Housing Ombudsman vs a no win, no fee claim with Support for Tenants. Which gets repairs done faster, which pays more, and why most tenants are better off making a claim.
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Direct Answer
It depends on what you want. The Housing Ombudsman is free, but it can take many months, its awards are usually modest, and you do the work yourself. For serious disrepair, a no win, no fee claim with us is often the stronger route: it can recover more, push repairs through faster, and we do the work for you. The simplest way to decide what fits your situation is a free call on 0800 030 4669.
The three routes, side by side
| Housing Ombudsman | A solicitor yourself | A claim with us | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Often no win, no fee, but check the agreement; some charge by the hour | No win, no fee. A fee only comes from your compensation if you win, never from your pocket |
| Speed | Often 6 to 12 months | Court-based; landlords tend to settle once a claim lands | Court-based; landlords tend to settle once a claim lands |
| Compensation | Usually modest, often a few hundred pounds | Usually much larger than the Ombudsman | Usually much larger than the Ombudsman |
| Who does the work | You do all the paperwork and chasing | You find and vet the firm yourself; the solicitor then runs the case | We find and instruct a regulated panel solicitor and stay with you through it |
| Private landlord | Not covered | Covered | Covered |
| Best for | You only want the repair and can wait | You are happy to choose and manage your own solicitor | You want the larger claim route without finding a solicitor yourself |
The Housing Ombudsman: free, but it takes time and you do the work
The Ombudsman is completely free. It can suit you if you mainly want the repair done and you do not mind waiting. You have to finish your landlord's own complaints process first, then wait many months, and awards are usually modest. It covers social landlords, not private tenants.
Going to a solicitor yourself
You can also instruct a housing disrepair solicitor directly. It is the same legal route as a claim through us and is usually no win, no fee, so the compensation and the speed are similar. The difference is that you find, check, and deal with the firm yourself. If you would rather not do that, that is the part we handle.
A claim with us: faster, larger, we do the work
A no win, no fee claim costs you nothing upfront and nothing if you do not win. Because the law lets the court award money for the time your home was unfit, for ruined belongings, and for any effect on your health, payouts are usually much bigger. Landlords also tend to fix things faster once a formal claim arrives. And you are not the one chasing, we are.
What to do now
If you have already told your landlord about the problem in writing, the quickest way to find out what your case is worth is to talk to a real person.
Call us free on 0800 030 4669. We will tell you honestly whether your case is worth pursuing. No upfront cost, no pressure. Support for Tenants is a regulated company, not a law firm.
Sources
- Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (Housing Ombudsman) (legislation.gov.uk)
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 21 May 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.
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Still stuck?
Call us free or start a claim online. We'll tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.