FI15920

Request

  • How many disrepair claims have you defended every year since 2013 to 2025?
  • Broken down year by year, how much did you pay in legal costs for disrepair claims?
  • Since 2013 (once again, year by year), how much did you spend on maintenance on social housing units?
  • Do you have any comments to add about disrepair claims? How do they affect the service you provide? Is the law set up adequately for councils/LAs to deal with them? Any further comments?

Response

  • Legal claims defended (these dates are taken from the letter of claim received, not settlement):
    • 2019/20 – 2
    • 2020/21 – 2
    • 2022/23 – 2
    • 2023/24 – 2
    • 2024/25 – 1
    • Zero for the rest of the years mentioned

  • Legal claims issued - “all in offer” means damages and costs, no set costs figure

    • 2020/21 - £5,500

    • 2022/23 - £17,750

    • 2023/24 - £3,000 and £1,500 all in offer

    • 2024/25 - £5,500 all in offer and £6,500 all in offer

    • Zero for the rest of the years mentioned

  • This information is available on the Council’s website as part of the Statement of Accounts data at https://www.dover.gov.uk/Corporate-Information/Financial-Information/Budgets--Accounts.aspx (Housing Revenue Account Income and Expenditure Statement: Expenditure - Repairs and Maintenance).  The Statement of Accounts for 2024/25 are still being prepared and will be published on our website when they are drafted.

  • The Council does not hold this information.