Disrepair issues

The conditions your landlord is legally required to fix

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, your council or housing association must keep your home safe, warm, dry and free from serious hazards. Here's what we see most.

Damp & Black Mould

Penetrating damp, rising damp and black mould spreading across walls, ceilings and window reveals.

What to look for

Black or green mould on walls, ceilings or sealant
Peeling wallpaper, blown plaster and tide marks
Musty smell, condensation running down windows
Ruined clothing, furniture and bedding

Why it matters

Mould spores are linked to asthma, chest infections and serious respiratory illness — especially in children, older tenants and anyone with existing health conditions. Landlords must act under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018.

Pest & Vermin Infestations

Rats, mice, bedbugs, cockroaches and ants entering through structural gaps or defective waste systems.

What to look for

Droppings, gnawed packaging or scratching in walls and lofts
Holes around pipework, airbricks and rotten door frames
Shared bin stores or drainage defects attracting vermin
Repeat infestations after landlord 'one-off' treatments

Why it matters

Where an infestation is caused by disrepair — broken drains, gaps in brickwork, defective waste chutes — your landlord is responsible for both the repair and the harm caused, including contaminated food, bites and sleep loss.

Leaks & Water Damage

Roof leaks, burst pipes, defective plumbing and collapsing ceilings left unrepaired for months.

What to look for

Water staining or bulging on ceilings
Buckets catching drips, damaged flooring
Leaks from the flat above or communal risers
Electrics affected by water ingress

Why it matters

Water damage destroys belongings and quickly becomes a damp and electrical safety issue. Compensation can cover both the loss of your possessions and the loss of use of affected rooms.

Defective Heating & Hot Water

Broken boilers, cold radiators and no hot water — often dragging on through the winter months.

What to look for

Boiler repeatedly breaking down or condemned
Radiators cold in one or more rooms
No hot water for washing or bathing
Reliance on electric heaters pushing bills up

Why it matters

A home that cannot be heated to a reasonable temperature is legally unfit. Cold homes worsen respiratory and circulatory conditions, and you may be owed the extra energy costs you were forced to pay.

Structural & Electrical Hazards

Cracked walls, rotten floorboards, exposed wiring and doors or windows that no longer secure your home.

What to look for

Cracks in walls or ceilings that keep widening
Soft, sagging or rotten floorboards and stairs
Exposed wiring, tripping circuits, scorched sockets
Windows or doors that won't close, lock or open safely

Why it matters

These are Category 1 hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. Landlords must make them safe promptly — failing to do so can support a substantial disrepair claim.

Not sure your problem counts?

If your home is cold, damp, unsafe or unsanitary and your landlord has been told about it, it is almost certainly disrepair. Check in 60 seconds.

Still living with disrepair? Let's get it fixed.

Speak to a housing disrepair specialist today. It takes 60 seconds, costs nothing, and there is no obligation to proceed.

Check your claim 0800 122 3344