Housing disrepair claims are often damages-light but costs-heavy. That is why the bill has to be prepared properly.
DMD Costs helps claimant solicitor firms recover housing disrepair costs through clear, evidence-led bills, Precedent S electronic bills, N252 preparation, Points of Dispute replies and settlement-led negotiation.
We understand the usual paying party arguments in HDR claims: proportionality, hourly rates, surveyor fees, telephone calls, routine correspondence, duplication, counsel’s fees and whether the work was genuinely necessary.
Our job is simple. We make the costs file presentable, defensible and ready for negotiation.
Specialist HDR Costs Support for Claimant Firms
Housing disrepair costs are not just another bill of costs.
A good HDR bill needs to tell the story of the claim. It should explain the condition of the property, the landlord’s notice, the delay, the expert evidence, the repair history, the client contact, the offers and the reason the work was required. If the bill is too generic, the paying party will attack it. DMD Costs prepares housing disrepair costs with those attacks in mind from the start. We assist with:
- bills of costs;
- electronic bills;
- Precedent S;
- N252 and Notice of Commencement;
- Points of Dispute;
- Replies to Points of Dispute;
- costs negotiations;
- CPR 46.14 costs-only support;
- Part 8 costs-only preparation support;
- proportionality arguments;
- surveyor fee disputes;
- hourly rate disputes;
- disbursement recovery;
- settlement advice on costs.
Why Housing Disrepair Costs Need Careful Drafting
In many HDR cases, the damages recovered may not reflect the amount of work required to get the matter resolved. A file may involve:
- damp and mould complaints;
- water ingress;
- leaks;
- defective windows or doors;
- defective heating;
- pest infestation;
- electrical issues;
- vulnerable tenants;
- children in the property;
- repeated landlord complaints;
- delayed inspections;
- expert surveyor evidence;
- repair disputes;
- disclosure delays;
- Part 36 offers;
- settlement negotiations.
The paying party may still argue the costs are disproportionate. That is why the bill must do more than list time entries. It needs to explain why the work was necessary, what caused the file to progress as it did and why the costs claimed are reasonable. For more on this, see our guide to housing disrepair costs in 2026.
What We Include in an HDR Bill
Every file is different, but a properly prepared housing disrepair bill will usually include:
- a concise case summary;
- details of the defects;
- notice and reporting history;
- Letter of Claim date;
- disclosure chronology;
- expert inspection date;
- expert report details;
- repair history;
- offer history;
- settlement outcome;
- costs entitlement;
- fee earner details;
- hourly rates;
- disbursement schedule;
- surveyor invoice details;
- proportionality narrative;
- VAT position;
- assessment-ready time entries.
Where an electronic bill is required, we can prepare the matter in Precedent S format.
Common Paying Party Arguments in HDR Costs
We regularly see the same objections in housing disrepair costs disputes.
“The costs are disproportionate”
This is usually the first argument. We address proportionality by making sure the bill explains the property condition, the landlord’s conduct, the length of the claim, the expert evidence and the work required to reach settlement.
“The surveyor fee is excessive”
Surveyor fees are frequently challenged. We make sure the expert evidence is properly identified and the disbursement is presented clearly, with the report, invoice and relevance of the evidence reflected in the costs position.
“The hourly rates are too high”
Paying parties often challenge fee earner grades and rates. We check the fee earner information, rate claimed and work allocation so the bill is cleaner before the paying party has the chance to attack it.
“There were too many telephone calls”
HDR clients often require regular updates, especially where repairs are ongoing or living conditions are poor. The issue is not just the number of calls. The issue is whether the purpose of the calls is clear. We draft entries so the work is properly explained.
“The work was routine”
Paying parties often try to treat all HDR files as the same. We identify the file-specific work: defects, client circumstances, landlord delay, expert involvement, offers and settlement issues. (See our guide to the most common housing disrepair Points of Dispute.)
Precedent S for Housing Disrepair Claims
Where detailed assessment requires an electronic bill, the Precedent S needs to be clean, accurate and properly phased. Poor electronic bills create easy reductions. We prepare Precedent S bills with attention to:
- correct phase allocation;
- fee earner details;
- hourly rates;
- time descriptions;
- chronology;
- disbursements;
- VAT;
- proportionality;
- assessment readiness.
A strong electronic bill helps negotiation because it shows the paying party that the file is ready to be defended if required.
Points of Dispute and Replies
If the paying party serves Points of Dispute, the response needs to be firm, specific and commercial. Generic replies rarely help. We prepare Replies that address the actual objections raised, including:
- proportionality;
- hourly rates;
- fee earner grade;
- duplication;
- routine work;
- client contact;
- surveyor fees;
- counsel’s fees;
- disbursements;
- conduct;
- delay;
- Part 36 offers;
- assessment risk.
The aim is to narrow the issues and push the matter towards settlement wherever possible.
Settlement-Led Negotiation
Most HDR costs matters should settle without a detailed assessment hearing if the bill is well prepared and the negotiation is handled properly. We take a commercial approach. That means we consider:
- the bill value;
- the offer received;
- likely reductions;
- proportionality risk;
- disbursements;
- VAT;
- assessment costs;
- Part 36 risk;
- client cashflow;
- whether Part 8 is needed;
- whether the offer is genuinely reasonable.
We do not negotiate for the sake of it. We negotiate to get the matter paid.
CPR 46.14 and Costs-Only Proceedings
Where the substantive housing disrepair claim has settled but costs remain unpaid or disputed, costs-only proceedings may need to be considered. We can assist with the costs side of that process, including:
- checking the settlement wording;
- reviewing whether liability for costs is clear;
- preparing the bill;
- preparing supporting costs documents;
- assisting with the costs-only route;
- progressing the matter towards assessment or settlement.
If the paying party is delaying or refusing to engage, we can help you decide whether the file is ready to move forward.
Secure Client Portal
DMD Costs has a secure client portal for solicitor firms. You can upload documents directly into our system without relying on third-party file transfer apps or external document-sharing tools. The portal allows you to:
- upload HDR files securely;
- keep documents organised;
- track the progress of each file;
- see file status updates;
- reduce email attachments;
- keep all costs work in one place.
This makes the process easier, cleaner and more transparent for your team.
Flexible Instructions
You can use DMD Costs whenever you need us. There is no need to send every file. You can instruct us on:
- one settled HDR file;
- a batch of HDR files;
- overflow work;
- urgent bills;
- PoDs and Replies;
- files stuck in negotiation;
- matters that may need Part 8.
We are flexible and work around your firm’s needs.
Fixed Fee Agreed Before Instructions
Our fee is fixed and agreed before we start work. There are no surprises.
Unless agreed otherwise, our fee is payable when your firm receives its costs from the paying party. This gives claimant firms a practical and cashflow-friendly way to outsource costs work without taking unnecessary risk.
Free Trial File
A free trial file may be available to new client firms.
The free trial is limited to one file per firm and is free through to settlement of the costs on that file. The free trial does not apply to issued cases or matters where costs proceedings have already been commenced. (See our Terms of Business for full details.)
Why Choose DMD Costs for HDR Costs?
Claimant firms use DMD Costs because we understand how housing disrepair costs are actually argued. We know the common reductions. We know the usual paying party tactics. We know how to prepare bills that are built for negotiation and assessment. We focus on:
- fast turnaround;
- clear drafting;
- commercial negotiation;
- standard-basis recovery;
- proper presentation of disbursements;
- strong proportionality narratives;
- claimant-focused costs strategy;
- fixed-fee certainty;
- payment on receipt of costs;
- secure portal upload and file tracking.