York tenants who tried to sue the council over alleged housing disrepairs are now out of pocket by thousands of pounds.
City of York Council say tenants are being targeted by ‘no win, no fee’ legal firms – and in at least two cases, residents have been left with huge legal bills.
A claimant took the council to court over alleged failures to repair their home this month.
But a county court judge threw out the claim and ordered the tenant to pay £7,964 in legal costs.
That follows another unsuccessful ‘no win, no fee’ case against the council in 2023 where the tenant was ordered to pay costs of £10,409.
The council says that unaccredited ‘surveyors’ have been going door to door in York, encouraging tenants to make compensation claims against their landlord.
“They then sell this information on to legal firms for their own gain, with some suggesting that they work for the council, when they do not,” a council spokesperson said.
Cllr Michael Pavlovic, executive member for housing, planning and safer communities, said: “We strive to get repairs done quickly and efficiently and 86% of them are completed on a first visit.
“Our tenants are always invited to talk to officers about any repairs needed, or any delay or dissatisfaction with them.
“We are committed to making good any repairs for which we are responsible, and our ongoing and significant housing repair programme is upgrading and modernising homes.
“These claims against the council mean that everyone loses – except for these legal firms – and have left tenants owing thousands of pounds in court costs.
“The time and money spent by the council to defend these claims could be better invested in tenants’ homes.”