Why Tenants Turn to Claims
Living with damp, mould, or disrepair is stressful. Many tenants feel their landlord is ignoring them or not acting fast enough — and that’s often the point where they consider starting a legal claim.
We understand that frustration. But before you sign up with a solicitor or claims management company, it’s important to know the full picture.
The Reality Behind Disrepair Claims
“No win, no fee” deals can sound risk-free — but the truth is very different:
Claims Management Companies – most don’t handle your case at all. They simply sell your details on to a solicitor, sometimes several, and take a cut.
Hidden Costs – solicitors may deduct up to 25% from any financial award. On top of that, the cost of “After the Event” (ATE) insurance is also taken from any award if your case wins.
False Expectations – adverts often suggest tenants receive thousands of pounds, but in reality this is very rare. The only people guaranteed large sums are usually the solicitors.
Long Delays – claims can drag on for months or even years, while your repairs are still not done.
Important Things Tenants Should Know
Ethics Matter – disrepair claims must be ethically sourced. No door knocking, no cold calls, no pressure selling.
Regulation – any company dealing with claims must be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Risks – if your case isn’t handled properly, you could be left with little result, wasted time, and no guarantee of repairs being carried out.
A Better Alternative – Tenants First CIC
Instead of going through a solicitor or claims company, you can come to us first.
Here’s what we do:
Independent Inspection – we visit your home, assess the issues, and prepare a professional, fair report.
We Work With Your Landlord – we share our findings with them and encourage early resolution, before it spirals into a costly legal battle.
Faster Outcomes – repairs are more likely to be completed quickly when landlords aren’t tied up in litigation.
Lower Stress – we cut out months of legal back-and-forth.
Fair and Transparent – we are a not-for-profit, so our focus is on solutions, not profit.
✅ And if our help or advice doesn’t resolve things, we can recommend ethical solicitors who act in the tenant’s best interests. They don’t pay us for cases, so our recommendations are completely independent.
Comparison: Solicitor Route vs Tenants First
| Solicitor / Claims Company |
Tenants First CIC |
| Claims company sells your case to a solicitor |
You deal directly with us – no selling-on |
| Deducts fees and ATE insurance costs from financial award |
No deductions – our focus is on repairs, not payouts |
| Average claim takes months or years |
Issues addressed quickly |
| Repairs often delayed while legal claim runs |
Repairs pushed forward straight away |
| Adversarial: landlord vs tenant |
Collaborative: we work with both sides |
| Solicitors guaranteed fees |
Tenants often left frustrated |
| You may end up with less money and no quicker repairs |
You get faster repairs and independent support |
How Tenants Benefit
Your landlord is held accountable without the stress of a legal battle.
You get the repairs you need, usually faster.
You avoid being drawn into claims processes that mainly benefit lawyers, not tenants.
If legal support is needed, we can connect you with independent, ethical solicitors.
How Landlords Benefit
Independent, transparent evidence that helps rebuild trust with tenants.
Huge cost savings compared to legal claims.
Less adversarial process that protects relationships and housing budgets.
Why Choose Tenants First CIC?
We’re not a solicitor, and we’re not a claims company. We’re a not-for-profit organisation set up to:
Protect tenants by making sure repairs are carried out.
Protect landlords from unnecessary costs and risks.
Protect communities by keeping more money invested in homes and services.
We’ll help you cut through the confusion, reduce stress, and get the best outcome for everyone.
