Latest News
From Legal HD
or call Legal HD on 0800 031 5709
Top 10 Tenant Mistakes In Housing Disrepair Claims And How To Avoid Them
Housing disrepair issues can be a traumatic experience for tenants, particularly those in low-income households or those unfamiliar with their rights as tenants. In such situations tenants can feel vulnerable and anxious and this can lead to making rushed decisions, or panicking in the face of thinking they might be evicted for reporting a repair issue. It is therefore essential that tenants understand their rights and that they take expert advice from professional housing disrepair claims solicitors. In the meantime, we have listed here the ten most commonly made mistakes when pursuing [...]
No Heating or Hot Water? When Housing Disrepair Becomes an Emergency
In a rental property, heating and hot water are considered to be essential services. They have a direct impact on whether a property is fit for habitation because they can affect the health and safety of a property and its tenants and can pose a serious risk if they are not operational. For this reason, landlords have to make the maintenance and provision of heating and hot water a high priority. In London, where data confirms the London boroughs provide [...]
How To Spot And Avoid Housing Disrepair Claim Scams
Legal claim scams are unfortunately very common, and particularly in the field of housing disrepair claims where fraudsters mislead vulnerable tenants with a promise of large compensation payouts on the back of ‘no win, no fee’ arrangements. The tactics deployed can be aggressive and deliberately confusing and can leave tenants with additional costs and potentially in breach of their tenancy agreement, at a time when they have genuine housing disrepair issues which need addressing and already feel anxious and uncomfortable. How do scammers mislead the public with housing disrepair claims? The most common methods used to scam innocent tenants [...]
At What Point Should You Speak to a Solicitor About Your Living Conditions?
Tenants in rental properties are often unaware of their rights in terms of the safe and comfortable condition of their home. As a result, it is common for tenants to live with disrepair issues and to feel vulnerable and anxious about reporting problems to their landlord, because they fear the repercussions and worry that they may be evicted for making a complaint. For this reason, it is important that tenants read and understand their tenancy agreement before they rent a property, but it is also important that they understand [...]
Black Mould Keeps Coming Back in My Flat – Why Cleaning It Isn’t Enough
Black mould is one of the most common disrepair issues in rental properties. It can cause considerable health issues as well as being unpleasant and uncomfortable to live with. Black mould can be treated with specialist care and attention but it is important that this is done correctly, because it will often return if not treated properly. And certainly, if you leave black mould and don’t report it to your landlord it can start to have considerable effects, on both your health and on the structural integrity of the property. What is black mould? Moisture can be generated in [...]
How Awaab’s Law Is Changing Social Housing Standards: Updated Guidance for Tenants
The first phase of Awaab’s Law came into effect on 27th October 2025 and provided the framework to formalise the process of reporting and dealing with housing disrepair issues. This is a very welcome development that seeks to protect social housing tenants faced with disrepair issues which can have significant impacts in terms of their standard of living and their health and wellbeing. The Background To Awaab’s Law A coroner concluded that two-year-old Awaab Ishak died from prolonged exposure to [...]
Supporting Our Community: Our Ongoing Commitment to Wood Street Mission
At Legal HD, giving back to our community has been part of our identity since the day our doors first opened in Manchester. From the very beginning, our team has proudly supported Wood Street Mission, a remarkable charity working to improve the lives of children and families living in poverty across Manchester and Salford. Every donation we have made over the years has come directly from our staff, reflecting the genuine care and compassion at the heart of our firm. [...]
Understanding Your Tenancy Agreement: What It Really Says About Repairs and Maintenance
For young people, moving into a first home can be very exciting and living independently for the first time can be a great adventure. But there is also a sense of responsibility that comes with that and there may also be a series of challenges you will face. Renting a property is a very common way for young people to secure affordable independence, but understanding a tenancy agreement is essential in making this a success and arming a young person with the tools to deal with issues such as repairs and [...]
Cold Homes and Rising Bills: What to Do if Disrepair Is Driving Up Your Energy Costs
For a tenant living in rented accommodation provided by a housing association, a local authority or through social housing, the cost of living crisis has hit hard. It can be challenging enough to afford the monthly rent, but the rise in energy costs has been particularly impactful as people face the daily dilemma over what to prioritise, health and comfort in your own home or one or more of the many other financial demands that you might face. Dealing with [...]
Communal Area Disrepair in Council and Housing Association Flats: What Tenants Can Do
The law is very clear regarding a landlord’s responsibilities to provide a safe and comfortable home for their tenants, but when it comes to communal areas of a council or housing association property, many people can become confused. However, in general, the law applies much the same. Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 a landlord will be breaching a contract if a rented property is not fit for human habitation due to a disrepair issue. And in [...]
