No win, no fee explained: how it works, what comes out of your compensation, and what happens if you lose. Plain English, no jargon.
Direct Answer
No win, no fee (formally a Conditional Fee Agreement, or CFA) means you pay nothing upfront and nothing if your case loses. If your case wins, a fee is taken from your compensation, never from your own pocket, and an insurance policy taken out at the start covers the other side's costs. For housing disrepair in England and Wales, that fee is capped by law, so it can never run away with your money.
How it actually works
When Support for Tenants matches you with a panel solicitor, they review your case at no cost. If they take it on, you sign a CFA. From that point you are not invoiced for solicitor's time, surveyor and inspection fees, or court fees. The solicitor is paid by the landlord if your case wins, plus a fee deducted from your compensation.
For housing conditions claims, the solicitor's fee comes only out of the part of your compensation that is for the inconvenience of living with the disrepair, and they explain it in full before you sign. It does not touch any compensation paid specifically for damaged belongings or rent you should not have paid.
What if I lose?
If your case loses and you have followed your solicitor's advice throughout, you pay nothing. An After-the-Event (ATE) insurance policy taken out at the start covers any costs the landlord might otherwise be entitled to. The premium for that policy is only payable if you win, and it comes out of the settlement.
The only way a tenant can end up out of pocket is if they actively mislead their solicitor (for example, hiding that they caused the damp themselves) or refuse to co-operate with the case. For honest claimants, no win, no fee really does mean no financial risk.
Is Support for Tenants free?
Support for Tenants is a claims management company regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 1020217). Our eligibility check is free. If your case proceeds, the CFA you sign is with the panel solicitor, not with us. For a clear walk-through of fees in your specific situation, call 0800 030 4669 or read how much compensation could I get.
Sources
- Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (conditional fee agreements) (legislation.gov.uk)
- Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (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 If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.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 17 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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