Scam details
The caller said they were from ‘Housing Disrepair’ and were asking about repairs at the resident’s home. They claimed to be from the resident’s social housing provider.
Fortunately, the resident was able to identify this was a scam call and hung up. Please be aware of similar scams. This scam call was made from this phone number: 0331 630 4176.
Our repairs process
At Southern Housing we’ll never call residents and ask for personal information (name, age, birth date or address) in order to carry out a repair.
If you have logged a repair request with our Customer Services Team, our teams or contractors will call you to arrange an appointment.
What Is a Housing Disrepair Claim?
A housing disrepair claim is legal action taken by a resident when a booked repair isn't carried out in a reasonable time.
While we understand it can be frustrating if you're experiencing delays with your repair, using a solicitor to make a claim can come with risks:
- Hidden costs:
Some companies offering “no win, no fee” legal services may still leave customers in significant debt. They often charge a large upfront fee for insurance, and any compensation awarded may be reduced to cover legal costs, including solicitor fees, even if the claim is unsuccessful.
- Fees:
These companies want to profit from you and may claim success but once you sign up, it’s hard to cancel. If you try, you could face:
- Survey fees up to £1,000
- Over £500 in legal insurance charges
- Possible liability for our legal costs if you lose in court
They often don’t explain these risks clearly.
- Long delays:
Some claims can take several years to settle, and you may be required to appear in court to give evidence, which can be a stressful experience.
- Tenancy breaches:
Most companies handling your claim may advise you to deny us access for repairs, which breaches your tenancy agreement. As your landlord, we’re responsible for your home’s safety and will still attempt to visit with notice. If urgent repairs are needed, we may seek a court injunction to gain access.
What happens if I make a claim?
A disrepair surveyor from Southern Housing will contact you and visit your home to carry out a survey. If the survey identifies repairs that are our responsibility, we’ll arrange to carry out the work. This work can only be completed once an agreement has been reached with your disrepair claim, unless the repair is an emergency.
Southern Housing Surveyors have detailed knowledge of the legal disrepair process. And ensure that their property survey reports are court compliant and demonstrate the surveyor’s awareness of their duty of independence to the court.
Our surveyor will also check if we need to re charge you for any property damage during your tenancy.
You will need to provide us with access to your home to carry out a survey in the event of any claim you make against us.
We’ll also check our records to see whether you have reported any of the repairs to us previously, in line with your tenancy agreement.
Even if a disrepair claim is successful, it is extremely unlikely that you will receive a significant amount of damages. While the Claims Management Company might say that they will claim 50% of any damages, they will pursue costs separately, which are where the bulk of any payment. Usually, about 80-90% of any pay-out will go to them.
We’ll rigorously defend any dishonest or bogus claims. You could be left with a large legal bill if the claim is found to be dishonest or bogus.
Before starting a claim, please talk to us first. If you need to make a complaint, please click the button below to find our complaints process.
Protect yourself from phone scams and fraud
Scammers can target people online (on websites and social media), as well as using letters, phone calls and knocking on doors. Be cautious if:
- It sounds too good to be true
- You're asked for personal info or quick payments
- The contact is unexpected or seems suspicious
If you're concerned or would like to find out more simple ways to stay safe from scams, click the button below.
Find out moreContact us if you’re concerned
If you receive a call about repairs, or anything to do with your home that doesn't sound right, it might not be. Please contact us directly and we can check whether the call was legitimate.
Learn more about spotting email and phone scams and reporting it to the government and the police.
Additional support
If you require any additional support, you can also access advice from other organisations, including:
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