When you rent your home, you have the right to expect it to be safe, in good condition and free from serious disrepair. Under the law in England, landlords have a legal duty to keep their properties fit for human habitation and to meet specific safety standards — covering the structure and exterior of the property, hot water, heating and sanitation. If your landlord fails to carry out repairs after being told about a problem, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
What counts as housing disrepair?
Compensation claims most commonly involve one or more of the following problems:
- Damp and mould — can cause respiratory issues and allergies.
- Structural damage — cracks in the walls, damaged roofs or broken windows.
- Plumbing issues — leaks or faulty drainage that lead to water damage.
- Electrical problems — unsafe wiring, exposed sockets or broken lighting.
- Heating failure — no working heating or hot water, particularly during the colder months.
What affects compensation for each type of issue
There is no set figure. Every claim is assessed on its own facts, and these are the main factors for common types of disrepair. Heating failure can have a greater impact on elderly or vulnerable tenants.
| Type of disrepair | What affects compensation |
|---|---|
| Damp and mould | How severe the damp is, how long it went unrepaired and any effect on your health or belongings |
| Structural damage | How serious the damage is, how long it lasted and whether your home was safe to live in |
| Plumbing problems | How long the problem lasted and whether it caused leaks, damage or loss of facilities |
| Electrical faults | Whether the fault created a safety risk and how long you were without safe power |
| Heating failure | How long you were without heating or hot water, the time of year and who lives with you |
What you actually receive depends on how severe the disrepair is, how long it went unrepaired after your landlord was notified, and the impact on your health, belongings and daily life.
Rent refunds and inconvenience
Alongside an award for the disrepair itself, you may be able to recover a portion of your rent for periods when the property was uninhabitable — the amount reflects how serious the inconvenience was and how far the property’s habitability was reduced. For damp and mould, this depends on how much of your home was affected and for how long. You may also receive separate compensation for inconvenience, depending on how much the problem disrupted your daily life.
What it comes down to
The compensation you can receive for housing disrepair depends on the severity of the problem, its impact on your health and how long it has persisted — awards can range from hundreds to thousands of pounds. Good documentation and early legal advice are the two things most likely to secure the compensation you’re entitled to.