Housing

Yes, your landlord must fix serious damp and mould in England and Wales because it is a breach of their legal repair obligations under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.

The Decent Homes Standard is a UK government benchmark requiring social housing to be in a reasonable state of repair, meet current safety standards, and provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort. It applies only to homes owned or managed by local authorities and registered providers — not private rentals.

Your landlord must take urgent action to fix the Category 1 hazard, as it poses a serious risk to health or safety — the local council can serve an improvement notice or emergency remedial action notice if they fail to act.

Yes, harassing a tenant to leave their home is a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.

Your landlord must serve a valid Section 21 notice under the Housing Act 1988, giving at least 2 months’ written notice and meeting strict legal requirements — otherwise, the eviction is unlawful.

A Section 8 notice is a formal legal document a landlord in England and Wales can serve to begin eviction proceedings against a tenant with an assured tenancy, but only for specific statutory grounds set out in the Housing Act 1988.

Yes, it is illegal for your landlord to evict you without a court order in the UK — doing so may amount to a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.

Your landlord cannot force you to sign a new tenancy with higher rent — they must follow the legal process under section 13 of the Housing Act 1988, which gives you the right to challenge an unfair rent increase.

If your landlord hasn’t protected your tenancy deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days, you can apply to court for a penalty of 1–3 times the deposit amount.

No, your landlord cannot charge you for normal wear and tear when you leave — it is not your responsibility to pay for deterioration that results from ordinary use of the property.

If your landlord didn’t protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme or failed to return it within 10 days of agreeing how much you’re owed, you can apply to the county court for repayment and a penalty of up to three times the deposit.

No, your landlord generally cannot increase the rent mid-tenancy unless your tenancy agreement allows it or you both agree in writing — and even then, strict rules under the Housing Act 1988 apply.

As an assured shorthold tenant in England and Wales, you have the right to a written statement of terms, protection from eviction without a court order, and deposit protection — all backed by the Housing Act 1988.

Yes, under current UK law, a landlord can refuse to renew an assured shorthold tenancy without giving a reason — but only if the tenancy is ending at the end of its fixed term and the landlord serves a valid Section 21 notice. The Renters (Reform) Act 2023 abolishes 'no-fault' evictions, but it has not yet come into force.

You can only end a fixed-term tenancy early if your tenancy agreement includes a break clause, your landlord agrees in writing, or you assign/sublet with consent — otherwise, you remain liable for rent until the term ends.

Your tenancy continues unchanged if your landlord sells the property — the new owner becomes your landlord, and all terms of your existing tenancy agreement remain in force.

Yes, your landlord can still try to evict you for having a pet even if it’s not banned in your contract — but under the Renters (Reform) Act 2023, blanket pet bans in new tenancies are now unlawful.

No, your landlord generally cannot enter your flat without permission unless it’s an emergency or they’ve given you proper written notice of at least 24 hours.

No, your landlord cannot lawfully evict you for reporting repairs to the council — doing so may amount to retaliatory eviction, which is illegal under UK law.

If your HMO landlord doesn’t have a required licence, the tenancy is still legally valid, but the landlord commits a criminal offence and you may be able to claim up to 12 months’ rent back through a Rent Repayment Order.

Yes, as a lodger in England and Wales, you have limited eviction protections under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 — your landlord must give you reasonable notice before asking you to leave, and cannot use unlawful means to force you out.

Yes, you can be evicted for subletting without your landlord’s permission — it is usually a breach of your tenancy agreement and may give your landlord grounds for possession.

No, since 1 June 2019, letting agents in England are banned from charging most fees to tenants under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 — the Housing Act 1988 does not authorise such fees.

If your landlord didn’t have planning permission for your flat, the tenancy may still be legally valid, but the property could be subject to enforcement action by the local council — and in some cases, you may be entitled to rent repayment or compensation.

Yes, your landlord must provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) before you move in — it's a legal requirement for most rented homes in England and Wales.