Injury Claims
Against Housing Associations

If a housing association injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by a housing association accident, we can help. Whether your injuries were caused by a slip, trip, fall or other incident, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim for an accident in a public place with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.

With 14% of housing falling below accepted standards, you are not alone

The 2022-23 English Housing Survey found that 14% of homes do not meet acceptable safety standards, and 9% of homes contain at least one serious Category 1 hazard (gov.uk).

Public housing bodies, like housing associations, must follow regulations to keep properties safe and clean. Neglecting maintenance can lead to tenant injuries or illnesses, from cuts to respiratory issues.

If you're harmed in a rented property, you may be able to claim compensation from your landlord. Your solicitor will investigate the circumstances the caused your illness and injury and will advise you on your options and next steps.

How much compensation can I claim for an injury claim against a housing association?

How much you can claim for an accident involving a housing association is based on:

• the nature and severity of your injury,
• the extent to which your injury limits your daily life and working ability,
• any financial losses or costs you have incurred due to your injury.

General damages include compensation for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity (PSLA). The Judicial College issues guidelines for personal injury awards to help calculate general damages.

Special damages are awarded to compensate you for any costs or losses you've incurred or might incur as a result of your accident. These costs might include loss of income, including future loss of income, or any other out of pocket expenses.

Special damages may also be awarded for medical treatments or procedures that you might need to treat your housing association injury, including diagnostic tests, physiotherapy and pain management treatments.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Can I claim compensation for a psychological injury?

Although psychiatric injuries are less obvious than physical injuries and illness, mental health conditions can be no less debilitating.

Our 2025 Public Place Injury Claimant Survey reveals the extent of psychological trauma, with 29.03% of claims involving a psychological injury, 70.97% of which related to a physical injury.

Injuries in housing association areas can result in anxiety and distrust towards living environments and community spaces.

Compensation for psychological harm can help you access mental health support and therapies not always available through the NHS.

Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.

Am I eligible for housing association accident compensation?

You can make an injury claim against a housing association, if:

• you became ill in the last 3 years, and;
• someone else was to blame, and;
• they owed you a legal duty of care.

Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.

What if the accident was partly my fault?

Attributing blame for an accident isn't always clear-cut.

In our 2025 Public Liability Injury Claimant Survey, we found that 17.45% of respondents felt they had at least some responsibility for the injuries they sustained.

You may still be able to claim compensation even if your actions may have contributed to the accident. Claims where there is fault on both sides (contributory negligence) are often resolved with a split liability agreement.

Read more:

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

How long do I have to start a housing association accident claim?

In most cases, you have up to 3 years from the date of your accident or injury to start a claim.

You may still be able to claim compensation if you were injured by another's negligence and you only discovered it later. Generally, the clock starts ticking from the date you were diagnosed or became aware of your injury.

For an injured child, the three-year limitation period begins on their 18th birthday, giving them until they are 21 to start a claim.

What are the responsibilities of the housing association?

Housing associations must ensure that the properties they lease are kept in a liveable and sanitary state, including:

• Keeping the boiler, plumbing systems and electrical heating equipment in good repair
• Keeping the roof, walls and plasterwork in good repair and watertight
• Fixing any leaking pipes, guttering and other signs of water ingress
• Tackling problems with damp and mold.

Depending on the terms of the lease or rental agreement, the housing association may also be responsible for maintaining other facilities such as the garden or the kitchen appliances.

What are the risks arising from poorly-maintained properties?

Living in a property that does not meet basic sanitation and safety standards can pose a risk to human health. Some of the common problems experienced by tenants and their families include:

• Leaks and damp conditions that, if not tackled in timely manner, could cause mould-related illnesses such as asthma, especially in young or vulnerable residents
• Poorly maintained premises that can cause slip, trip and fall accidents or other injuries from collapsing ceilings, broken handrails and defective balconies
• Faulty wiring that poses a greater-than-average fire risk
• Poorly maintained and lit common areas such as stairwells, which can cause slip, trip and fall accidents
• Problems with windows and doors, which can cause condensation to build up leading to damp or mould growth, and may prevent escape in the event of fire
• Poor quality or incorrectly fitted boilers that can emit toxic fumes such as carbon monoxide, which can be fatal in some circumstances.

See also:

Faulty wiring injury claims

Slip, trip and fall injury claims

Making an injury claim against a housing association

Housing associations do not live in the properties they own and are not in a position to know about every defect in the properties they manage.

To make a successful claim, your solicitor will seek to establish that the housing association:

• was notified of the hazard before the injury occurred, and;
• had a reasonable amount of time to remedy the problem before the injury occurred.

Housing associations have a legal duty to respond to complaints as soon as reasonably possible.

For non-urgent problems, a response time of within 20 working days is considered reasonable. However, what is considered a 'reasonable' amount of time will depend on the nature of the complaint.

If the complaint relates to a serious or dangerous defect, an immediate response from the association would be reasonable.

If the housing association fails to act within a reasonable time frame and you sustain an injury as a result, it may be possible to pursue a compensation claim.

Work accidents Road accidents Public places Medical negligence Other accidents

Sources

Author:
Gaynor Haliday, Legal researcher

About the author

Gaynor Haliday is an experienced legal researcher and published author. She has had numerous articles published in the press and is a legal industry commentator.