Housing Disrepair: Your Rights As A Tenant
In the UK, tenants have a range of legal rights when it comes to housing disrepair, mainly governed by legislation such as the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, and various regulations under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
Right To A Habitable Home
Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, all rented homes must be safe, healthy, and free from serious hazards at the start and throughout the tenancy.
This applies to all tenancies in England (since March 2019) and covers issues like damp & mould, structural problems, broken boiler, drainage issues, vermin infestation, etc.
Right To Repairs
Tenants have the right to expect their landlord to carry out certain repairs in a reasonable time.
Your landlord is responsible for:
- Structure and exterior of the property (walls, roofs, windows, doors)
- Heating and hot water systems
- Sanitation (toilets, basins, baths, drains)
- Installations for gas, electricity, and water supply
Right To Report Disrepair & Have It Acted Upon
You have the right to report any disrepair to your landlord, and they are legally required to:
- Respond within a reasonable time
- Carry out necessary inspections
- Complete repairs in a timely manner
Right To Protection From Retaliatory Eviction
Under the Deregulation Act 2015, if you report disrepair to the landlord and they fail to act, and you then report them to the local authority, the landlord cannot evict you in retaliation (via Section 21 notice) for up to 6 months.
Right To Take Legal Action For Disrepair
If a landlord fails to carry out repairs, tenants can make a housing disrepair claim to seek repairs and compensation for inconvenience, damaged belongings, and injury or illness suffered due to the poor condtions.