Fitness for Human Habitation Guidance

Official guidance on the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 and landlord obligations to maintain habitable properties.

Updated: 1 March 2026

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Important Legal Note

Tenants can take direct legal action against landlords without involving the local authority.

Document Overview

Fitness for Human Habitation

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 requires all rented properties to be fit for human habitation at the start and throughout the tenancy.

What Makes a Property Unfit:

Serious damp or mould
Structural instability
Inadequate heating
Pest infestation
Lack of adequate natural light
Inadequate ventilation

Tenant Rights:

Can take landlord to court without going through council
Can claim compensation for uninhabitable conditions
Court can order repairs to be carried out

Landlord Obligations:

Property must be fit at start of tenancy
Must remain fit throughout tenancy
Must respond to repair requests promptly