the claim — detailing the disrepair, the impact on you, and what outcome is being sought. At this stage, many landlords choose to engage constructively.
Negotiation and Settlement
The majority of housing disrepair cases are resolved through negotiation rather than going to court. Your solicitor will negotiate on your behalf to reach a fair outcome, which may include:
A commitment from the landlord to carry out the necessary repairs
Financial compensation for the inconvenience and any losses suffered
Reimbursement of any costs you've incurred due to the disrepair
Court Proceedings (If Needed)
If your landlord does not respond or refuses to negotiate, court proceedings may be necessary. Courts can order landlords to carry out repairs, pay compensation, and cover legal costs. In serious cases, courts may also award additional damages.
What to Expect Throughout the Process
Simple cases may be resolved in two to four months. More complex cases can take six months or longer. Your solicitor should keep you informed at every stage.
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.
Ready to have your situation reviewed?
Submit your details and a specialist will assess whether your situation may qualify for a housing disrepair claim.
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Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
This article provides general information about housing issues in England and Wales and does not constitute legal advice. Legal services may be provided by independent solicitors where appropriate.