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 you should:
- 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.
