When ‘no-win, no-fee’ is too good to be true

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These adverts are appearing on social media, on the radio, and in some cases, companies have even contacted residents directly. (You can click here to read about scams we’re aware of.)

What is a housing disrepair claim?

A housing disrepair claim is a legal action taken by a resident against their landlord (council, housing association, or private) when they feel their landlord has failed to carry out necessary repairs within a reasonable time after being notified.

These claims usually involve issues that affect a resident’s health, safety, or quality of life.

Many housing disrepair solicitors operate under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), meaning:

  • If the claim is successful, the solicitor takes a percentage (often 25-30% of the compensation).
  • If it fails, in theory, the resident pays nothing.

However, risks exist:

  • Some agreements include hidden charges (survey fees, admin costs).
  • If the court finds the claim unfounded or poorly handled, the resident may be ordered to pay the landlord’s legal costs.

Housing disrepair claim

Recently, a former resident brought a no-win, no-fee housing disrepair claim against us. They claimed we had not carried out the repairs needed at their home.

We were able to show detailed records of the work completed, along with evidence that we had acted reasonably and within the expected timescales. Because of this, we were seen to have acted reasonably throughout the repair process and had no claim to answer.

Although the individual was no longer living in one of our homes at the time of the hearing, the court ordered them to pay our legal costs which totalled £3,000, which they are required to pay within eight weeks.

It’s important to let us know straight away if there’s an issue with your home. We want to work with you to complete repairs quickly and to a high standard.

You always have the right to make a complaint if you feel that you have been failed by a service area. You can also escalate this to the Housing Ombudsman, who will investigate your case completely free.

If you want additional advice, you can contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

The post When ‘no-win, no-fee’ is too good to be true appeared first on Havebury Housing.