Duties of a Landlord : Property Disrepair

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation Act 2018) came into force on 20th March 2019. It is designed to ensure that all rented accommodation is fit for human habitation. The legislation requires landlords to meet their existing responsibilities with regard to property standards and safety.

Landlords should ensure that their properties, including any common parts of the building, are fit for habitation at the beginning of the tenancy and throughout. 

The new law allows those in rented accommodation the ability to sue landlords if much-needed repairs are not made. The law says “repair” involves the exterior and structure of a property. Examples of this are, leaking drains, gutters, windows, roof, rotten woodwork, or subsidence.

If a tenant notices a problem, they should immediately contact the landlord, so they can take action. Once a landlord is aware of a problem they must take action and carry out repairs in a reasonable time period.

If the issue is subsidence, moving a tenant out of a property into alternative accommodation can be costly, disruptive, and inconvenient. Geobear work with landlords regularly, and we receive some very positive feedback from both them and their tenants. Our work can be completed in as little as one day with minimal disruption, and this is most appealing for both parties.

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