“No win, no fee” solicitor ordered to pay costs after failed disrepair claim: report

The tenant had argued that their home had mould damp and plaster defects.

However, a district judge at York County Council dismissed the claim after describing the case as "borderline negligent", the council claimed.

The council then made an application for costs to be paid by the solicitors themselves, rather than the tenant.

The district judge ultimately ordered the law firm to pay costs of £9,414 to the council.

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The solicitors were given 14 days in which to put forward reasons why they should not have to pay the costs themselves. They did not dispute the application.

Cllr Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing and Safer Communities, urged tenants to tell the council about any concerns with repairs "so they can be put right", adding: "This is the third failed housing disrepair claim made by ‘no win, no fee’ solicitors resulting in tenants being ordered to pay many £1,000s in costs."

York successfully defended against a similar disrepair claim earlier this year, which resulted in a tenant paying almost £8,000 in costs.

At the time, the council called on its tenants to report repairs to their landlord first.

The council also reported seeing a rise in a rise in housing disrepair claims brought by firms of solicitors on behalf of housing tenants.

Adam Carey