By Lucy Caulkett-
A new law has been made that makes it is illegal for landlords to let properties that threaten tenants’ health and safety. Landlords have always been under an obligation to keep their properties in reasonable condition , and consider the well being of their tenants. The new law is an updated version of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and will cover all cover all tenancies of less than seven years at length.
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 applies to all new or renewed tenancies.
Courts can now order landlords to carry out the repairs and also give rulings that impose award of damages to tenants. The new rule for the first time imposes a legal duty on all social and private landlords to ensure that all properties to rent must be free from defects, including mould, blocked drains and poor ventilation, and to maintain properties in that state throughout the tenancy.
Landlords must make sure the home of their tenants is ’fit for human habitation’. This means it must be safe, healthy and free from things that could cause you or anyone else in your household serious harm. For example, if your house or flat is too cold and you can’t heat it, this can affect your health.
The new law takes immediate effect to all tenancies let from March 20 and all properties where a fixed term tenancy ends and is either replaced by another fixed term or just rolls on from month to month.