Starting a Housing Conditions Claim is easy and NO WIN NO FEE which means you only pay for our help when we win!

How It Works

Housing Conditions Claims do not need to be complex. We follow a four stage process. We handle all the paperwork and deal with your landlord for you.

  • Online Assessment

    Take the free online Housing Disrepar Quiz to discover whether you have a claim, the level of disrepair and your potential for compensation

  • Free Initial Consultation

    We will contact you to discuss your disrepair further and if you have a genuine claim against your landlord, we will begin dealing with them on your behalf.

  • Expert Home Survey

    We only work with the best housing conditions experts. We will send someone to your home to survey your property and all the damage and disrepair and prepare a report on your behalf. Again, there is no cost involved to you.

  • Repairs & Compensation

    We arrange for your landlord to carry out all repairs to a high standard and ensure that you receive any compensation due to you.

Housing Disrepair Quiz

Why Choose Sparrowhawk?

  • A no win no fee agreement protects you from unexpected legal bills. We take a success fee on winning your case which pays for the work we do for you. This will never be more than 33% so you know exactly where you stand.

  • Our entire team works remotely. This means we have lower overheads than other firms and can therefore offer low or 0% success fees.

  • Unlike other firms who buy in volume claims and treat their clients like a number. We only take on work that we can manage effectively and work closely with our client to get them the best possible outcome.

  • Unlike other firms, we have an agreement with our experts that they will reinspect your property after the repairs are complete where necessary to ensure that your landlord has done all the repairs to the agreed standard.

What Can You Claim For?

Your landlord has a legal responsibility to make sure that the property is properly maintained and in repair when you become a tenant and to keep the property in repair and safe throughout your tenancy. Below are just a few examples of what your landlord is responsible for.

  • Damp and Mould

    Damp and mould can be hazardous to health and requires urgent repair

  • Damaged Windows

    Broken panes, steamed up glass, broken, stiff or faulty handles and draughts

  • Faulty or Broken Fans

    Noisy, broken or inefficient mechanical extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms

  • Faulty Electrics

    Electrical faults including damage to sockets, light fittings or leaks around electrics

  • Dangerous stairways

    Uneven treads, loose or missing handrails

  • Heating

    Broken, inefficient boilers, radiators and other heating systems require urgent repair

  • Paving

    Broken or uneven paving and paths

  • Gutters

    Blocked, leaking or broken gutters, drainpipes and other rainwater goods

  • Drains

    Blocked, overflowing or broken drainage systems

  • Brickwork

    Damaged, broken or missing brickwork and/or pointing

  • Flooring

    Fitted flooring that is cracked, loose or missing.

  • Plaster

    Cracked, damaged, flaking or missing plasterwork

  • Decor

    Damage to decorations caused by damp, mould or leaks

  • Tiles

    Cracked, damaged or missing tiling in the bathroom or kitchen

  • Boilers

    Inefficient, faulty, broken or losing pressure

  • Leaks

    Damage caused by leaks from roof, flat above or through walls.

  • Light Fittings

    Damaged, faulty or missing light fittings

  • Bathroom

    Damaged toilets, baths, sinks, taps, leaks etc.

  • Kitchen Units

    Damaged, broken, unsanitary kitchen units

Online Assessment

Housing Conditions Claims

Housing Conditions Claims are made by tenants against landlords due to poor living conditions.

These claims can include mould, pests, leaks and other health and safety issues.

As a Tenant you have the right to live in a safe and healthy environment.

Landlords have a legal obligation to maintain their properties in a habitable condition.

If you have told your landlord about any problems and they fail to repair you can file a claim to seek compensation for damages, force them to do the repairs, and recover other related expenses.

To file a claim you must provide evidence of the poor living conditions, such as photographs, inspection reports, or medical records.

You must also provide documentation of any notice or attempts to notify the landlord of the issues.

Your Questions Answered

  • All of our housing disrepair claims are offered on a NO WIN NO FEE basis. This means that whether your claim is successful or not, it will not cost you a penny. We take a maximum 33% success fee on winning your case which is paid from the compensation we achieve for you.

  • Although our registered office is in London we do not have a physical office and can cover the whole of the UK. The expert surveyors we use will inspect your property regardless of where it is.

  • Depending on the extent of the repairs required to your property, you may be temporarily relocated. Your landlord will cover the cost of this.

  • The short answer here is no. Although it may seem unfair, it is vital that you continue to pay your rent in the usual way. Any non-payment or refusal to pay is a breach of your tenancy agreement and your landlord would have grounds to evict you or to bring a claim against you for rent arrears.

  • No two claims are the same and the length of the process is often determined by your landlord’s response. We find that on average, the majority of our cases settle within 3-10 months after our team gets involved. However, if your case does proceed to Court, then the timescales will be longer and could be up to 18 months. We will advise you every step of the way and keep you informed of timescales and any next steps throughout your claim. Beware of companies that promise shorter timescales.

  • Your landlord has no legal grounds to evict you if you decide to make a claim for disrepair. If a landlord tries to evict you because you have asked for repairs or complained about the disrepair in your home, this is known as a retaliatory eviction. This can be used as a defence against the eviction and the Courts take a dim view of landlords that behave in this way.

  • If you have suffered from any physical or mental injury as a result of the disrepair in your home, we are able to take on such matters given our wealth of experience in dealing with personal injury claims.

  • Yes, we do. We work with industry experts to ensure that any reports prepared on your property are to a high standard and meets the criteria needed for expert reporting.

  • We will always strive to achieve the best level of compensation for you. This can include damages for your personal items that have been damaged due to the disrepair and any out-of-pocket expenses you have suffered as a result. The amount of compensation you are entitled to will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. The value of compensation is calculated using a variety of criteria, including;

    • How much your rent is

    • The nature of the damage/disrepair

    • The severity of the damage/disrepair

    • The length of time it has been in disrepair

    • When notice of the disrepair was given to the landlord

    • The issues it has caused you and your family. If your property is completely inhabitable (for example you have no kitchen, heating system or washing facilities) you may be compensated for the entire cost of your rent whilst the problem has persisted.

    In most cases you can anticipate receiving between 25% and 50% of your monthly rent in compensation. In addition, we will seek to claim additional compensation for “special damages” which is for any specific items of loss. This can include items, furniture, decorations and possessions which have been damaged due to the disrepair.

  • In order to make a successful claim, you will need to provide us with some evidence, which can include;

    • A copy of your tenancy agreement

    • Copies of any correspondence between you and your landlord (letters, emails, texts etc)

    • Photos of the disrepair and damaged property

    • Receipts for any property you have had to replace as a result of the disrepair

    • Any medical evidence obtained regarding your health issues