Disrepair Support

Disrepair Support: tenant claims for housing disrepair in the UK

Disrepair Support is a claims management company (CMC) that helps UK tenants claim against their landlords for property maintenance issues. The company assesses the tenant's circumstances and, where appropriate, refers the case to solicitors on its panel to handle the legal process and seek the repairs and compensation to which the tenant may be entitled.

The service is presented as a route for tenants who have already reported the defects to their landlord without obtaining a solution. The company serves tenants in social housing, housing associations and private landlords.

Disrepair issues that can be claimed

The website's catalogue lists the following types of defects:

• Bathrooms and kitchens in poor condition
• Broken windows and unsafe doors
• Condensation and poor ventilation
• Damp and mould
• Defective electrical and safety installations
• Flooring and trip hazards
• No heating or broken boiler
• Insect or rodent infestations
• Personal injury
• Roof leaks and water ingress
• Structural cracks and subsidence

In addition, the claim form allows you to select from mould or damp, active leaks or flooding, defective boiler or heating, crumbling plaster, electrical faults, defective brickwork, broken roofing or gutters, drainage issues, faulty windows or doors, rat or insect infestation and other.

How the process works

The procedure described consists of four steps. First, the tenant submits their details and property information. Then, the team reviews the claim to assess eligibility and next steps. The company then connects the tenant with specialist solicitors who handle the case. If the claim succeeds, the tenant obtains the repair and compensation.

The initial form requests information about the type of landlord (council, housing association or private landlord), the disrepair issues, whether they have been previously reported to the landlord and the date of that report, as well as whether a claim has been made before with another solicitor.

No upfront cost model

The company states that its claims are handled entirely on a "no win, no fee" basis: the tenant pays nothing upfront and, if the claim is unsuccessful, assumes no cost. According to the website, the solicitors to whom the case is referred charge a percentage of the claim, so payment is only received when the claim is won. The company presents itself as a service with no financial risk for the tenant.

DIY claim versus a claims management company

The website compares both options. A DIY claim offers full control of the process and involves no fees for solicitors or claims management companies, but it can be slow and stressful, requires good knowledge of legal procedures and carries the risk of errors that delay or harm the case. Using a claims management company provides professional assistance throughout the process, access to solicitors with experience in tenant claims and frees the tenant from dealing directly with the landlord or their legal team; in return, solicitors charge a percentage of the claim if it succeeds and there is less control over the process.

Coverage and areas we service

The company states that it handles claims throughout the UK and lists the following areas we service: Manchester, Birmingham, Stockport, Congleton, Wolverhampton, Grimsby, Rochdale, Oldham, Bolton, Sunderland, Hull, Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield, Bradford, Doncaster and Burnley.

Frequently asked questions

The website clarifies that a housing disrepair claim is a legal process through which tenants can seek compensation and necessary repairs from their landlords when they fail to maintain the property in safe and habitable conditions. Tenants living in a property with issues unresolved by the landlord, such as damp, mould, faulty plumbing or broken heating systems, may be eligible to claim.

The amount of compensation varies depending on the severity and duration of the problem, and factors such as the impact on health, additional costs and inconvenience caused play a role. The company notes that straightforward cases are usually resolved within a few months, while more complex ones can take longer.