Why are there sites for both England and Scotland?

Your location: England / Scotland

Taking court action

This content applies to England only.

Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. This page applies to England only. Get advice relating to Scotland

If a landlord won't carry out repairs, it may be possible to take them to court. Court action can be complicated and sometimes slow, although it is possible to ask the court to order the work to be carried out promptly if it is urgent. It can also be expensive, unless you are entitled to legal aid.

You may be able to get a court order instructing the landlord to carry out repair work, and/or claim damages to compensate you for her/his failure to carry out repairs. However, court action should always be a last resort. You should only consider it if you can afford it and have tried other options. Before you start:

check who's responsible for doing the repairs
report the problem in writing and allow a reasonable time for the repairs to be done
think about the risk of being evicted
contact an adviser - use our directory to find one.

Compensation for disrepair

Is disrepair in your home making you ill, causing inconvenience and stress or damaging your belongings? If so, you may be able to claim compensation - even after you've left. Read more