A housing disrepair claim is a claim by a tenant or leaseholder against a landlord who was told about damp, mould, leaks, broken heating, faulty electrics, pests or structural problems and failed to repair them in a reasonable time; it can secure the repairs and compensation for the effect on your health and belongings, and National Accident Support Line offers a free assessment, a free professional inspection and evidence report where appropriate, liaison with the landlord to get the work done, and referral to SRA-regulated solicitors where legal action is needed, at no cost to the resident.

Living with damp and mould is not an inconvenience; it is a health problem, and for children and older people a serious one. Landlords, including councils and housing associations, have a legal duty to keep a home in repair and free of hazards. Most do. When one doesn't, after you've reported it and waited, there is a route to getting it fixed and to being compensated for what you've lived with.

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What counts as housing disrepair

The landlord's repairing duty under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 covers the structure and exterior of the home, the installations for water, gas, electricity, heating and sanitation, and, since the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, the requirement that the home is fit to live in. Damp and mould, leaks and water ingress, broken or inadequate heating and hot water, faulty electrics, pest infestations, rotten windows and doors, unsafe floors and stairs, and structural cracks all fall within it. Decorative wear and damage the tenant caused do not.

What you have to show

Three things. That the problem is one the landlord is responsible for. That you reported it, by phone, email, letter, an online form or in person, and when. And that the landlord failed to fix it within a reasonable time of being told. That middle point is why a record of every report matters more than anything else: a dated email or a screenshot of an online repair request is the evidence the claim stands on.

Problem	Landlord responsible?
No heating or hot water	Yes
Leaks and water ingress	Yes
Damp and mould	Yes, where caused by the building or its systems
Faulty or dangerous electrics	Yes
Pest infestation	Yes, where caused by the building's condition
Broken windows, doors, locks	Yes
Structural cracks, roof, external walls	Yes
Decoration and tenant-caused damage	No, not a repair claim

Awaab's Law: the deadlines social landlords now have to meet

Since 27 October 2025, councils and housing associations in England have had fixed legal deadlines for damp, mould and emergency hazards, under what is known as Awaab's Law. The clock starts when the landlord becomes aware of the problem, which is another reason to report in writing.

What the landlord must do	Deadline
Investigate and make safe an emergency hazard, such as a major leak or dangerous electrics	Within 24 hours
Investigate a significant damp or mould hazard	Within 10 working days
Give you a written summary of what they found	Within 3 working days of the investigation
Carry out the work to make the home safe	Within 5 working days of the investigation
Provide somewhere else to stay if the home can't be made safe in time	At the landlord's expense

Awaab's Law applies to social housing in England. It does not yet cover private landlords or social tenants in Wales, and later phases will add more types of hazard. A missed deadline is strong evidence in a disrepair claim, and private tenants are still protected by the general repairing duty above.

How a housing disrepair claim works with National Accident Support Line

We start with a free assessment: what the problem is, when you reported it, what the landlord has done since. Where it helps, we arrange a free professional inspection of the home and an evidence report, which documents the disrepair properly rather than relying on phone photos. We then liaise with the landlord or housing provider to get the repairs done. For council and housing association tenants, the landlord's own complaints process and then the Housing Ombudsman are part of that route.

Where the landlord still does not act and legal action is needed, we refer the claim to an SRA-regulated solicitor who specialises in housing disrepair and usually runs it on a no win no fee basis. One thing to know: unlike most injury claims, a disrepair claim that fails can leave the tenant facing the landlord's legal costs, which is why solicitors arrange insurance against that risk. The solicitor explains the funding and the cover before anything is signed. There is no cost to you for using our service. NASL is an FCA-regulated claims management company covering England and Wales, not a law firm.

We'll call you back within 2 minutes with a straight answer on where you stand.

The situations tenants describe to us

"I've reported the mould five times and they send someone to paint over it"

Painting over mould is not a repair; it treats the symptom. The claim turns on the cause, usually a leak, a cold bridge or inadequate ventilation, and on the fact that five reports went in. Keep every one.

"My child's asthma has got worse since the damp started"

The effect on health is part of the claim and is evidenced by GP records. Tell the GP about the damp when you attend, so it is written down.

"I'm scared they'll evict me if I complain"

A landlord cannot lawfully evict you for reporting disrepair or making a claim, and private tenants have legal protection against retaliatory eviction after a repair complaint. The claim is a right, not a breach of your tenancy.

"The council says claims companies just take a cut"

Some do, and the warnings councils publish are aimed at firms that cold-call, sign people up without a proper claim, or even tell tenants not to let the landlord in. Our process is free to you, starts with an assessment to see whether a claim exists, and refers you to a regulated solicitor only where it does. Reporting the problem to your landlord first is always the right first step, and you should always let them in to do the repairs. A claim never means refusing access, and any company that tells you otherwise is one to avoid.

What to do now

Report the problem to your landlord in writing if you haven't, keep the copy, and let them in when they come to inspect or repair. Photograph the damp, the mould, the leak, with dates. Keep a diary of when it was reported and what happened. Keep receipts for anything damaged or any extra heating costs. See a GP about any health effects and tell them about the home. Then get in touch for the free assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim against my landlord for disrepair?

Yes, if you reported a repair the landlord is responsible for and they failed to fix it in a reasonable time. Council, housing association, leasehold and private tenancies are all covered.

Does it cost me anything?

No. The assessment and inspection are free. Where a solicitor is needed, the claim usually runs on no win no fee, and the solicitor explains the funding, including insurance against the landlord's costs, before anything is signed.

What can I claim for?

The repairs being done, and compensation for the effect on your health, your belongings and your use of the home while it was in disrepair.

Do I have to report it to the landlord first?

Yes. The claim depends on the landlord having been told and having failed to act. Report it in writing and keep the copy.

Can my landlord evict me for claiming?

A landlord cannot lawfully evict you for reporting disrepair or making a claim, and private tenants have legal protection against eviction in retaliation for a repair complaint. Making a claim is not a breach of your tenancy.

How long do I have?

Six years for a disrepair claim, or three years where there is a personal injury element such as illness caused by damp. The time runs from when the landlord should have carried out the work.

Can I make a disrepair claim against my council?

Yes. Council and housing association tenants can claim in the same way as private tenants, and since October 2025 social landlords in England also have to meet the Awaab's Law deadlines for damp, mould and emergency hazards.

How long does a disrepair claim take?

Usually several months. Before any court claim there is a set pre-action process that gives the landlord time to respond and agree the works, and many claims settle at that stage with the repairs done and compensation agreed.

Can I claim if I'm behind on my rent?

Yes, but arrears can be offset against any compensation, and you should keep paying your rent while the claim runs.

Where do you cover?

England and Wales.

We'll call you back within 2 minutes with a straight answer on where you stand.

National Accident Support Line Ltd is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of regulated claims management activities, registration number 829991.