How much compensation could I get for housing disrepair?

In short

There is no fixed amount. Compensation is mainly a share of the rent you paid while the home was in disrepair, often 25% to 50% for a serious, ongoing problem, plus the cost of ruined belongings and, where health was affected, a separate amount for that. The figure depends on how bad the disrepair is, how long it has gone on, whether anyone has been ill, and the value of any belongings ruined. This compensation is on top of the repairs themselves, which the landlord must still complete.

Key facts

• About 9% of homes in England, around 2.3 million, had a category 1 (most serious) hazard under the HHSRS in 2024 to 2025. In privately rented homes the figure was 10%. English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK
• The same survey found about 5% of homes in England, around 1.4 million, had a damp problem. It is most common in privately rented homes, at 10%. English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK

What the figure is made of

Disrepair compensation has three main parts.

The biggest is "general damages" for the loss of enjoyment of your home. This is usually worked out as a percentage of the rent you paid while the home was in disrepair. Courts in England and Wales often award 25% to 50% of rent for moderate damp. It can rise to 100% if a room could not be used.

The second is "special damages" for out-of-pocket costs: a ruined mattress, mouldy clothes, higher electricity bills from running a dehumidifier, or takeaways when the cooker was broken. Keep every receipt. See can I claim for damaged belongings.

The third is "personal injury" damages, if the disrepair caused or worsened a health condition. A child whose asthma flared from mould, or an adult treated for a chest infection, adds a separate amount set using the official Judicial College Guidelines. A doctor's letter is the key piece of evidence here.

What pushes the number up

Cases settle higher when there is a long paper trail. That means you reported the problem again and again, and the landlord did nothing. A bedroom unusable for over a year pushes it up. So do vulnerable people in the home (young children, older people, or anyone with a health condition), and clear medical evidence. Missing an Awaab's Law deadline is also now harder for a social landlord to defend, because the breach is a named statutory failure.

What keeps it down

A few things lower the figure: short tenancies, reporting the problem late, and disrepair the tenant caused (for example, blocking air vents). Settlements are also lower if the landlord acts fast once they get a formal Letter of Claim.

For a free estimate based on your own situation, call Support for Tenants on 0800 030 4669, or read what evidence do I need.

Sources

• Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions Claims, England (justice.gov.uk)
• Limitation Act 1980 (legislation.gov.uk)