We’ve seen a sharp rise in legal disrepair claims, as some law firms are targeting social housing residents to make money from these cases.
Many of these firms advertise “no win, no fee” deals, which can sound appealing. However, it’s important to know that if a claim is unsuccessful, residents may still have to pay legal fees. These costs are not always covered by the landlord.
What’s happening?
- Claims management companies (also known as “claim farmers”) are actively encouraging residents to make legal claims.
- They often promise things like:
- Large compensation payouts
- New homes or upgrades to kitchens and bathrooms
- These promises can be misleading and are sometimes used to pressure or confuse residents.
- Claim farmers may use tactics like:
- Cold calling
- Door knocking
- Leafleting
- Social media ads
- Some even pretend to represent the landlord, which is not true.
Online advertising
Law firms are also competing for top spots in search engine results. This means that if you search for your landlord’s name or terms like “damp” or “mould,” you might see ads offering big payouts for legal claims.
These ads can follow you across websites and social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram using tracking tools like cookies.
What can you do?
We understand how confusing and frustrating this situation can be, and we want to make sure you have the right information and support.
We’re actively working to tackle this issue and will be sharing more tips and guidance to help you make informed decisions about repairs and legal claims.
In the meantime, if you have a repair issue, please report it through MyAccount. For unresolved concerns, you can follow our complaints process. Be cautious of anyone offering large payouts or upgrades in exchange for signing legal documents especially if they claim to represent us.