Support for Tenants

Illustrative case stories

Illustrative pattern, not real clients

The stories below are illustrative composites, drawn from patterns across many cases. They are not single real clients and the names, places and details do not refer to any one person. They sit alongside our real published statutory rulings, which name specific landlords and the compensation a regulator ordered them to pay.

11 short example stories to show how the journey often unfolds, from a first phone call to a free inspection to a no-win-no-fee solicitor.

Council tenant, damp and mould

A council tenant living with damp and mould while caring for a child with asthma

Illustrative pattern: a council tenant living with persistent damp and mould in a flat, with a child who has asthma. Not a real client.

Housing association, leak

A housing-association tenant with a leak from the flat above that has lasted months

Illustrative pattern: a housing-association tenant with a recurring leak from the flat above, water-damaged ceiling and bathroom. Not a real client.

Social prescriber referral

A social prescriber refers a patient with a young child in a cold home

Illustrative pattern: a social prescriber refers a patient living in a council property with no heating in winter and a child with respiratory issues. Not a real client.

Out-of-scope, signposted

A community connector forwards a case that is really about rehousing

Illustrative pattern: a community connector refers a family whose main problem is rehousing, not disrepair. Not a real client. Honestly signposted.

Leaseholder, water ingress

A leaseholder with water coming in through the communal areas of their block

Illustrative pattern: a leaseholder reports recurring water ingress from communal parts of the block; the managing agent has been slow to act. Not a real client.

Private tenant, damp and structural

A private tenant whose landlord ignored six months of repair reports

Illustrative pattern: a private tenant in a rented flat with a persistent damp and structural problem, landlord ignored all written reports. Not a real client.

Elderly tenant, heating failure

An elderly tenant without heating for two winters, referred by a social prescriber

Illustrative pattern: an elderly tenant with no working heating for two consecutive winters, referred by a social prescriber. Not a real client.

ESOL tenant, damp and mould

A Somali-speaking tenant referred by a housing charity worker

Illustrative pattern: a Somali-speaking council tenant with damp and mould, referred by a housing charity. Communication barrier delayed reporting. Not a real client.

Leaseholder, communal roof

A leaseholder whose freeholder refused to repair the communal roof

Illustrative pattern: a leaseholder in a converted flat whose freeholder ignored a leaking roof affecting multiple properties. Not a real client.

Private tenant, pest infestation

A private tenant with a rat infestation uses two legal routes at once

Illustrative pattern: a private tenant with a rat infestation whose landlord kept delaying pest control. Shows how Section 82 EPA and a civil claim can run together. Not a real client.

Council tenant, structural failure

A family rehoused after a prohibition order is served on their flat

Illustrative pattern: a family where a prohibition order was served following a ceiling collapse. Covers rehousing rights and the disrepair claim. Not a real client.

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