What Evidence Do I Need to Support My Housing Disrepair Claim?
If you’re thinking about making a housing disrepair claim in Manchester, having the right evidence is one of the most important parts of the process. The stronger your evidence, the easier it is to prove that your landlord has failed to carry out necessary repairs and that you may be entitled to compensation for disrepair.
You don’t need anything complicated to get started, but clear and consistent evidence can make a big difference to how quickly your claim progresses.
Photos and Videos of the Disrepair
The most important evidence is visual proof of the issues in your home.
This can include:
Black mould in rental property
Damp patches on walls or ceilings
Leaks or water damage
Broken heating systems or boilers
Structural damage or cracks
Try to take photos over time, not just once. This shows that the problem is ongoing and not being resolved properly.
Records of Reporting the Problem
You need to show that your landlord was made aware of the issue.
This can include:
Emails
Text messages
Screenshots of repair requests
Letters sent to your landlord
Online repair logs (common with council housing repairs)
If you’ve made multiple housing association complaints and nothing has changed, this strengthens your case.
Timeline of the Issue
It helps to have a rough timeline of what has happened.
For example:
When the issue started
When it was first reported
Any follow ups you made
What action (if any) was taken
This shows how long the disrepair has been ongoing, which is important when assessing housing disrepair compensation.
Medical or Health Evidence
If the disrepair has affected your health, this can support your claim.
Examples include:
Breathing issues caused by damp or mould
Skin irritation
Sleep problems
Stress or anxiety linked to living conditions
This is especially relevant in claims involving compensation for damp and mould or mould and damp compensation.
Damage to Belongings
If your belongings have been affected, keep evidence of this too.
For example:
Clothes damaged by mould
Furniture affected by damp
Items ruined due to leaks
Photos and receipts can help support this part of your disrepair compensation claim.
Example of a Strong Housing Disrepair Case
A tenant in Manchester was living in a council flat with ongoing damp and black mould in the bedroom and living room. The issue had been reported multiple times over a period of 8 months, but only temporary cleaning was carried out and the mould kept returning.
The tenant had:
Photos showing the mould spreading over time
Screenshots of repeated repair requests
A timeline of when the issue was reported
Evidence that their child had developed breathing issues
The landlord had delayed proper repairs and was effectively refusing to deal with the root cause.
Once a housing disrepair claim was started, the case moved forward quickly. The landlord carried out full repairs, including addressing the source of the damp, and the tenant received housing disrepair compensation due to the length of time they had been living in those conditions.
Do You Need All of This to Start?
No. You don’t need perfect evidence to begin.
Many tenants already have enough just from:
Photos on their phone
Messages to their landlord
A basic explanation of what’s been happening
From there, the rest can be built as part of the housing disrepair claim process.
Final Thoughts
If you’re dealing with issues like black mould in a rental property, delays in council housing disrepair, or a landlord refusing repairs, gathering evidence is the first step towards taking action.
Even simple things like photos and messages can go a long way in supporting your housing disrepair claim and helping you secure compensation for disrepair.
The key is to show that the problem exists, that it has been reported, and that it hasn’t been properly fixed.