A solicitors’ practice claims repairs initiated by landlords take an average of 41 days to be completed after a tenant complains - and it’s urging legal action by disgruntled renters.
Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors surveyed 2,000 UK adults who have rented a residential property in the last five years to find out if they had experienced any issues, what the most common housing disrepairs were, and the typical waiting time to get an issue fixed.
The firm also claims to have analysed the latest English Housing Survey and suggests nearly half a million residential tenants report damp each year, making it the most common issue. Over a third of those surveyed also claimed to have had some sort of damp issue within their rented property.
Heating or hot water issues and water leaks (28 and 27 per cent respectively) were other common disrepair problems reported in rented properties.
Farzana Chowdhury, a partner in the firm, says: “Our research reveals just how many people are living in properties that are not being properly maintained by their landlord.
“It’s worrying to see damp as the most common issue, as damp can cause health problems such as respiratory issues, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. It also has the potential to affect the immune system.
“It’s shocking that renters are waiting 41 days on average for their reported issue to be fixed. Often the problem could be tackled relatively cheaply and quickly too. It is inevitable that issues may occur but if the landlord deals with these in a timely manner then the tenant is often satisfied.
“Anyone who has experienced a disrepair issue that has not been rectified, within a reasonable timeframe, could bring a claim for an order for the repair works to be carried out and for compensation.”
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In response, a landlord slams Solicitors for being ponderous and self-serving…! In all honesty, over the past 20 years, I cannot recall a single occasion where legal ‘opinion’ from a solicitor has been timely.
Sounds more like social housing that private landlords to me.
Looking for more money to earn for themselves. Report commissioned during COVID where there were other important issues . With lockdown it is going to take some time and some interim solutions may have been provided. Most tenants and landlords can work with each other to resolve the issues. Only few cases which the tenant can report to councils. Do see any reason to employ solicitors . Solicitor creating misinformation for their own benefit
Solicitors add fuel to the fire to increase their earnings, much like garages finding faults with cars that aren't there to increase the bill, all very common these days.
Damp unless caused by a leak has always in my experience and I own lots of different types of properties is down to tenant misuse. A combination of lack of ventilation and heating or occasionally failure to wipe the mould away. I have had a single let house which every room had furry mould growing for which the tenant who dried her clothes in the house and rarely use the heating, blamed me.
Three doors away in the same type of house but used as an HMO where I pay for the heating and of course the windows are left open not a spot of mould! I wonder why ?
Luckily the tenant did not report me or take me to court she moved into a council house but I am sure no court and only a few environmental health officers would take myside. A reason with certain types of houses only to let to tenants who understand the nature of mould ( no idea how to determine this) or use as HMOs where the heating is included. I can only forsee with the hike in energy costs this becoming an increasing problem .
Jim Haliburton
The HMO Daddy
Have a look at their website.
Medical negligence, personal injury "falsely accused of crime".
Ambulance chasers.
Stink don't they.
its a vile hierarchical system--dont comply and you are out the door
Ambulance - chasing paracites
Cooking, Washing , showering just add this also, windows shut tight, cooker extractor off. Lid off pot, plenty of steam to meet a cold surface and condensate, perfect environment for mildew & mould.
One of my tenants reported a slight swelling of the wooden floorboards. First thing that came to mind was perhaps a leak from the bathroom, causing damp. No sign of damp on walls or floor, but couldn't think what else it could be. No large trees in the vacinity of my property.
Arranged for my plumber to go to the property; tenants wouldn't let him in - said it wasn't convenient (despite receiving 3 day's notice). So I told tenants that I would come and investigate (giving them 3 days notice again), but they refused me entry too!!
All this happened 2 month's ago. Thankfully the tenants have now moved out, and I immediately got the plumber to check.
Guess what.... there was a flipping leak!! A slow drip, drip.
Reading articles like this makes me feel livid and only serves to rub salt into my wounds. Urggghh!!
whats the difference between solicitors and lab rats--answer--there are some things lab rats will not do
shakespeare had it correct
@ Terry, I thought you were going to say that Lab-rats had 'some' morals ;-)
Excluding LL from the property was a big mistake by outsiders of course, we used to able to visit in reasonable day light hours and keep an eye on maintenance, you could see things starting to happen and deal with it, before Tenant tell you it will be major or prefer to tell Council instead of you.
The real reason for keep LL’s out is not to let him know what’s going on and all the extra people staying there.
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