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Housing disrepair help across West Sussex

Crawley, Worthing, Chichester, Horsham, Mid Sussex and Arun. Six district councils across coast and country, all bound by the same statutory tenancy duties.

What you need to know about repairs in West Sussex

West Sussex has six district councils, plus West Sussex County Council for county-level services. Council housing stock varies by district: Crawley retained its stock, Worthing transferred it, others run mixed arrangements. Major registered providers across the county include Saxon Weald, Southern Housing (formerly Optivo), Sage Homes and Clarion.

Awaab's Law (in force 27 October 2025) applies to every social landlord operating in West Sussex. The 24-hour emergency, 10-working-day investigation, 3-working-day written summary and 5-working-day completion deadlines are the same here as in the rest of England.

Private rented stock around Worthing, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton has known damp and ventilation issues. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 covers every rented home, social or private. Your district council's environmental health team is the local enforcement route.

Awaab's Law deadlines, the same across West Sussex

Awaab's Law started on 27 October 2025. It gives every social landlord across West Sussex firm deadlines once you have reported a hazard. The clock applies to every council and registered provider in the region.

ActionDeadline
Emergency hazard, make safe24 hours
Significant hazard, investigate10 working days
Written summary of findings3 working days after investigation
Complete the works5 working days after written summary

Awaab's Law applies to every social landlord across West Sussex from 27 October 2025. Crawley Borough Council, Saxon Weald, Southern Housing, Sage Homes, Clarion and every other registered provider operating in the county are bound by the same statutory clock.

Districts and boroughs across West Sussex

The law is the same wherever you are in the region. Local councils and registered providers all owe the same duties to their tenants.

Crawley
Crawley Borough Council retained its stock, around 8,000 council homes across the town's neighbourhoods.
Worthing & Adur
Stock transferred to Worthing Homes (now part of Saxon Weald). Older Victorian stock has known damp concerns.
Chichester
Coastal and rural district. Mixed registered-provider stock plus large private rented sector.
Horsham & Mid Sussex
Largely rural commuter belt close to London. Registered providers manage most social stock.
Arun (Bognor Regis, Littlehampton)
Arun District Council retains a small stock. Saxon Weald and Clarion manage the bulk of social housing.
Coastal private rented sector
Older Victorian and Edwardian stock along the coast. Damp and mould are common complaints in converted flats.

If your landlord is ignoring you in West Sussex

Each West Sussex district council runs its own environmental health team. If you are private rented and your landlord ignores you, ring the district council for your postcode and ask for housing standards or private-sector housing. They can inspect under the HHSRS.

How a claim works

  1. Tell your landlord in writing. First you report the problem to your landlord and ask them to put it right. Keep a copy of what you send and any reply. If they do not sort it out, you may have a claim.
  2. A no-win-no-fee claim. A panel solicitor takes your case. If you do not win, you pay nothing. If you win, you pay an agreed fee out of your compensation, never out of your own pocket, and we explain it clearly before you start. This is worth thinking about if the problem has gone on a long time, or the landlord keeps ignoring you.

We will tell you honestly whether you have a claim. Call us free on 0800 030 4669. Support for Tenants is a regulated company. We are not a solicitor. Panel solicitors run the cases.

Speak to an adviser about your West Sussex home

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By: Support for Tenants editorial team

Last updated:

Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 22 June 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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The law is on your side

Wherever you are in the region, the rules are the same, and they work. This is what landlords across England were made to pay tenants in one recent year, and it is what we help you claim.

£5.4m
compensation ordered for tenants in one year
26,901
orders made to put things right
40%
of it for damp, mould and leaks
£32,000
the largest single award

Figures from the independent statutory review, Annual Complaints Review 2024 to 2025. These are sector-wide outcomes for social housing tenants in England.