17 November 2023
As the temperatures have plummeted and Autumn has set in, homes are now at risk of developing or worsening damp and mould.
Mould and damp are caused by excess moisture. Moisture in buildings can be caused by leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors, or rain seeping in because of damage to the roof or around window frames. Mould gives off potentially harmful spores which can cause a variety of health issues.
The NHS reports that with the presence of damp and mould in your home you're more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system. Take the inquest results into the case of 2-year-old Awaab Ishak less than 12 months ago, who tragically died from a respiratory condition, caused by exposure to mould in his own home, despite the issue being repeatedly reported by his parents to Rochdale Borough Council.
Head of the Housing Disrepair team at True Solicitors LLP Hannah Keppie said “Since joining TRUE in 2022, I’m sad to say that we are seeing an increasing number of cases from tenants living in council homes and housing association homes deemed to be far below acceptable living conditions. Our clients are all to often ignored by their landlords with complaints of problems falling on deaf ears.”
Hannah and her team have worked tirelessly over the past 18 months to achieve compensation settlements and home fixes for clients, helping ensure families have remained in safe, secure and habitable environments. Hannah added “We established the housing disrepair team to act on behalf of these clients who have been failed by local authorities and housing associations.” Under The Homes (Fitness for Habitation) Act, your home must be “fit for human habitation”. Your home therefore must be free from damp and have adequate ventilation too.
True Solicitors LLP are one of few law firms specialising in social housing disrepair cases involving:
Offering free, no-obligation assessments and handling of claims on a No Win, No Fee basis, True Solicitors LLP have the expertise to recover maximum compensation in the shortest time.
Contact us on 0344 854 7000 to speak to one of our Housing Disrepair team.
