Latest News
From Legal HD
or call Legal HD on 0161 974 7350
What These Recent Court Cases Could Mean For You
A common argument we hear from tenants subjected to housing disrepair is that a claim is not worth pursuing, because too much time has elapsed since they first reported an issue. But three recent county court cases have brought into focus an important change in legislation which can help with retrospective claims. A ruling on 20th March 2020 meant that tenants could claim retrospectively for housing disrepair, according to the Homes (Fitness for Human habitation) Act 2018. This means that [...]
Types Of Damp And How To Identify Them
Damp is a very common problem in any property, including rented properties, and it is an issue that requires dealing with straight away before it becomes a much bigger problem. Unfortunately, signs of damp are never a good thing and they point to a wider issue that requires investigation. That problem may not be a huge challenge and in some cases is easily rectified, but the important factor is that you investigate the issue immediately, and if in a rented [...]
5 Causes Of External Damage And How They Can Impact Your Home’s Security And Comfort
Our home is our kingdom and it is where we feel most safe, secure and comfortable, and that applies to both inside and outside the home. While curb appeal has a major impact on a property’s value, if you are renting the property you want the exterior of your home to be well looked after for various other reasons: Safety and security – Excessive external damage or deterioration can start to affect how safe and secure your home is. Energy [...]
Together Housing Residents Evicted Due To Structural Works
Tenants having to live with known housing disrepair issues and uncomfortable living conditions may have a housing disrepair claim and not even be aware of this fact, as highlighted by the recent Together Housing news articles in the press last month (June 2024). A landlord is responsible for providing safe and operational housing from the beginning of a rental tenancy and throughout the tenancy period. However, Together Housing has told its 130 tenants at St James Court and Albion Court [...]
The Damaging Effect Of Faulty Heating In Rented Accommodation
Tenants with underlying health problems can be severely affected by uncomfortable living conditions, and this has been highlighted by recent reports of a woman’s health suffering after two days of having no heating and hot water, in January. A landlord is responsible for providing safe and operational gas, electric and plumbing supplies at the beginning of a rental tenancy and throughout the tenancy period. Boilers come under this category and have a significant effect on the safety and comfort of [...]
The Mental Health Impact Of Housing Disrepair
Our home is defined as a place of comfort and safety. It is where we can retreat to at all times and know we will be welcomed by loved ones and home comforts. For many people, home is the last bastion of refuge in a life that involves complex needs and a myriad of issues, and hence, if home doesn’t offer safety and comfort in these circumstances, it can lead to a devastating downward spiral of mental health issues. Any [...]
A Landlord’s Repair Responsibilities External To The Home
It is generally understood what a landlord’s repair responsibilities are inside the home, and therefore what a tenant can claim for and what is actually their own responsibility. However, with regards to the outside of a rented property, this is something of a grey area. In terms of legal responsibilities, Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 states only that the landlord needs “to keep in repair the structure and exterior of the dwelling-house (including drains, gutters and [...]
Legal HD Supports Local Community & Charities in Manchester
Over the past 12 months we have been active in our local Manchester community and supported charitable initiatives including The Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness and the Wood Street Mission Christmas Appeal. In this blog, we highlight some of our charitable work and recent sponsorships. The Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness On November 15th 2023, three of the Housing Disrepair Team represented Legal HD in the 24 hour run Against Homelessness. It is a mass participation group relay [...]
Why Housing Disrepairs Need To Be Taken More Seriously
A combination of rent increases and disrepair issues has led to many people in the rental sector living in intolerable conditions. And given that the UK rental sector is more than twice the size it was 20 years ago, this points towards a major problem for the UK Government. Earlier this year, housing secretary Michael Gove introduced new legislation which he claimed would help “…tenants to feel empowered to stand up to bad landlords and report issues”, but a recent [...]
What Are Your Landlord’s Repair And Maintenance Responsibilities In Social Housing?
Repair and maintenance issues in social housing accommodation can be difficult to address because there are grey areas involved in terms of who is responsible. Unfortunately, where disrepair issues have been reported in social housing, it is quite common for incidents to result in disputes, or at least a landlord attempting to get away without paying for it or confronting their responsibilities. This article aims to give clear and concise information on what a social housing landlord is responsible for, [...]
