Helping Londoners Stay In Their Homes

Tenants often turn to the UK Housing Disrepair Project after enduring serious habitability problems, such as water leaks, rising damp, faulty electrics, mold, and broken heating. These issues can cause illness and distress, particularly for the elderly, children, and people with disabilities.

Improving clients’ living conditions generates far-reaching benefits, helping individuals remain employed and children stay in school — strengthening families and communities alike.

"Working with the UK Housing Disrepair Project offers an opportunity for Latham lawyers to not only diversify their practice, but also to make a tangible and lasting impact on the lives of affected tenants throughout London."

Hayden Teo, Partner, London

The UK Housing Disrepair Project brings together nonprofits, community partners, and law firms in a unified effort to champion tenants facing unsafe or uninhabitable living conditions. Through this collaborative initiative, participants help tenants access qualified surveyors, ombudsman and other avenues for repairs and compensation (including legal aid) and to seek alternative accommodation, empowering them to address critical housing challenges and assert their rights.

As a participating firm, Latham lawyers deliver comprehensive support — conducting initial client interviews, preparing applications for legal aid, drafting impactful letters to environmental health officers, and engaging with the Housing Ombudsman. This hands-on involvement not only facilitates communication between tenants and landlords, but also helps remedy substandard housing conditions. Beyond resolving complaints, our team assists residents in dire circumstances with applications for “deemed homelessness” status, offering a pathway to housing stability.