Disrepair claims

What is disrepair

If we don’t meet our obligations to keep your home in repair – including completing repairs we’re responsible for in reasonable time, and keeping installations for sanitation, electricity, gas and water supplies in working order – your home could be said to be in disrepair.

What are Claims Management Companies?

They are companies that target tenants, particularly tenants of social housing landlords, with marketing tactics to encourage you to make a claim for disrepair. They then sell your claim to Solicitors who act as intermediaries between you and your landlord (in this case, us), and represent you and handle the claim on your behalf, for a cost.

What are the risks involved?

Hidden costs
These companies will usually tell you that they operate on a “no win, no fee” basis. But often customers can face thousands of pounds of debt as a result of signing up to their agreements.

They usually also charge a fixed lump sum up front to take out an insurance policy to cover the cost of your claim. This lump sum can be a significant amount. Any potential compensation you receive from a claim may reduce to cover solicitor fees or legal costs (ours and yours, if the claim is unsuccessful).

Fees if you change your mind
When you have put forward a claim and signed documentation from a solicitor, they usually will not allow you to stop the claim if you change your mind. If you want to stop the process, you may be liable for fees for any surveys of your home, or the fixed premium for any insurance policy you’re advised to take out.

These companies may not explain that if your case goes to court and is dismissed, you could be ordered to pay our legal costs, which could be thousands of pounds.

It takes a long time to resolve
Some claims can take years to resolve, and you may have to appear in court to give evidence as part of the process, which can be distressing.

You could be in breach of your tenancy agreement
During the process, most companies acting on your behalf will advise you not to allow access to us to visit your home to do any repairs. This will put you in breach of your tenancy agreement with us. As your landlord, it’s our responsibility to ensure your home is safe and kept in decent repair, so we’ll attempt to visit your home anyway, having given you notice of our visit. If there’s a health and safety risk, we may request a court injunction to gain urgent access to do the work.

Any agreement with these companies can put you at significant financial risk. 

Sometimes, they may even pose as surveyors and say they’re acting for Westfield Housing Association. All of our contractors carry identification badges, so make sure you ask to see their ID before letting them into your home.

If you’re unsure who someone is, do not let them into your home. If you feel unsafe, please call the police and let us know.
These companies may phone, text, message, or knock at your door urging you to make disrepair or damp and mould claims and often promise compensation that simply isn’t true.

Please be extremely cautious.

Many of these companies:

•    Give misleading information
•    Promise compensation that doesn’t exist
•    Pressure you into signing contracts with hidden fees
•    Take a cut of any pay-out
•    Can put you at serious financial risk if the claim fails

Got a problem with your home? Tell us, not them.

Report repairs, damp or mould concerns, safety issues or any disrepair directly to Westfield Housing.

We will:

• Inspect quickly
• Arrange repairs
• Support you with any health or vulnerability concerns and make sure your home is safe, at no cost to you.

If a claims company contacts you, you do not need to speak to them - If you’re unsure, call us for advice.

Always protect your personal details

Never share your:

• Tenancy documents
• National Insurance number
• Bank details
• Signatures
• Home entry/access details. Unless you are certain you know who you are dealing with.

We’re here to help.

Contact us: 01900 602906

or email: repairs@westfieldha.org.uk