If you live in a council home, Clarion social housing, or property from a housing association, your landlord is legally obligated to make sure that it meets habitability standards and that everything is in proper working order.

Housing disrepair is when a rented property deteriorates or requires repairs so that it is safe and suitable to live in, it is your landlord’s responsibility to ensure a reasonable living standard is met.

Housing disrepair usually consists of the following issues:

• Mould or damp problems
• Pest infestations
• Leaks & water damage
• Broken heating systems
• Faulty electrical wiring
• Internal deterioration
• Gutters, drains, pipes & structural
• Broken kitchen & bathroom fittings

Clarions responsibility

• Walls, ceilings and plaster.
• Internal doors, frames, thresholds, architraves and stops.
• Flooring, floorboards, floor joints and skirting boards.
• Stairs and handrails.
• External door locks and bolts.
• Built-in cupboards.
• Fixing damage caused by our repairs.

Clarions responsibility 

• Storage heaters, convector heaters and electric fires.
• Hard-wired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Individual door-entry systems.
• Electrical testing.
• Light fittings.

Clarions responsibility 

• Conducting surveys.
• Cleaning affected areas with fungicidal wash.
• Clearing blocked air vents.
• Cleaning or replacing filters and duct systems in ventilation.
• Installing extractor fans as needed.

Clarions responsibility 

• Removing pests from communal areas.
• Sealing openings that allow pests in to your home.
• Structural surveys if you’ve reported cracking or structural problems.
• Damp and disrepair surveys.
• Woodworm, dry rot and wet rot treatment.
• Removing or containing asbestos identified by an asbestos survey.

Clarions responsibility 

• Keeping the roof watertight.
• Chimney breasts, stacks and flues.
• Gutters, downpipes and gulleys.
• Loft hatches.
• Replacing insulation where we removed it to do work.

Clarions responsibility 

• Keeping windows, doors and walls watertight.
• Misted double glazing.
• Installing window locks for health and safety reasons.
• Patio and balcony doors.
• Conservatories and lean-tos made by us.
• Ironmongery, catches, hinges and stays.

Although your rental agreement might state that the tenant is responsible for repairs, as a landlord you are still held accountable for damage done to doors and windows. Not being kept in good condition, broken windows and doors can cause all sorts of problems like mould growth or safety hazards.

To make sure everything is up to standard, check that exterior windows and doors close properly and don’t have any drafts. Take care of eroded sealants, dysfunctional door handles or locks, rotten window frames along with faulty hinges or glass pieces.

If your landlord is responsible for repairs related to your damp problem then they are legally obligated to make these repairs within a reasonable amount of time after you have informed them about the problem. If your landlord fails to carry out repairs then there are several ways that you can take further action.

If you are a private tenant or the tenant of a housing association then you can contact your local authority to complain about your landlord. Your local authority may refer you to the environmental health department or you can contact the environmental health department yourself directly.

If the damp is a danger to your health and safety then it could be classed as a hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). If the damp problem is a nuisance then it could be classed as a statutory nuisance. The council may be able to order your landlord to make the repairs.

If your local authority is your landlord and they have not made a repair then you can make an official complaint to the council. Alternatively, you may also be able to make a complaint to the Housing Ombudsman about them.

If your landlord still fails to make repairs then you could be eligible to make a claim against them.