Poor housing conditions can have serious medical consequences. Damp and mould exposure has been linked to respiratory illness, allergies, skin conditions, and worsening asthma symptoms.
Establishing a Health-Based Claim
To succeed in a housing disrepair claim involving medical harm, it must be shown that:
- The landlord breached their repairing duty.
- The disrepair directly caused or contributed to the illness.
Independent medical evidence is often required to establish causation.
Types of Recoverable Damages
Tenants may claim:
- General damages for pain and suffering
- Special damages for medical costs
- Compensation for damaged belongings
- Loss of earnings
Where landlords fail to respond to repeated complaints, courts may take a serious view of the breach.
Housing disrepair claims serve not only to compensate victims but also to promote safer housing standards across the sector.