Why Winter Makes Housing Disrepair Worse
Why Winter Makes Housing Disrepair Worse
7 April 2026

Long-Term Leak Resolved with Compensation and Repairs

9 April 2026

Housing disrepair claim – tenant dealing with persistent leak and damage to ceilings, walls, and the kitchen, bathroom, and hallway

For years, a tenant living in a first-floor flat struggled with a persistent leak that appeared whenever it rained. Despite repeatedly reporting the issue and accommodating numerous visits, the underlying problem was never resolved. Water repeatedly entered through the ceilings and walls, damaging the kitchen, bathroom and hallway.

By the time our housing disrepair solicitors were instructed, the property showed extensive deterioration, including cracked plaster, damp staining, mould growth and rotting fixtures.

Within a short time of taking the case on, we secured a full pre-action settlement: all repairs to be completed and £7,708.02 compensation paid, plus legal costs.

Years of Dealing with a Persistent Leak, Mould and Damage to Walls and Ceilings – With No Resolution in Sight

The leak had first been reported several years earlier. Temporary repair attempts had been made, including erecting scaffolding, but the water continued to enter the property during periods of rainfall. Each incident added to the internal damage.

The home presented with several areas of damage, including:

  • Cracked and water-stained ceilings
  • Plasterwork damage
  • Mould to bathroom walls
  • Staining in the hallway
  • Deteriorating kitchen worktop caused by repeated water penetration
  • Leaks from ageing taps added further inconvenience

How We Helped

Once instructed, we arranged a specialist survey. Moisture readings across affected rooms confirmed significant, long-running dampness. The surveyor also identified additional hazards, including defective entrance door security and risks linked to damp and mould.

Most importantly, the expert evidence confirmed that the landlord had not fulfilled its legal repairing obligations. A detailed schedule of works was prepared, outlining exactly what the landlord needed to do to put the property right.

For related information, please read these guides:

The Outcome: Achieving a Fast Settlement

Armed with clear evidence and a full timeline of the tenant’s reporting history, we pushed for a swift and fair resolution. We presented an assessment of the tenant’s losses based on the length of time they had lived with the problem and the impact it had on everyday life.

The landlord accepted our proposals in full. They agreed to complete all repairs within a reasonable timeframe and to pay £7,708.02 in compensation, together with legal costs.

Why Clients Trust MJV Solicitors

We take a no-nonsense approach. We cut through delays, gather the right evidence quickly and drive cases to settlement without unnecessary complication. Our clients value the fact that we stay focused on results: getting repairs completed, securing compensation and moving cases forward with determination and clarity.

We do not overpromise. We deliver.

Need Help with Housing Disrepair?

If you are living with damp, mould, leaks or any form of disrepair and your landlord is not taking action, we can help you in the same straightforward, effective way

Get in Touch Now for a Free Case Assessment 

  • Call us on 01253 858231 
  • Visit our website for more information about how to start your claim for Housing Disrepair 

Read about some of our other successful disrepair claims, and how we helped:

Family Wins £10,500 Compensation After Years of Damp, Mould and Failed Repairs

Damp, Mould and Draughty Windows in Maidstone Flat: Tenant Wins £2,250 in Compensation

Leaseholder Wins £16,800 Compensation Over Damp, Leaks, and Failed Repairs

Leaks, Damp and Mould in Council Flat: How We Helped a Croydon Tenant Claim Over £14,000

Leaks Caused Significant Damage for Wandsworth Leaseholder – Our Team Helped the Tenant Claim Over £14,000.

Conveyancing price guide

Introductory paragraph explaining price transparency and why the costs are displayed below.

Our Service

We will (depending on whether we are acting for the buyer or seller):

  1. Comply fully with the Law Society’s Protocol for Conveyancing transactions;
  2. Prepare or consider all initial documents including the contract, property information form, fixtures and fittings forms, legal title and any other such documents required by the individual circumstances of the transactions;
  3. Prepare or consider enquiries and prepare or consider the responses;
  4. Consider the search reports on a purchase;
  5. Prepare a report on purchase properties;
  6. Assist with the execution of the contract and transfer as well as any other documents that are required;
  7. Exchange and complete the transaction;
  8. Comply with all post completion requirements;
  9. Submit a Stamp Duty Land Tax return upon completion.

Purchasing

How much will it cost?

