Housing Disrepair Compensation
As a tenant in rented property, your landlord has an obligation to provide certain repairs to you. If your landlord is refusing to carry out his duty properly you may have to take them to court to press them to fulfil the repairs which are needed. Repairs which are considered obligatory are repairs to the outside of the property and the property's structure, repairs to the heating, basins, sinks, baths, toilets and hot water, and repair of any damage done whilst repairs are being attempted. There might be slightly different obligations per tenancy agreement but these are the fundamentals.
A landlord is not obligated to repair any item in the property that belongs to you, unless the damage has been caused by their failure to carry out adequate repairs, such a fix a leaking roof. If your property has been damaged by your landlord's failure to repair your property you can claim for these items under special damages should you decide to enter into a housing disrepair compensation claim.
What Do I Do?
Firstly, inform your landlord of the issue. Once you have formally informed them of your grievance they should inform you of when the repairs are going to occur. Your landlord is obliged to carry out the repairs with 21 days of a written request for repairs. If they do not carry out necessary repairs during this timescale you will be at liberty to take them to court to force the repairs.
If you are going to make a housing disrepair claim you must firstly send your landlord an Early Notification Letter which informs them of the repairs which are to be carried out - you need may wish to present this in a timetable format including the date which the landlord was first informed of the pending issue. If your landlord does not reply to this notification letter within 20 days you will send you landlord a letter of claim. Following these notifications your landlord should come and inspect the property within 20 days and provide you with information as to a date for when the repairs will be carried out. If your landlord does not do this you will be able to progress your claim with your solicitor. Your landlord will then be given a date to complete the repairs by by the courts. If they do not adhere to this date, you can further your claim for financial compensation for damages and repair costs.
About the Author
Wherever you are in Kent, these Orpington Solicitors can help you http://www.ducatlaw.com/contact-us-office-details/ Ducat Law specialise in property law in Kent. http://www.ducatlaw.com/
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