By Legal Futures Associate National Claims
It’s all too common to see the legal sector instinctively scale back marketing efforts for housing disrepair claims as the British weather finally starts to improve. While the logic may seem sound, given that housing disrepair claims typically spike during colder months when damp becomes more obvious and heating issues become more urgent, but what if the seasonal slowdown offers a missed opportunity?
The truth is housing disrepair is a problem year-round, and the industry’s approach should be equally persistent. At National Claims we see the summer not as downtime, but as a strategic window that our partners can benefit from. It gives solicitors time to build case pipelines undisrupted while we support their workflows and maximise their revenue streams. While winter highlights certain disrepair issues, summer brings its own host of issues from active leaks to structural damage.
In fact, warmer weather can make some of these cases even worse, with mold growth accelerating in warmer, more humid weather. Vulnerable tenants, especially those with respiratory conditions, young children and the elderly, suffer at the hands of disrepair regardless of the time of the year. The 2023/24 English Housing Survey found that 39% of social housing tenants reported issues with condensation, damp or mold. It also revealed that 9% of local authority homes had a problem with damp, with 5% of housing association properties telling a similar story.
“In some of the more extreme cases, the disrepair is so extensive that even the warmer summer months wouldn’t improve the conditions,” added Dan Brito, Managing Director of National Claims.
In short, housing disrepair doesn’t operate on a seasonal calendar, and neither should your lead generation strategy.
The difference? Based on average case values and acceptance rates, firms that stay active could generate up to £250,000 more in annual revenue simply by not switching off over the summer. With a consistent intake of 100 qualified cases per month, a firm converting 70% at £1,200 net revenue per case builds a predictable and profitable pipeline—while those that ease off marketing often struggle to break even after covering regular overheads.
Many legal firms report a summer slump but the issue isn’t a lack of need, it’s a lack of visibility. When firms pause or reduce their marketing efforts, the natural result is fewer enquiries which creates a cashflow barrier. Any lull in cases over summer often forces firms to over-rely on winter spikes, creating operational headaches, bottlenecks and inconsistent servicing.
A consistent flow of cases allows your firm to optimise resourcing, manage workloads and avoid burnout. That’s why at National Claims, we pride ourselves on providing our partners with expertly vetted cases every month of the year.
Summer isn’t just about keeping your lights on, it’s about setting your firm up for success in the final quarters of the year. With the average housing disrepair claim taking up to a year to investigate and prepare, it’s the perfect opportunity to build a strong catalogue of cases ready for settlement later in the year. This approach will allow your firm to balance workflows, accurately forecast revenue and avoid those dreaded end-of-year rushes.
From a lead generation perspective, summer presents a unique opportunity. With fewer firms investing in advertising, competition for keywords, social traffic and even traditional marketing spaces decreases. This creates an opening for smart firms to increase their share of voice and capture market attention when others have gone quiet.
National Claims keeps the foot on the pedal year-round to ensure a steady flow of claims across all housing disrepair types, not just the obvious winter cases. Whether it’s structural issues, damp and mold, or unsafe electrics, our expert team is trained to identify and vet claims that meet the legal threshold, keeping quality and conversion rates high.
Housing disrepair litigation is undergoing increasing scrutiny with the Regulator of Social Housing taking a more active stance with social housing providers and tenants becoming more aware of their rights and active in seeking a resolution – meaning your firm must be agile and responsive.
A partnership with an award-winning claims management company can make all the difference. At National Claims, we ensure every case we send to partners has been meticulously vetted to meet evolving regulations. Our business is built on retained, high-converting cases with transparent pricing, fixed monthly agreements and fully compliant marketing strategies. That’s why we’re the highest rated CMC on Trustpilot and why leading firms place their trust in us to deliver even if the market ‘slows’.
Every business faces cycles, but in legal services, particularly with housing disrepair cases, those cycles can be flattened with the right strategy. Rather than viewing the summer as downtime, firms should see it as a time to build, prepare and invest in long-term success.
National Claims doesn’t switch off when the sun comes out. We understand that tenants
suffering from disrepair don’t stop needing legal help just because they can wear shorts again.
The best firms plan ahead, and the best partners help them do it.
