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Posted on October 7, 2026 by SheldonDavidsonSolicitors
COMPENSATION WON
Ms. A lived alone in a ground-floor, one-bedroom housing association flat and had been at the property for approximately five years.
She had worked hard to make the flat feel like a comfortable home. However, problems with damp and mould had been present from around the time she moved in and became increasingly difficult to manage.
Despite reporting the condition of the property on several occasions, Ms. A felt that the underlying problems had never been properly addressed. Over time, the continuing disrepair, together with concerns about the electrical condition of the property, caused increasing frustration and significantly affected her enjoyment of her home.
The most serious problems were concentrated in the living room, where damp and black mould affected several walls.
Wallpaper had begun peeling away from the lower sections of the walls, revealing mould beneath. The affected areas also felt damp to the touch, and there was a persistent musty smell in the room.
The damp had caused damage to Ms. A's belongings, including her sofa and decorations. She was also concerned that moisture may have affected the flooring beneath the laminate.
There were additional concerns about the electrical safety of the property. An electrical socket situated close to one of the damp-affected walls had sparked when a plug was removed. Given the presence of moisture in the surrounding wall, this understandably caused Ms. A concern about whether the damp could be affecting the electrics.
Her concerns increased when an electrician later attended the property as part of an electrical safety inspection. During that visit, concerns were raised about the condition of the electrical installation, and further electrical work was identified as being required, including replacement of the fuse box.
This meant the problems within Ms. A's home were not limited to visible damp and mould. The apparent electrical defects added a further safety concern and reinforced the need for the overall condition of the property to be properly investigated rather than dealt with through temporary or cosmetic repairs.
There were also mould problems in the bathroom, including around the ceiling area. In the kitchen, Ms. A experienced recurring black mould around drainage and appliance areas.
Ms. A had taken reasonable steps to manage the situation herself, including ventilating the property, cleaning affected areas and using products intended to reduce moisture. These measures did not resolve the underlying problem.
The landlord had been notified repeatedly over several years. Surveyors and housing staff had attended the property, and photographs had been taken. On one occasion, remedial work was attempted, but this largely involved treating and painting over affected areas rather than addressing the source of the damp.
The mould subsequently returned.
The condition of the flat had a considerable impact on Ms. A.
She had invested time and limited resources into making the property a pleasant home, only to see furniture, wallpaper and decoration damaged by persistent damp and mould.
The living room became particularly difficult for her to use comfortably because of the smell and visible mould. Family members regularly helped her clean the affected areas, but the problem continued to return.
The concerns surrounding the property's electrics also affected Ms. A's sense of safety at home. Experiencing a sparking socket close to an area affected by damp, followed by an electrician identifying the need for further electrical works, gave her an additional reason to worry about the condition of the property.
The ongoing situation caused significant distress. Ms. A had repeatedly asked for assistance and felt increasingly frustrated that inspections and reports had not resulted in a lasting resolution.
For any tenant, living with persistent damp, mould and potential electrical defects can affect the ability to feel safe and comfortable at home. Where a tenant has additional vulnerabilities, ensuring that repairs and safety concerns are properly investigated can be especially important.
After discussing the history of the disrepair with Ms. A, SDS Solicitors took steps to build a clear picture of the condition of the property and the landlord's previous response.
The legal team gathered photographic evidence of the affected rooms and damaged belongings and reviewed the history of reports made to the landlord.
The electrical concerns were also treated as an important part of the overall disrepair. In particular, the sparking socket and the issues subsequently identified during an electrical inspection demonstrated why the condition of the property required proper investigation rather than isolated cosmetic repairs.
Given the length of time the damp and mould had been present, the focus was not simply on cleaning or repainting affected surfaces. SDS Solicitors sought evidence of the underlying causes and pressed for appropriate remedial works capable of providing a lasting solution, including attention to the electrical safety concerns identified at the property.
The firm contacted the landlord on Ms. A's behalf, setting out the history of the disrepair, the areas affected, the electrical concerns and the impact the conditions had had on her ability to enjoy her home.
Throughout the matter, SDS Solicitors ensured that communication was clear and accessible. Particular care was taken to support Ms. A through the claims process and to make obtaining and providing evidence as straightforward as possible.
The team continued to pursue the matter until appropriate action was agreed, while also seeking compensation for the period during which Ms. A had been required to live with the unresolved disrepair.
Following SDS Solicitors' intervention, the landlord agreed to take action to address the damp and mould, together with the wider repair and electrical safety concerns at the property. The necessary remedial works were progressed.
A fair settlement was also achieved for Ms. A in recognition of the inconvenience, loss of enjoyment and damage associated with the prolonged disrepair.
The outcome provided Ms. A with reassurance that her concerns had finally been taken seriously and that the condition of her home, including the issues affecting its electrical safety, would be properly addressed.
This case demonstrates why tenants should not feel they have to accept recurring damp and mould or potentially unsafe electrical conditions simply because previous inspections or temporary repairs have taken place.
Where a landlord has been notified of disrepair or safety concerns but fails to carry out effective repairs within a reasonable period, tenants may have legal options available to them.
SDS Solicitors supports tenants throughout the housing disrepair claims process, from gathering evidence and arranging appropriate inspections to dealing directly with landlords and pursuing repairs and compensation where appropriate.
"This matter involved long-standing damp and mould together with concerning electrical issues within the property. It was important that the client's concerns were considered as a whole rather than dealt with through temporary repairs. SDS Solicitors was pleased to support her in securing appropriate remedial action and a positive resolution to the claim.”
Tenants experiencing damp, mould, defective electrics, leaks or other serious housing defects do not have to deal with the problem alone.
SDS Solicitors provides experienced and compassionate support to tenants whose landlords have failed to deal with reported disrepair appropriately. Eligible housing disrepair claims may be handled on a No Win No Fee basis, subject to the terms of the agreement.
The housing disrepair team assists clients in Manchester and surrounding areas, including Ashton, Bury, Bolton, Radcliffe, Prestwich, Middleton, Failsworth, Rochdale, Oldham and Whitefield.
SDS Solicitors also represents tenants nationwide across England.
If disrepair has been reported but the problem has not been properly resolved, SDS Solicitors can help explain the available options and support tenants in taking the next steps.
