Since January 2019 the Leeds Metropolis Council tenant has been attempting to get motion so the harm is sorted as soon as and for all. The issues, the outcomes of a leak – trigger unknown – and widespread damp, have been examined a number of occasions. “Folks do inspections, write notes, but it surely doesn’t get past that and I’m not allowed to discover a repair,” Patrizio informed Crusader after Covid and security measures over 2020 led to additional repairs being placed on maintain.

A former Britain’s Bought Expertise contestant, Patrizio nonetheless likes to sing, however a number of well being issues not too long ago have taken their toll. “My dwelling situations are making issues worse,” he says. 

The problems fall below the Properties (Health for Human Habitation) Act 2018 that got here into power in March.

Regulation agency CEL Solicitors has taken up on Patrizio’s case together with 130 related ones involving eight completely different landlords

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“Patrizio is one in all doubtlessly hundreds of thousands of tenants dwelling in properties not match for function,” explains CEL’s proprietor Jessica Hampson.

“As lockdown got here in earlier this yr, any guarantees of repairs had been delayed, regardless of Authorities steering stating that each important and non-essential repairs might nonetheless be carried out until the tenant was self-isolating.”

A September 15 deadline to finish Patrizio’s repairs was missed and now CEL has issued courtroom proceedings towards the council for breach of settlement.

If the case goes forward, an end result is anticipated by summer season 2021.

However Patrizio desperately hopes it won’t come to this.

Having moved out briefly as a result of the well being dangers, in April he was paid £1,150 compensation, with CEL deducting £182 for its companies.

“But when solely correct repairs might be organised it could save my well being and everybody cash,” he stated.

Following Crusader’s inquiry to Leeds Metropolis Council, Patrizio reported final week that “one other crew turned up and put some PVC on the ceiling”.

CEL confirmed his view this was one other short-term repair.

A council spokesman stated: “Leeds Metropolis Council is completely dedicated to offering secure, high quality properties to our tenants, and that is extra necessary to us than ever in the course of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“We are able to verify that compensation has been agreed with the tenant and the leak has been mounted. We’re working laborious to finish the excellent repairs as quickly as we probably can.”