If you are purchasing a freehold property, our fees on a purchase are:

Purchase price

Our fee

VAT

Total

£0-£100,000

£600

£120

£720

£100,001 - £150,000

£650

£130

£780

£150,001 - £200,000

£700

£140

£840

£200,001 - £250,000

£750

£150

£900

£250,001 - £300,000

£800

£160

£960

£300,001 - £400,000

£850

£170

£1020

£400,001 - £500,000

£900

£180

£1080

£500,001 - £750,000

£1000

£200

£1200

Each transaction will also incur the additional charges set out below:

Additional charge and explanation

Our fee

VAT

Total

Bank transfer fee

£30.00

£6.00

£36.00

Independent ID verification (per person)

£5.00

£1.00

£6.00

Depending on the specific nature of your purchase, we may also charge you the following:

Charge

Our fee

VAT

Total

Purchase of a leasehold house

£100.00

£20.00

£120.00

Purchase of any other leasehold property

£150.00

£30.00

£180.00

Purchase of a shared ownership property

£250.00

£50.00

£300.00

Gifted deposit

£50.00

£10.00

£60.00

New build property

£250.00

£50.00

£300.00

The above costs are for our fees only and all are subject to the disbursements on your matter.

Disbursements on a purchase

Please note that, subject to the relevant rules in operation at the time of your purchase and the value and nature of your purchase (i.e. whether you are a first time buyer or if you are purchasing a buy to let property), you may be required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax on your purchase. This is not classified as a disbursement and we will advise you on your tax liability, if any, upon receipt of your instructions or specific enquiry.

Please note that our search and service providers often increase charges at little notice and so the disbursements quoted below are subject to change. We update this website as soon as possible following any such change.

Typically, the following searches are required for a purchase (all charges are inclusive of any VAT or insurance premium tax):

Local Authority’s current search fee (if Blackpool, Wyre or Fylde)

£122.70 inc VAT

Drainage and Water search fee

£79.50 inc VAT

Environmental search

£71.40 inc VAT

Land Registry priority title search

£3.00 no VAT

Bankruptcy search - £2 per seller named on the Register of Title

£2.00 no VAT

Land charges search - £2 per seller named on the Register of Title

£2.00 no VAT

It may transpire through the course of your purchase that further searches are required, but this is not typically so and most of our purchase matters complete having undertaken only the searches listed above.

You will have to pay a fee to register your property.

Purchase price

Land Registry registration fee (no VAT)

£0 - £80,000

£20.00 no VAT

£80,001 - £100,000

£40.00 no VAT

£100,001 - £200,000

£100.00 no VAT

£200,001 - £500,000

£150.00 no VAT

£500,001 - £1,000,000

£295.00 no VAT

£1,000,000 and above

£500.00 no VAT

Selling

How much will it cost? – Sale

If you are purchasing a freehold property, our fees on a purchase are:

Purchase price

Our fee

VAT

Total

£0-£100,000

£600.00

£120.00

£720.00

£100,001 - £150,000

£650.00

£130.00

£780.00

£150,001 - £200,000

£700.00

£140.00

£840.00

£200,001 - £250,000

£750.00

£150.00

£900.00

£250,001 - £300,000

£800.00

£160.00

£960.00

£300,001 - £400,000

£850.00

£170.00

£1020.00

£400,001 - £500,000

£900.00

£180.00

£1080.00

£500,001 - £750,000

£1000.00

£200.00

£1200.00

Over £750,000

To be negotiated

To be applied

To be agreed

Each transaction will also incur the additional charges set out below:

Additional charge and explanation

Our fee

VAT

Total

Bank transfer fee

£30.00

£6.00

£36.00

Independent ID verification (per person)

£5.75

£1.15

£6.90

We are currently on the panels of Lloyds Banking Group (Halifax, Birmingham Midshires and Lloyds) and Barclays. If you are purchasing a property with any of these lenders, we would be delighted to assist you, but cannot act where the mortgage is provided by any other lender.

Depending on the specific nature of your purchase, we may also charge you the following:

Charge

Our fee

VAT

Total

Sale of a leasehold house

£100.00

£20.00

£120.00

Sale of any other leasehold property

£150.00

£30.00

£180.00

Sale of a shared ownership property

£250.00

£50.00

£300.00

The above costs are for our fees only and all are subject to the disbursements on your matter.

Re-mortgages

We charge £500 plus VAT for acting on a re-mortgage.

Our disbursements are limited to the Land Registry searches of £3 per document (there is no VAT on Land Registry charges) and typically the total cost of these is between £6-£15 depending on how many documents are registered and whether the property being re-mortgaged is freehold or leasehold. Most lenders normally permit the purchase of no search insurance rather than undertaking new searches and this costs, inclusive of insurance premium tax.

Call us today: 01253 858 231