Can I get money back because the council took over my landlord's property?

Because the council issued a management order (a legal tool used to take control of a property from a landlord who is failing to maintain it) to fix the disrepair in your Manchester flat, you are protected by specific rules regarding compensation. If the council is currently operating under a final management order, the law states that "If a third party requests them to do so at any time, the local housing authority must consider whether an amount by way of compensation should be paid to him in respect of any interference with his rights in consequence of an interim or final management order" [cite:uk-housing-act-2004-sec128]. This means that because your access to the communal garden has been restricted and your quiet enjoyment of your home has been disrupted by maintenance workers, you can trigger a formal review. The council is legally required to look at your claim and decide if money is owed to you for these specific disruptions [cite:uk-housing-act-2004-sec128]. If the council decides that you are entitled to money, they must "vary the management scheme contained in the order so as to specify the amount of the compensation to be paid and to make provision as to its payment" [cite:uk-housing-act-2004-sec128]. This ensures the payment is officially written into their management plan. However, if the council is currently operating under an 'interim' order (a temporary management order used while a permanent one is being decided), the process is different. In that case, you may need to apply to a tribunal (a specialized court that settles disputes) for an order to force the council to pay you [cite:uk-housing-act-2004-sec138]. The law does not specify exactly how much money you should receive, only that the council must consider it or a tribunal may order it [cite:uk-housing-act-2004-sec138].