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Frozen Pipes: How To Handle Burst Pipes And Water Damage Claims
Water can be the cause of huge damage in the home, and in a rented property you need to be extremely vigilant for problems it may be causing or about to cause. Water leaks can be slow and persistent and are not always visible or noticeable, while others are more obvious and immediate. Sometimes it is the smaller ones which can develop over time and cause a major issue before you are able to take any action. But one of [...]
Housing Disrepair: When Can You Withhold Rent?
As a tenant, although it may seem unfair that you are still paying rent when a landlord hasn’t resolved a housing disrepair issue, you still have a duty, according to your tenancy agreement, to continue paying rent and it is extremely risky if you choose to stop paying rent at any point. The law regarding housing disrepair, rent arrears and grounds for eviction is extremely complex, and at all times it is important that the tenant keeps their nose clean [...]
How To Deal With Mice And Rats In Your Home
There is nothing worse than discovering you have a mice or rat infestation in your rented property, and of course you will report this immediately to your landlord if this is the case. Such an infestation is usually the sign of a bigger problem, but while you wait for your landlord to act, you need to do something yourself. Unlike a slow leak or broken heating that you can perhaps live with for a short time while you wait for [...]
What These Recent Court Cases Could Mean For You
A common argument we hear from tenants subjected to housing disrepair is that a claim is not worth pursuing, because too much time has elapsed since they first reported an issue. But three recent county court cases have brought into focus an important change in legislation which can help with retrospective claims. A ruling on 20th March 2020 meant that tenants could claim retrospectively for housing disrepair, according to the Homes (Fitness for Human habitation) Act 2018. This means that [...]
Types Of Damp And How To Identify Them
Damp is a very common problem in any property, including rented properties, and it is an issue that requires dealing with straight away before it becomes a much bigger problem. Unfortunately, signs of damp are never a good thing and they point to a wider issue that requires investigation. That problem may not be a huge challenge and in some cases is easily rectified, but the important factor is that you investigate the issue immediately, and if in a rented [...]
5 Causes Of External Damage And How They Can Impact Your Home’s Security And Comfort
Our home is our kingdom and it is where we feel most safe, secure and comfortable, and that applies to both inside and outside the home. While curb appeal has a major impact on a property’s value, if you are renting the property you want the exterior of your home to be well looked after for various other reasons: Safety and security – Excessive external damage or deterioration can start to affect how safe and secure your home is. Energy [...]
Together Housing Residents Evicted Due To Structural Works
Tenants having to live with known housing disrepair issues and uncomfortable living conditions may have a housing disrepair claim and not even be aware of this fact, as highlighted by the recent Together Housing news articles in the press last month (June 2024). A landlord is responsible for providing safe and operational housing from the beginning of a rental tenancy and throughout the tenancy period. However, Together Housing has told its 130 tenants at St James Court and Albion Court [...]
The Damaging Effect Of Faulty Heating In Rented Accommodation
Tenants with underlying health problems can be severely affected by uncomfortable living conditions, and this has been highlighted by recent reports of a woman’s health suffering after two days of having no heating and hot water, in January. A landlord is responsible for providing safe and operational gas, electric and plumbing supplies at the beginning of a rental tenancy and throughout the tenancy period. Boilers come under this category and have a significant effect on the safety and comfort of [...]
The Mental Health Impact Of Housing Disrepair
Our home is defined as a place of comfort and safety. It is where we can retreat to at all times and know we will be welcomed by loved ones and home comforts. For many people, home is the last bastion of refuge in a life that involves complex needs and a myriad of issues, and hence, if home doesn’t offer safety and comfort in these circumstances, it can lead to a devastating downward spiral of mental health issues. Any [...]
A Landlord’s Repair Responsibilities External To The Home
It is generally understood what a landlord’s repair responsibilities are inside the home, and therefore what a tenant can claim for and what is actually their own responsibility. However, with regards to the outside of a rented property, this is something of a grey area. In terms of legal responsibilities, Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 states only that the landlord needs “to keep in repair the structure and exterior of the dwelling-house (including drains, gutters and [...]
