Understanding the Devastating Effects of Housing Disrepair
Ignoring maintenance of a property might compromise one’s quality of life. Renting their property from the housing association or council entitles one to a safe and livable habitat; hence, it is the duty of their local council or housing association to make sure any issues are quickly resolved. Various sorts of housing damage might show up as mildew, unwelcome vermin, poor plumbing, and leaking pipes.
Among other health problems, these ones can cause headaches, trouble breathing, and skin irritability:
1. Allergies
Many substances can cause allergic reactions, including chemicals in building materials, dust mites, and mould spores. From person to person, the degree of symptoms may range from runny nose and eyes to itching, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, skin rashes and other skin irritations. If you have these signs and can’t figure out what’s causing them, you might want to think about whether the way you live is making you feel bad. The onset of these symptoms can be much influenced by poor conditions like exposure to mould or other allergies.
2. Asthma and Other Respiratory Conditions
Some allergies can be especially troublesome for those with respiratory sensitivity and cause disorders including asthma. An analysis by the UK Housing and Health Organisation shows how allergens like cockroaches might affect inner-city areas. These bugs aggravate asthma and set up allergic responses. Asthma episodes and respiratory problems can also be exacerbated by wet surroundings, mildew, and hazardous materials including asbestos. Maintaining good indoor air quality and lowering the risk of respiratory issues depend on these environmental elements being addressed.
3. Respiratory Infections
Poor living circumstances marked by chilly temperatures, wetness, and mould development can raise the risk of respiratory problems including sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Particularly susceptible people—including the young and elderly—have a great danger from these diseases. Maintaining good respiratory health and lowering the risk of infections depend on a clean, dry, well-kept surroundings.
You can find more information in our article: Why Mould and Damp Are Especially Dangerous for Elderly People.
4. Gastrointestinal Infections
Gastrointestinal illnesses can start from malfunctioning plumbing including broken pipes, drains, water systems, and toilets. Through contact with faecal matter or contaminated water, tenants run the risk of coming into dangerous toxins. Inappropriate waste management systems, filthy facilities, and vermin all increase this danger. Particularly risky for persons with compromised immune systems, symptoms of these illnesses could include fever, nausea, diarrhoea, and dehydration. Preventing the spread of these diseases and safeguarding renters’ health depend on keeping appropriate sanitation and hygiene standards followed.
5. Poisoning
People who live in inadequately ventilated, structurally unsound, and dangerous surroundings run the danger of coming into contact with harmful chemicals including smoke, lead, radon gas and carbon monoxide. Among the major and even fatal health effects of these harmful components include respiratory problems, neurological system diseases, cancer and more. For example, carbon monoxide poisoning can be possibly lethal and happens in just two hours of contact. While long-term radon gas has been connected to a higher risk of lung cancer, prolonged exposure to lead can also cause major neurological symptoms. Protecting the health and well-being of people who live in living areas depends on making sure they are safe and free of these dangerous drugs.
6. Cancer
In the framework of home damage, asbestos exposure is a main factor causing cancer. Up until the 1980s, this hazardous building material was extensively used; its cancer-causing qualities were then revealed. Local governments and housing associations have a duty to make sure that homes with asbestos are safe for occupants. Apart from asbestos, long-term radon gas exposure as mentioned before might potentially raise lung cancer risk owing to poor building conditions. To safeguard the health and safety of their tenants, landlords and governing bodies must act early to find and lessen the existence of these harmful drugs.
7. Physical Injuries
In the framework of home damage, asbestos exposure is a main factor causing cancer. Up until the 1980s, this hazardous building material was extensively used; its cancer-causing qualities were then revealed. Local governments and housing associations have a duty to make sure that homes with asbestos are safe for occupants. Apart from asbestos, long-term radon gas exposure as mentioned before might potentially raise lung cancer risk owing to poor building conditions. To safeguard the health and safety of their tenants, landlords and governing bodies must act early to find and lessen the existence of these harmful drugs.
8. Cardiovascular Diseases
Disorders affecting the heart and blood arteries include cardiovascular diseases including heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. Unbelievably, bad housing circumstances can help these diseases grow especially in cold, damp, and mouldy surroundings. Housing and Health’s paper on the link between indoor temperature swings and a higher risk of cardiovascular illness Maintaining safe and good living circumstances is crucial to guard against some possible health risks.
9. Anxiety and Depression
Disorders affecting the heart and blood arteries include cardiovascular diseases including heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. Unbelievably, bad housing circumstances can help these diseases grow especially in cold, damp, and mouldy surroundings. Housing and Health’s paper on the link between indoor temperature swings and a higher risk of cardiovascular illness Maintaining safe and good living circumstances is crucial to guard against some possible health risks.
Has Your Health Been Affected by Housing Disrepair?
Tenants in England are far too often compelled to live in appalling conditions. But this is inappropriate and against the legal need of a housing association or council to offer rental flats suited for human living. Whether your social housing is making your health worse, it is the government or housing association’s job to fix the problem and make the necessary repairs. If they ignore your requests, it is important to reach out to them again and, if necessary, consider legal action through a housing disrepair claim.
At SilverOak Solicitors, we think everyone has the right to a safe and healthy living environment and that tenants shouldn’t have to put up with bad living circumstances. Should your council or housing association neglect their repair responsibilities, we can assist you in claiming your rights and holding them responsible. Don’t let inadequate living conditions go unquestioned; get in touch with us for help.
Claiming Damages for Your Ill Health
Making a housing disrepair claim will help you get paid for the suffering poor living circumstances have caused. This could cover emotional as well as physical losses. Our seasoned home disrepair solicitors at SilverOak Solicitors will carefully look at your claim and try to link your poor health to the house condition. We could ask a medical professional to report on your condition and injuries to assist us achieve this.
Housing Disrepair Solicitors in England
Neglect of a house’s maintenance leading to damage results in unfair treatment deserving of compensation. Our knowledgeable team of SilverOak house repair solicitors is committed to representing tenants all throughout England and Wales who have suffered as a result of neglect by their social landlords.
We provide a free claim assessment to ascertain your eligibility for compensation without any financial commitment since we know that considering legal action might be frightening. If you choose to move forward with a claim, we operate on a No Win No Fee basis, giving you peace of mind and ensuring that you pay nothing unless your claim is successful. If you have experienced harm due to a housing disrepair, let us help you fight for the justice you deserve.
Get in Touch with One of Our Housing Disrepair Experts
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