Question 1

What counts as housing disrepair in ?

Accepted Answer

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (s.11) and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, housing disrepair includes: structural damage (cracks, subsidence, roof failures), damp from structural causes (rising damp, penetrating damp — not condensation caused by inadequate ventilation that's within the tenant's control), heating and hot water failures, broken plumbing, pest infestations, inadequate sanitary facilities, and anything that makes the property unsafe, unhealthy, or unfit to live in.

Question 2

What are my first steps if my home in  has disrepair?

Accepted Answer

Your first step is to notify your landlord in writing — text message, email, or letter — describing the problem clearly and asking them to carry out repairs within a reasonable time. Keep a copy of every communication. Photograph the disrepair with date-stamped images. If the landlord ignores your notification or fails to act within a reasonable time (usually 28 days for non-emergency issues, 24–48 hours for emergencies like a heating failure in winter), you have grounds to escalate — either through the local council's housing enforcement team or directly to the courts.

Question 3

Can I withhold rent because of disrepair?

Accepted Answer

No — withholding rent without following the correct legal procedure is very risky and can expose you to an eviction claim. Even if your landlord has failed to carry out repairs, continuing to pay rent while pursuing a legal claim is the correct approach. Your claim for compensation is separate from your obligation to pay rent. A solicitor or housing adviser can help you understand the available options if you are in a dispute with your landlord about disrepair.

Question 4

How long does my landlord have to fix things?

Accepted Answer

There is no fixed statutory timeframe — landlords must act within a "reasonable time" after being notified. What is reasonable depends on the severity of the issue: emergency repairs (complete heating failure in winter, burst pipes) should be addressed within 24–48 hours. Serious but non-emergency disrepair (significant damp, structural cracking) — within 28 days is a common benchmark. Where the issue requires a contractor or specialist inspection, the landlord should at minimum acknowledge the notification, arrange an inspection, and communicate a timeline within the 28-day window. Failure to respond at all is never reasonable.

Question 5

What compensation can I claim for housing disrepair?

Accepted Answer

Compensation in housing disrepair claims typically includes: a general damages award for the period you lived with the disrepair (usually calculated as a percentage of the rent — the worse the conditions, the higher the percentage), any special damages for personal belongings damaged by damp or water ingress, additional costs caused by the disrepair (e.g. higher heating bills from inadequate insulation, hotel or storage costs), and in some cases, damages for adverse health effects caused by damp and mould — particularly where children or elderly people are affected.

Question 6

My landlord says I caused the damp — what do I do?

Accepted Answer

This is the most common defence landlords use, and it fails in many cases. Normal daily activities — breathing, cooking, bathing — produce moisture, and some condensation is inevitable. But where the property lacks adequate ventilation, insulation, or heating to manage normal condensation, the problem is structural — not a failure by the tenant. Rising damp, penetrating damp from defective roofing or pointing, and damp caused by inadequate damp-proof courses are always structural issues and are never the tenant's responsibility. A professional damp survey distinguishes between condensation and structural damp. If you can show the cause is structural, the "tenant lifestyle" defence collapses.