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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In short
It depends on what you want. The Housing Ombudsman is free and can order remedies within its powers. A court claim is a separate route with different remedies and risks. We check whether you may have a claim. If you do, we refer you to an SRA-regulated panel solicitor who gives legal advice and runs the case. Call 0800 030 4669 for a free claim check.
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 |
| Suitable when | You only want the repair and can wait | You are happy to choose and manage your own solicitor | You want a claim check and solicitor referral |
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. That uses the same legal route as a matter referred through us. Support for Tenants checks whether you may have a claim and, if you do, refers you to an SRA-regulated panel solicitor. The solicitor gives legal advice and runs the case.
A claim with us: faster, larger, we do the work
A no-win, no-fee claim has a clear funding promise: No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing. 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. The panel solicitor handles the legal work.
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. Support for Tenants is a regulated company, not a law firm. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.
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, not a promise; 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.