How to Take Photographs to Evidence a Housing Disrepair Claim?

Are you a tenant struggling with housing disrepair? If you are thinking of starting a housing disrepair claim, you should gather evidence first. In such claims, having photographs and recordings is crucial to support your case. By taking clear and suitable pictures, we can assess the extent of the disrepair and determine if it falls under the protection of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.

You absolutely do not require any professional photo equipment. One of the usually available tools you may use to take images is a smartphone, small digital camera, or even a tablet with a built-in camera. Choose the device that you are comfortable with and that allows you to capture clear and detailed images of the housing disrepair.

Always assess the lighting conditions before taking photographs. Try to take the pictures in the daytime for a better results. Remember to open the curtains or blinds and turn on the lights if you’re photographing inside. Use your camera’s flash feature should the lighting prove insufficient.

You may come across disrepair and damages to your belongings, both inside and outside the property. Before taking pictures, inspect the property and prepare a list of disrepair for each area.

• Outside, you should look for issues with guttering, roof, windows, brickwork, and the chimney stack.
• Inside, disrepair commonly appears as structural cracks, dampness, mould, leaks, and broken fittings.

To effectively document the disrepair, take close-up pictures of the affected area as well as wider shots of the entire room:

• Begin by taking multiple close-up photographs of the disrepair from different angles. This will present a thorough and clear perspective of the particular issue.
  
• Then capture the whole area, like walls or ceiling. It is very important in setting the scene and guiding us to find the exact area of the damage in the room.
  
• Take photographs that showcase the disrepair from a broader perspective, capturing the entire room in the frame. This will help us to assess the overall impact of the disrepair on your home.
  

Follow these guidelines for any room or space affected by disrepair. Consider recording the disrepair, as video can be a better way to demonstrate dynamic issues such as water leaks or faulty heating systems. Videos help us better understand the extent and nature of the damage by providing a more in-depth illustration of the issue.

For more information, check our article: Evidence You Need for a Housing Disrepair Claim.

Once you have taken multiple photographs, review them and select the clean/sharp ones. Please label each photograph or series of them with the corresponding room it was taken in and the specific defect captured before sending.

You can select the most convenient option for sharing your pictures:

• sending via email,
• sending via WhatsApp,
• using google drive or another free transfer service,

If you are unsure about the next step, contact us today at 020 8578 778 or email us at contact@silveroaksolicitors.com.