This examined the harm being done to residents by unscrupulous claims harvesters in the wider council housing sector, gathering evidence from 30 respondents.

NFA members fully support the fundamental right of social tenants to bring a disrepair claim against a landlord who does not fulfil their responsibilities. But it’s clear that there is real cause for concern about the methods being used by some claims firms and the solicitors who work with them, with some tenants facing big legal bills despite supposed ‘no win, no fee’ agreements, or being duped into starting spurious legal claims before they have contacted their landlord.

The NFA submission asks MHCLG and MoJ for much more effective regulation to protect tenants and halt the unscrupulous use of disrepair legislation and Housing Revenue Accounts as an income stream – which needlessly takes much-needed money away from social housing management and maintenance.