Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda made the ruling on Thursday.

In the ruling Judge Nyirenda says the court through the registrar will have to assess the damages before coming up with the right amount for compensation.

The Area 18 victims, over 1300 in total, are seeking 4 million kwacha each as compensation for taking contaminated water.

One of the lawyers for the victims Gift Nankhuni says the legal team is satisfied with the ruling saying it gives power to consumers as well as cautions service providers to improve on the services rendered.

"We are satisfied with the ruling, it gives the consumers back their rights to access better services. We are now preparing documents for assessment. We are hopeful it will done by next week, it does not take time," said Nankhuni.

Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer for the Malawi Housing Corporation Ernestina Lunguzi asked for more time before commenting on the matter, while Public Relations Officer for the Lilongwe City Council Tamara Chafunya pushed us to the Attorney General, as lawyer for government institutions.

The two were faulted for the spillage that led to the residents taking unhygienic water on 18 July 2017, as landlords.