Claimants Win Battle Over Expert Evidence in Housing Disrepair Claims

Introduction

In August 2025, claimants in housing disrepair litigation successfully defended the admissibility and use of expert evidence in their claims against social landlords. The landlord had sought to have two claims struck out, arguing there was an “unhealthy connection” between housing disrepair solicitors and the surveyors they instructed.

Legal Question

The legal question was whether expert evidence — which is often indispensable for demonstrating causation, extent, and remedial cost in disrepair cases — was properly obtained and sufficiently credible to assist the court. The landlord’s strike-out attempt challenged both the timing and reliability of the expert reports.

Expert Evidence Upheld

The court refused the landlord’s application to strike out the claims. It upheld that the expert evidence could stand, reaffirming the crucial role that impartial, technical expert assessments play in housing disrepair litigation.

This case reinforces that well-prepared expert evidence remains central to successful housing disrepair claims and should be commissioned and managed in compliance with pre-action protocols. In practice, this reinforces to claimants and their advisers the importance of robust, timely expert input to quantify defects and associated losses.

You can read about the case in the here in The Law Society Gazette

Support for Housing Disrepair

If you are living in a home that is in a state of disrepair that your landlord has not addressed, do not suffer in silence. You have a right to a safe & habitable home for you and your family and your landlord has a legal obligation to maintain the property in a good state of repair. If you’ve reported issues to your landlord for six months or more, have allowed them access to the property, and have no significant rent arrears, you may be entitled to make a claim. At Satchell Moran we have expert solicitors who are very experienced in handling housing disrepair claims who are here to help. Get in touch today to see how we can support you.