Tripped on Dangerous Carpet at Home? Get Free Legal Advice
Compensation for Tripping on a Dangerous Carpet
A recent client of Bartletts Solicitors was Mr D, an elderly tenant, who was injured when he tripped on a carpet tile in his living room that was loose because it was not glued down properly. Mr D's toes became stuck in the ridge of the carpet as he walked across it, and he fell forwards and landed awkwardly, breaking his wrist and tearing muscles in his shoulder.
Mr D had only moved into the rented property a week before, and his daughter had informed the landlord's agent about the problem with the carpet and the possible danger it posed when she viewed the flat on father's behalf. Mr D was treated in the accident and emergency department at his local hospital and did not regain full mobility in his wrist and shoulder for more than 10 weeks, during which time he needed the assistance of a carer to help him perform basic daily tasks.
- Our Legal Advice
- Landlords’ Responsibility for Safety of Carpeting
- Our Experience With Accidents at Home
- The Claims Process
- Your Compensation
Landlords have a legal duty to provide accommodation that is reasonably safe for tenants to live in, and in this case it was clear that the problem with the carpet tile pre-dated Mr D moving into the property. Furthermore, Mr D's daughter had expressed her concerns about the state of the carpet to the landlord's agent, yet on action had been taken to repair the defect. We were able to win an admission of liability from the landlord's insurers relatively quickly in this instance, and Mr D received £2,750 in compensation for tripping on the loose carpet tile, as well as an additional sum to cover the cost of the medical care he required while recuperating.
Carpeting may also pose a health risk due to its sanitary condition, although such cases are rare and the landlord will not be responsible for replacing carpets that are dirty, tatty or threadbare, but which do not represent a safety hazard or health risk, unless the lease specifically says so. In extreme cases, damaged carpeting can make a property uninhabitable, and in that situation the tenant will need to contact their local authority and arrange an inspection, after which the landlord can be forced to deal with the disrepair and potentially compensate the tenant.
The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries and the likelihood that you’ll make a full recovery. We’ll seek expert opinions on what care you’ll need to ensure that the compensation we claim will be sufficient.
Why Choose Bartletts Solicitors?
Solid Traditional Values Delivered
in a Modern Convenient Manner
Every year we help over a thousand injured people make claims for compensation on a no win no fee basis. Many are tenants claiming against their landlords.
We help tenants claim for personal injury, such as slips, falls and injuries caused by unsafe structures.
Our service is designed to be easy to use: meetings by phone & email, local medical appointments, sign documents online, or visit our city centre offices.
Our solicitors are very experienced having worked at the firm for an average of 18 years.
Housing Law Team:

Call now for your free consultation. We guarantee you a warm welcome and a lawyer with the expertise that you would expect from a leading housing law firm.
Accident Claims Caused by Disrepair We Have Won:
- Slips and Trips on Unsafe Steps
- Injuries From Defective Home Appliances
- Trips on Damaged or Loose Carpeting
- Injuries From Collapsing Ceilings
- Dangerous Fixtures and Furnishings
- Slipping Accidents at Rented Properties
- Accidents in Communal Areas
Accident and Disrepair Topics:
Bartletts is proud to support a number of public bodies and charities, including Liverpool Cathedral, National Museums Liverpool, the Walker Art Gallery and Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice. You can find out more on our blog or on social media.
“I was delighted Bartletts Solicitors continued their tradition of philanthropy with Liverpool Cathedral this year. Thank you so much for your generous gift.” - The Dean of Liverpool, The Very Revd Dr. Sue Jones (Dec 2020)