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Housing Solicitors

Is an Infestation taking over your home? (24 October 2016)

Date: 24/10/2016
Duncan Lewis, Housing Solicitors, Is an Infestation taking over your home?

The unavoidable truth is that far too many people in the UK live in homes that fall below an acceptable standard, with thousands of families forced to cope with poor conditions.

Landlords have a responsibility to ensure the state of the property they rent to families meet a certain standard. Mainly they are to ensure the property is fit for purpose for those residing in it. If a property is shown to have any of the following problems, it will not be considered to be of acceptable standard:


  • Pest or vermin infestation

  • Faulty drainage or sewerage system

  • Insufficient access to water

  • Any form of infection


Recently there has been a rise in media attention concerning homes that do not reach acceptable standards of cleanliness, safety and space; as well as reports of silverfish infestation.

Silverfish are known for their destructive feeding habits and can cause a serious problem in large numbers – damaging books, photographs, plaster and other household items containing starch or cellulose. Silverfish survive in most environments, but thrive in conditions of high humidity and can often be found in dark, damp areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, basements and attics. This is likely to occur if there is serious damp, water leaks and high levels of humidity or condensation in the property.

Landlords have a duty to prevent the occurrence of infestation such as silverfish for example by eliminating sources of excessive moisture such as faulty plumbing and condensation from the property. If landlords refuse to repair or maintain the property or the result of their repairs are not satisfactory, you may be entitled to compensation.

If you think your landlord has failed to comply with their maintenance and repair obligations resulting in a silverfish infestation or any form of infestation, infection, pest or vermin, faulty drainage system or insufficient access to water, our specialist housing team will be able to help you bring your complaints to the civil courts and remedy the situation. We can guide you in any matter or issues arising with local housing authorities, housing applications, tenants, landlords, ownership, repairs and many more. The Housing Department also regularly represents clients in the courts, ensuring they receive the highest quality assistance throughout their case.

The Housing team at Duncan Lewis are ranked by the independent legal directory, Legal 500 2016 for its legal services to social tenants across London and nationwide. Duncan Lewis provides advice and assistance to landlords and tenants on all housing issues. We are highly experienced at finding solutions to your housing issues and aim to address cases quickly and effectively. If you qualify for legal aid, our assistance is free to you, so get in touch with our housing team to resolve your disrepair and infestation issues.

Author Saniya Taqi is a paralegal in the Housing Law Department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors; she assists on a variety of landlord and tenant housing related matters such as disrepair matters, homelessness and possession proceedings.


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