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Understanding Your Rights for Housing Disrepair Claims Against Merton Council

What you need to know

  • Merton Council owns and manages council housing across the London borough, including Wimbledon, Mitcham, and Morden. It is legally required to ensure its homes are safe, secure, and maintained properly.

  • When these duties are not carried out properly, tenants can be left living in poor or unsafe conditions, such as with heating and hot water failures, recurring damp and mould, roof and pipe leaks, and electrical faults. These issues can cause damage to personal belongings, affect health, and make everyday life more difficult.

  • At Premier Legal Assist, we support tenants in Merton and across London who are struggling with unresolved housing disrepair. We connect you with solicitors who specialise in disrepair claims against councils. All claims are handled on a no-win, no-fee basis.

Find out if you’re eligible to claim against the Council for repairs and compensation.

Based on the past 6 months' average settlement, the average compensation claim is worth £1,895 – start yours today!

What is Housing Disrepair?

Housing disrepair means your home is unsafe or improperly maintained due to your landlord's failure to do repairs. Merton Council is legally responsible for maintaining your home's structure, plumbing, heating, and safety systems.

If you’ve reported issues such as black mould, faulty electrics, leaking pipes, broken boilers, or persistent damp, and Merton Council has not resolved them within a reasonable time, you may be entitled to claim for both repairs and compensation.

Our panel of specialist housing solicitors handle every stage of the claim process for you, including gathering evidence, arranging inspections, contacting the landlord, and pursuing Court action if necessary. All claims are managed on a no-win, no-fee basis.  

Start your Merton Council claim with Premier Legal Assist

Some examples of disrepair that may qualify for compensation include:

  • Mould, fungus or dampness
  • Leaks, flooding or water damage
  • Cracks and structural damage
  • Defective roofing or gutters
  • Defective brickwork
  • Insect infestations
  • Faulty plumbing, heating and broken boiler
  • Vermin infestations (rats, mice)
  • Electrical faults
  • Broken doors, windows and locks

If you've experienced and reported any of these problems to the Council and they've not been addressed, you may be entitled to compensation and legally enforced repairs. 

Merton Council Claims FAQs

Yes. If you’ve reported problems like damp, broken heating, or faulty electrics to Merton Council and they have not been fixed within a reasonable time, you may be able to bring a housing disrepair claim. We will assess your case for free and let you know what options are available.

Premier Legal Assist is a regulated claims management company. We work with a panel of specialist solicitors who know how to handle disrepair cases involving councils. While the Housing Ombudsman can be useful, legal action often results in faster and enforceable repairs. 

First, complete our online claim form describing the disrepair issue and how long it has been ongoing. If your case is eligible, we will refer you to one of our panel housing lawyers.

If needed, the solicitor may arrange an independent inspection, gather photos or medical records, and send a formal legal notice to the Council. If the Council still fails to carry out repairs, the solicitor can take the matter to Court.

We support tenants in holding landlords accountable when repair obligations are neglected. We work with experienced, specialist no-win, no-fee housing disrepair solicitors who:

  • Know how the Council typically handles complaints
  • Can apply legal pressure to speed up repairs
  • Seek the full compensation you deserve for inconvenience and hardship

Premier Legal Assist is a claims management company that focuses on helping tenants enforce their rights. While the council complaints process and Ombudsman can be helpful, legal action is often more direct and effective. 

There is no upfront cost to begin your claim. If your solicitor wins your case, a success fee is deducted from your compensation, usually around 25%.

You’ll receive a full breakdown of any fees before you sign anything. A cancellation charge may apply if you withdraw your claim after the 14-day cooling-off period. 

That depends on how severe the issue is and how Merton Council responds once legal action begins. Some cases are resolved quickly, especially when landlords act after receiving notice, but others may take longer if Court proceedings are required.

If your case qualifies, and once your solicitor takes on your claim, they'll provide an estimate and update you at each stage. 

If your solicitor takes on your case, they will advise you about the value of your claim. If your claim is successful, you may receive compensation for: 

  • Damage to your belongings
  • Health issues caused by poor conditions
  • Not being able to use parts of your home
  • General inconvenience or distress

The amount you receive depends on the severity of the disrepair and how long it has gone unresolved. 

The Housing Ombudsman is a free, independent service that investigates complaints about social landlords like Merton Council. You can contact them if you've completed the landlord's internal complaints process; however, their decisions are not legally enforceable.

If you want guaranteed repairs or compensation, legal action may be more effective. Premier Legal Assist connects tenants to specialist lawyers who can take legal steps to force repairs and recover compensation on a no-win, no-fee basis. 

Get in touch with Premier Legal Assist today

If you are a Merton Council tenant living with unresolved reported repair complaints, you don’t have to accept poor housing conditions. If your case is eligible, with our help, you can secure both the repairs you need and the compensation you deserve.

Our Client Commitment

At Premier Legal Assist, we’re here to make sure your voice is heard.

We are committed to:

  • Listening to you and treating your concerns with respect and understanding.
  • Acting quickly and fairly to assess your case and connect you with experienced housing disrepair solicitors.
  • Keeping things clear by explaining your options in plain English and avoiding technical legal jargon.
  • Supporting you throughout the claims process – no pressure, no upfront costs, no time wasting.
  • Respecting your privacy by protecting your personal data.
  • Putting your well-being first, helping you achieve the safe and secure home you deserve.

Because everyone has the right to a home that’s safe, secure, and fit to live in.

Important Information

Premier Legal Assist is a claims management company. You do not need to use a claims management company to make your complaint, you can complain to the organisation you are complaining about directly. If the issue is not resolved, you can refer it to the relevant independent Ombudsman service for free.