Manchester Council compensates Housing Disrepair Injury Claims since 2021

Residents should expect a house to be fit to live in yet property damage can be present in various ways and can lead to serious injuries as well as health and safety risks. 

Over the past five years, Manchester City Council has had to pay out over £10k in compensation for injury claims caused by housing disrepair.

The figures, obtained by JF Law, highlight the duty of care owed to council housing tenants and how properties must be properly maintained to avoid possible injuries and illnesses.

Housing disrepair occurs when a rented property poses a risk to the tenant’s health because it requires certain repairs.

Damp and mould, common in disrepair, can worsen respiratory conditions like asthma. Additionally, structural issues, faulty electrics, and other hazards can cause slips, trips, falls, and other physical injuries.

Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, landlords have a responsibility to repair and maintain the exterior of the property, such as windows and the roof, sanitary fixtures, such as plumbing, heating, hot water and all electrical wiring.

From 2021 to 2024, 27 disrepair injury claims were made against Manchester City Council, with 5 of these being settled with compensation.

The highest number of these claims was lodged in 2024, after 10 were submitted to the council.

An example of a housing disrepair injury could be a roof leak causing a wet floor, leading to a slip and an occupant breaking a bone. Disrepair claims could also be caused by structural damage like broken staircases, which eventually collapse, leading to serious injuries.

Illnesses can also be a product of housing disrepair for example, a faulty heating system can lead to major health conditions as a result of the excess cold, which can also result in a person’s mental health being impacted.

In April 2025, one of the country’s largest housing associations was criticised for failing to tackle damp and mould after 95% of residents reported visible mould in their properties.

A report by the charity Medact was carried out into Peabody, which manages the Nags Head Estate in East London, and found that 36% of residents reported further disrepair in their homes, sometimes leading to injuries.

Through freedom of information requests, JF Law also learned how much Manchester City Council has had to pay in compensation to successful housing disrepair injury claims.

A total of £13,950 was paid out to successful claimants, with the highest amount being paid in 2022 at £6,300.

The most serious hazards in private rented homes, including mould, are estimated to cost the NHS £340m a year.

At the start of August, the BBC reported that thirteen children had died due to falling from windows in rented or temporary accommodation since 2019.

Many of these deaths were seen as “entirely preventable”, with landlords urged to fix faulty windows and ensure appropriate locks are in place. This is after four of the thirteen cases were caused by windows having no locks or restrictors.

JF Law offers support to those who have suffered injuries and illnesses due to housing disrepair and can see if they have grounds to submit a claim.

They operate a 24-hour helpline, with an online claim form too, which you can access on their website.