By Jocelyn Dela Cruz


Security and safety are what most of us are searching for when renting or leasing a property. We value our life, so we make sure that the property we are going to move in to is risk-free and well-kept. Such an environment offers calmness and freedom from worries about whether your house is safe, or whether it'll cost you an arm and a leg in repairs. In these instances, the landlord can contribute a great deal. By properly maintaining the site, he is creating a good, safe home and a good relationship with his tenants.

For every rented space (e.g. houses, apartments), the landlord has the responsibility of ensuring that his tenants are safe in using his property. He has an obligation to keep the estate in good condition. He is expected to take care of repairs to the property's interior areas and exterior areas. The interior areas include baths, toilets, sinks, water lines, gas pipes and electrical wiring. Exterior areas involve the fixing of the walls, roof, drains, gutters and window frames. If it is a big estate, things such as garden paths and steps are also included in the exterior. Home systems such as heaters or air conditioners must also be checked to ensure the wellbeing of the tenants.

As stated earlier, a properly maintained site creates a good relationship between the tenant and the landlord. If the landlord is neglecting his responsibility to his tenants and the property, then his tenants can file a housing disrepair claim against their landlord. Things such as leaking pipes, roofs and drains, molds, and dampness should be taken seriously. If not, these can cause health problems such as influenza and viruses. It may also result in injuries and damage to property.

The first thing to do is let your landlord know about the problem. It may be that the landlord had simply not noticed it, so calling his attention is a must. After you've taken this first step, wait for your landlord to act. Let 21 days pass and, if the issue has still not been addressed, legal actions should be taken. You can now claim a housing disrepair. If injuries or health problems are involved, then bringing a personal injury claim with you alongside your housing disrepair claim will be essential. Health problems like the flu, viruses and colds can be caused by certain types of disrepair, and there are compensations for it.

An important thing to note is that a 6-year limitation date is set for housing disrepair claims. This period runs from the first day that you are made aware that there was a disrepair in the premises of the rented property. If personal injury has happened due to the disrepair, the limitation date is cut down to 3 years. This means that after 3 years, your claim is no longer viable.

Getting compensated for housing disrepairs depends on how strong the case is. That's why it is so important to keep valuable documents such as your housing disrepair complaint. Having photographic evidence is also a big help. If proven in court, an order will be issued in favor of the tenant. The landlord is then expected to pay and compensate for all the damages done within a particular period of time.




About the Author: