Landlords in Merseyside have been urged to act swiftly when a tenant approaches them with a repair that needs carrying out.
Michelle Stevenson, Partner and Head of Housing at law firm Kirwans, says too many landlords find themselves involved in expensive legal action which could easily be avoided.
Michelle will be speaking on the subject of housing disrepair at a seminar on Wednesday, September 15, to be held at the Martins Building in Liverpool.
The most common disrepair complaints by tenants include damp, defective windows, leaks, cracking walls and subsidence. In the worst cases, landlords can find themselves facing personal injury claims as a result of their properties being in a state of disrepair.
Michelle said: “Too many landlords find themselves involved in expensive legal action which could have been nipped in the bud at a much earlier stage. There is no question that the more proactive the landlord is in dealing with a disrepair matter, the better for all concerned.
“The alternative is rapidly escalating repair costs with additional damages payable to the tenant for every year that the disrepair remains unresolved. The landlord can also face a bill for substantial legal costs should they go to court and lose.
“We always advise our clients to act immediately to inspect the property when a tenant reports disrepair and ensure good communications at all times. If following an inspection a repair is necessary for which the landlord is responsible, we would urge landlords to carry out the work as quickly as possible, keeping the tenant fully updated as to works done and maintaining a complete set of documents.”
Michelle will also discuss the issue of personal injury claims in her talk on September 15.
She said: “Some of the most common claims concern asthma and other respiratory complaints exacerbated by damp in properties, while a smaller number of cases concern carbon monoxide poisoning which can in certain cases be deadly.
“Once again, the key is for the landlord to ensure the right procedures are in place so that gas and other safety checks are carried out on a regular basis.”
To book a place on the free seminar on Wednesday, September 15, starting at 4pm, please contact Alison Scragg at Kirwans on 0151 229 5600 or email ascragg@kirwanssolicitors.co.uk