In recent months, there have been a rise in private companies contacting residents about housing disrepair claims. These firms - often operating through cold calls, texts, social media messages, or doorstep visits - claim they can secure quick compensation or deal with the landlord for you.
While the approach may sound helpful, these companies are not connected to us in any way and their involvement can leave residents facing unexpected costs, misleading advice and avoidable complications.
What is a disrepair claim?
A disrepair claim is a legal process where a resident takes action against their landlord for failing to complete repairs within a reasonable timeframe. If a claim is submitted through a claims company, they will pass your case to a solicitor who then acts between you and your landlord, usually at a cost to you, even if not stated upfront.
Why you should be cautious
While the initial sales pitch often sounds attractive, many residents find themselves facing issues such as:
Hidden costs
You may be asked to pay for:
- insurance policies to support your claim
- solicitor fees
- or legal costs if the claim is unsuccessful.
Even ‘no‑win‑no‑fee’ firms often take a significant portion of any compensation you receive.
Fees if you change your mind
Once you’ve signed up, withdrawing from the process can be expensive. You could be charged for:
- surveys carried out in your home
- legal work already completed
- fixed insurance premiums.
Some residents have been left with bills of hundreds and in some cases thousands of pounds.
Long, stressful legal processes
Disrepair claims can take months or even years to resolve. Some cases end up in court, where you may be required to appear and give evidence - an experience many find distressing.
Potential breach of your tenancy agreement
Many companies advise residents not to allow the landlord access for repairs while a claim is ongoing, which is in direct contravention with your lease.
This creates several issues:
- Your home may fall into further disrepair
- Safety risks may worsen
- And importantly, refusing reasonable access is a direct breach of your tenancy agreement.
Misleading or fraudulent contact
Some companies pose as legal firms or representatives of government bodies to gain your trust. In some cases, personal information collected by these firms has been used for fraudulent purposes or sold on without permission.
Talk to us first
If you have concerns about the condition of your home or repairs that haven’t been completed, please contact our Repairs team on 01442 292301 or maintenance.services@hightownha.org.uk. We want to resolve issues quickly and make sure your home is safe and well maintained.
If you're unhappy with the service you’ve received, you can use our formal complaints process and we will thoroughly investigate what went wrong. You can find our complaints process on our website Hightown Compliments, complaints and feedback - Hightown Housing Association.
You do not need a third‑party company to raise repair concerns, we are here to help.
