Bradford Council has had to pay out more than £149,000 after tenants won their legal fight for compensation over long waits for house repairs, it was revealed today.

The news follows a damning report on the state of the city's housing repairs service and an admission from council leader Ian Greenwood that they had failed tenants.

The Telegraph & Argus has learned that a group of fed-up tenants have won a total of £149,000 in compensation and costs, after making successful claims through a solicitor.

The tenants resorted to legal action after waiting months in some cases for repairs to leaky roofs, missing tiles, gas fires hanging off walls and cracking plaster work.

Solicitor Adam Caan, of Eaton and Co, says between 50 and 60 individual claims made up the amount won since last April. But he claimed the figure was much higher than the Council had released. Sixty other claims are still pending.

"So far this financial year, our firm has won hundreds of thousands in compensation and costs,'' said Mr Caan. "Of course, it comes out of ratepayers' money. What we have maintained all along is that if the Council carried out the repairs which they are obliged to do by law, tenants would not need to complain to us.''

He added that one claimant - a taxi driver living in a council flat in Idle - had won £3,000 in compensation from the Council. That case had also cost the authority £4,000 in costs.

But Coun Jim O'Neill, housing sub- committee chairman, said: "Since 1997, the Council has awarded £54,000 to tenants who have taken legal action, and £95,000 in fees to Eaton and Co. These are the facts and I don't know where Mr Caan has got his figures from.

"The most important point about this national problem of lawyers pursuing local authorities through the courts is that they are the only ones who really benefit. Their fees come directly from the funds which should be spent directly on repairs.

"If any tenant wants to enquire about repairs to their house, they should contact the Housing Division.''

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