Structural Damage Claims Manchester
Cracks in walls, subsidence, sagging floors, unsafe stairs, crumbling brickwork — your landlord has a legal obligation to keep the structure and exterior of your home in proper repair. If they have failed to act after being told about structural problems, you may be entitled to compensation and court-ordered repairs. We act for council tenants, housing association tenants and private renters across Greater Manchester on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Signs of Structural Damage in Your Home
If you notice any of the following in your rented property, report them to your landlord in writing and contact us for a free assessment.
- Cracks in walls, especially diagonal cracks near doors and windows
- Doors and windows that stick or no longer close properly
- Sagging or uneven floors
- Crumbling or deteriorating brickwork and pointing
- Gaps appearing between walls and ceilings or floors
- Bulging or bowing walls
- Loose or broken roof tiles and slates
- Unsafe, broken or loose stair treads and banisters
- Subsidence or movement cracks wider than 5mm
Your Landlord's Legal Obligations
UK law places clear duties on landlords to maintain the structure of rented homes. Here is what protects you.
Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
Your landlord has an explicit statutory obligation to keep in repair the structure and exterior of your home. This covers walls, roof, foundations, external walls, drains, gutters, stairs and the building's overall structural integrity.
HHSRS — Category 1 Hazard
Under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, structural collapse and falling elements are classified as a Category 1 hazard — the most serious category. Your local council's environmental health team can require your landlord to take immediate action.
Building Safety and Social Housing Obligations
Social landlords have additional regulatory duties to maintain the safety and structural soundness of their housing stock. The Regulator of Social Housing and the Building Safety Act 2022 place further obligations on housing providers.
Defective Premises Act 1972
This Act imposes a duty on landlords who are responsible for maintenance or repair to take reasonable care to see that all persons who might be affected by defects in the property are reasonably safe from personal injury or damage to their property.
Important: Your landlord's repair duty applies even to pre-existing defects discovered after your tenancy began. You do not need to prove the structural damage happened while you have been living there — only that the landlord knew or ought to have known about it and failed to act.
How We Handle Your Structural Damage Claim
From your first call to getting your home repaired and compensation in your account, here is exactly what happens.
Your Claim Journey
4 STEPS · NO UPFRONT COST- 01Report
Tell us about the disrepair in a 2-minute form or by phone.
- 02Free Inspection
An independent surveyor inspects your home at no cost to you.
- 03We Notify Your Landlord
We formally serve notice and demand repairs and compensation.
- 04Repairs & Compensation
Your home is fixed and you receive the compensation you're owed.
Compensation for Structural Damage
Structural defects are among the most serious forms of housing disrepair. Courts recognise the severity and safety risk, which is reflected in the level of compensation awarded.
- General damages for the disruption, inconvenience and reduction in the enjoyment of your home — often higher in structural cases due to the safety risk and severity of the defects
- Special damages for belongings damaged or destroyed by the structural problems, such as furniture, carpets or personal items
- If the structural damage made your home uninhabitable and you had to move out temporarily, you can claim reasonable relocation and alternative accommodation costs
- Courts take structural hazards particularly seriously, especially where children, elderly or vulnerable residents are affected
Structural Damage Claim Questions, Answered
Common questions from Manchester tenants about structural damage claims.
We Also Handle These Housing Disrepair Claims
Structural damage is just one of the issues we help Manchester tenants with. If your home has any of these problems, we can help.
Black mould on walls, ceilings or window frames, a serious health hazard your landlord must fix.
Persistent leaks from roofs, pipes or plumbing that damage your home and belongings.
Rats, mice, cockroaches or bedbugs entering through structural defects your landlord ignores.
Broken boilers, cold radiators, or no hot water for weeks, a landlord repair obligation.
Faulty wiring, dead sockets, unsafe fuse boards or exposed cables putting your home at risk.
Structural Damage Claims Across Greater Manchester
We handle structural damage disrepair claims for tenants in every Greater Manchester borough.
Start your free claim assessment today.
No cost, no obligation. Speak to a real solicitor's team, not a call centre, and get your home fixed.