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Housing disrepair and mental health

Living in housing that's in a poor state can be distressing. And if it's affecting your physical health, this could affect your mental health. 

If you rent your home, your landlord has some responsibility for repairs, and keeping your home safe. 

The living room is so bad that I can't have family or friends come and visit me so it gets lonely and isolating.

Which repairs is my landlord responsible for?

If you rent your home, your landlord should keep your home safe and in a good standard of repair. This is required by law and should apply throughout your tenancy. 

The law applies to social and private housing landlords. Generally, it only applies to tenancy agreements of under 7 years.

Your landlord should make sure that your home is free from:

  • Damp
  • Mould
  • Hazards
  • Pests

Your landlord must also make sure that your home has good access to:

  • Water supply
  • Ventilation
  • Drainage, guttering and external pipes
  • Natural lighting

If you're a social housing tenant, your housing provider has a legal duty to make sure certain minimum housing standards are met.

This may include providing information about what to do in a fire and labelling fire doors. And if you live in a block of flats, making lifts available and well-maintained. If your housing provider fails to do this, you can ask your council's environmental health department to make an inspection.

How can I get repairs done?

You should report them to your landlord or managing agent. Legally, your landlord should visit to inspect the damage. You can ask for 24 hours' notice for this visit.

Your landlord must then fix damage in your home as soon as reasonably possible.

If your landlord doesn't do this, you can write to them to remind them of their legal obligation.

If the problem still isn't fixed, you can:

  • Make a complaint. If your landlord is a housing association or local council, their complaints procedure should be on their website.
  • Contact your local council. If you rent from a private landlord, your local council might still be able to help. They might be able to compel your landlord to take action.
  • Contact the Ombudsman. Depending on your complaint, this may be the Housing Ombudsman or the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
  • Take legal action.

There's more information about repairs and complaints on Shelter's website. This includes information if you live in social housing or if you rent privately. And there are template letters you can use when contacting your landlord or managing agent.

It helps if you keep accurate records, such as copies of letters or emails with your landlord or managing agents. And photos of the damage.

Any medical evidence can also be useful. This could be about how the disrepair affects your health. Or the health of other family members who live with you.

You could also contact Citizens Advice or find an advocate to support you.

Mental health problems make it harder to complain - you have other things to think about

Do I have to let my landlord into my home?

You must allow your landlord into your home to make repairs. And to carry out safety checks for electricity and gas. If you deny access to your home, then the law says that generally, your landlord is not liable for making repairs.

You may have the right to refuse your landlord access for making improvements. You can check what it says about this in your tenancy agreement.

Sometimes, you might refuse to let your landlord into your home because of your mental health problem. In this case, your landlord should make reasonable adjustments when arranging repairs or improvements. They can only do this if they're aware of your mental health problem, so you'll need to tell them.

Reasonable adjustments might include your landlord visiting when you can have a friend, relative or a support worker with you. Or giving you more notice of any future repairs, so you have time to prepare for the visit.

Shelter has more information about giving access to your rented home in England and giving access to your rented home in Wales. This includes when you must give your landlord access to your home, and when you may refuse. 

Example

Nadia rents a flat from a housing association. The housing association could see that Nadia's flat wasn't in a good condition. But Nadia didn't want to let their staff into her home to make a proper assessment. Their visits were making Nadia anxious so she asked a friend for help.

Nadia's friend spoke to a local advice centre. She explained that Nadia's anxiety means that she struggles to let people she doesn't know into her home. The advice centre said Nadia could ask for reasonable adjustments, like having a set time for a visit and having someone else there with her. 

With her friend's support, Nadia explained to the housing association about her mental health problems. And this was why she was struggling to maintain her home and permit visits. She also asked for the reasonable adjustments she needed.

When the housing association visited, Nadia's friend came too. The housing association did their necessary repairs and checks. With this help and support, Nadia got her home repaired.

The housing association know the adjustments to make if they need to visit again. And Nadia knows she can ask for support if she's struggling to maintain her home in the future.

Which repairs am I responsible for?

The law says tenants should maintain their homes to a reasonable standard. This includes doing minor repairs, keeping homes well-ventilated and clean.

If you don't take reasonable care, you could be responsible for repairs if things stop working. For example, if you don't keep toilets and drains free from blockages. 

If your mental health problem means you struggle to maintain your home and keep it in a good condition, help may be available.

Getting help with repairs and maintenance

If you're a housing association tenant, check whether your association offers any housing support services.

You could contact your local social services and let them know how you're struggling. And what you might need support with. Our pages on social care have more information.

Some local Minds also help residents with housing problems, including problems with disrepair. Contact your local Mind to see if they offer this kind of support.

You can also visit our pages on hoarding, if you have problems with hoarding where you live. Our information includes organisations to contact for support.

Published: October 2024

Next review planned: October 2027

References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.

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