The Danger of Living with Housing Disrepair

If you live in bad conditions, it could really affect your quality of life. A lot of homes in the UK don’t have good living conditions, like mould and moisture, leaks, and rat problems. The truth is more complicated, even though most news stories have linked this to less money for the board. When there is a lot of turnover, it can be hard for housing groups and cities to handle these problems well.

The Impact of Housing Disrepair

People whose homes have been damaged by neglect are clearly angry. Tenants have a right to expect their landlords to keep their places habitable, even if upkeep is put off until the last minute. Individuals with limited financial resources are more likely to be affected by this carelessness because a big chunk of their income goes towards rent already. One-third of the people in the country clearly can’t afford the rent, which makes it even harder for them to find housing and move around.

Living like this is not only difficult, but it’s also upsetting. In addition to the clear effects, neglect can also be bad for mental health. Everyday life starts to be filled with stress, worry about possible health effects, and anxiety. Since Awaab Ishak’s death was linked to the mould and water in his home, his sad story shows how serious these problems are and how quickly we need to do something about them.

Here are some examples of health problems that could happen or get worse in bad living conditions:

• Respiratory Problems: Mould and wetness in homes that aren’t kept up can make asthma, bronchitis, and allergies worse. Mould germs and wet air can make it hard to breathe and cause coughing, wheezing, and other breathing problems.

•  Health Problems with the Skin: Mould and moisture can also harm the skin, leading to problems like acne and dermatitis. If you don’t treat these conditions, which grow best in damp places, they can cause skin diseases, itching, and redness.

•  Problems with mental health: Living in bad conditions can have a big effect on your mental health. Constant worry about living in unsafe or uncomfortable situations can lead to stress, anxiety, and a lack of hope. Stress over money and not knowing what will happen while the house is being fixed up make these mental health issues worse.

• Injuries: Damage to the structure, such as unstable floors, loose fixtures, or broken stairs, can make accidents and injuries more likely. A lot of people, especially kids and older people, fall and hurt themselves. Falls can cause sprains, fractures, and other health problems.

• Infestations: Bugs, spiders, and other pests, like bed bugs, may come into homes that aren’t well taken care of. In addition to being annoying and painful, these bugs are bad for your health. Insect bites can cause illness, but rats may bring diseases that people in the area could get.

• Cardiovascular Health: Living in a cold and wet place may have an effect on circulatory health, especially in groups that are more likely to get sick. Being outside in cold weather for a long time can make you more likely to have a heart attack and raise your blood pressure, especially if you are older or already have heart problems.

• Gastrointestinal Issues: Mould and mildew can grow in places where there is a lot of water or wetness, which lets toxins into the air. If you eat or breathe in these toxins, they can make your digestive system worse and cause symptoms like sickness, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

• Allergies and Sensitivities: It’s important to know that dust mites, mould spores, and other allergens like damp, badly ventilated places. If these allergens make allergies and sensitivity worse, they could cause breathing problems, rashes, and eye pain.

• Sleep Disturbances: Living in a stressed and uncomfortable place can mess up your sleep cycles and make insomnia worse. Not getting enough sleep can hurt your immune system, your ability to control your mood, your brain, and your general health.

• Child Development: Kids who live in bad housing may have behaviour problems or developmental delays because they are constantly stressed, polluted, and have their habits thrown off by home repairs. Find out more about the effects disrepair can have on Children.

Exploring Your Legal Options

Usually, the first step is to write to the owner or property management company about the damage, giving specifics and asking for repairs to be done as soon as possible. Tenants can go to the next level if their landlord doesn’t fix the problems or doesn’t react properly. They can do this by getting environmental health services from their local council. Environmental health officials can go to people’s homes and get court orders telling owners they need to fix things within a certain amount of time.

People who are renting can also get legal help and information from housing lawyers or non-profits like Citizens information. These professionals can help renters write official complaints or legal letters, give them legal advice, and even help them sue landlords for damages to their health and living conditions.

SilverOak Solicitors know how complicated and important these problems are. Our hard-working staff works for tenants’ rights so that landlords are held responsible and tenants can get money for the pain they’ve been through because of bad living conditions.

How SilverOak Solicitors Can Assist You

Our process starts with a careful analysis of the problems in your house. We keep records of everything, including building problems and environmental dangers like mould and leaks. By hiring independent surveyors, we get professional views to back up your case and tell landlords what they need to do to fix the problem. We want to get paid, and we also want owners to fix the problems that are dangerous to your health and safety.

SilverOak Solicitors say that each renter should get paid for the trouble that bad living conditions cause. When figuring out how much to pay for damages, the damage, how long it lasted, and how it affected your daily life and home are often taken into account. Our team of lawyers can help you understand your legal situation and guide you through the claims process.

Don’t be afraid to get in touch with us if you think you have a case and some property damage. Call 020 8578 to talk to one of our helpful staff members about your situation or leave your number so that we can call you back at a time that works for you. We can help you get back your right to a decent standard of living.