Vermin Infestation Compensation

Living in a home overrun by pests such as rats, mice, cockroaches, or other vermin can be deeply unsettling and harmful to your health. Not only does an infestation affect your quality of life, but it can also pose serious health risks, including the spread of disease and contamination of your living space.

If you're a tenant in social housing, such as a council property or housing association home, and your landlord has not dealt with a reported housing disrepair issue which has led to an infestation, you may have grounds for a housing disrepair claim.

We focus first on ensuring the repairs to your home are completed quickly. But we will also ensure that you receive the financial compensation you’re owed.

At SDS Solicitors, we understand the distress caused by pest and vermin infestations and the frustration that comes with landlords who fail to take action. If your landlord has not dealt with a reported infestation, you may have grounds for a housing disrepair claim to seek both repairs and compensation.

Understanding Pest and Vermin Infestations in Housing Disrepair

Pests like rats, mice, cockroaches, and bedbugs often make their way into homes due to gaps in walls, faulty drainage systems, or poor waste management—issues that should be addressed by your landlord. Under UK law, landlords must ensure the property remains in good condition and free from infestations, which could damage your health or well-being.

Ignoring these problems can lead to serious consequences, including contaminated food, exposure to disease, and disruption to your daily life.

If you have informed your landlord about disrepair issues in your property, and their failure to act as led to the presence of pests, this is a breach of their legal obligations. You should not have to endure living in unsanitary conditions, and we are here to ensure your rights are upheld.

Your Rights as a Tenant

As a tenant in social housing, your landlord is bound by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. These laws require landlords to ensure that homes are free from health hazards, including infestations. Your landlord must address the root cause of the infestation, whether it's structural defects, poor waste disposal, or another issue leading to vermin entering the property.

Under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), infestations are considered a serious hazard, and landlords are expected to take immediate action when notified. Failure to do so could entitle you to compensation for the inconvenience, financial loss, and health impact caused by their negligence.

Can you Make a Claim? 

If your landlord has ignored your complaints about pest infestations, and/or the root cause, you may be eligible to make a housing disrepair claim. To succeed, you must show that:

• Your landlord was informed about the infestation.
• The infestation continues because your landlord has failed to take action.
• You have suffered as a result, whether it be financially, through health issues, or from loss of enjoyment of your home.

At SDS Solicitors, we have over 25 years of experience in representing tenants just like you. We can help you navigate the claims process, ensuring that your landlord is held accountable for failing to maintain a habitable property.