A tenant in a Greater Manchester ground-floor flat has had a leak from the flat above for months. The bathroom light fitting drips. A patch of ceiling has come down in the hallway. The landlord has sent contractors twice, each time "making safe" but never fixing the source.
The tenant gets in touch with Support for Tenants by phone. The triage call covers the basics: who the landlord is, how long the leak has lasted, what has been reported, and any health impact.
The team asks the tenant to send dated photos and a short video showing the active leak. This is something a solicitor will want before taking the case forward.
An independent inspection is arranged. The report finds disrepair under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985: the landlord has not kept the structure and water installations in repair.
The case is referred to a panel solicitor on a no-win-no-fee basis. The solicitor sends a Letter of Claim, the landlord prioritises a proper fix, and the claim progresses to settlement.