Yahoo News Tenants can now sue landlords if their homes have damp or mould or are too hot or too cold
Tenants will soon be able to sue their landlords if their homes are too cold, too hot or have damp.
Under a new law being introduced next month, renters can take landlords to court if the property is deemed unfit for living.
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act comes into force on March 20, and gives tenants powers to force landlords into making improvements to their properties.
The new law applies to tenancies of less than seven years in England and Wales and is an update of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
It means tenants can make a legal complaint if the property is too hot or too cold, has damp or asbestos, or noise or lighting issues.
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Housing charity Shelter has welcomed the new legislation, saying: “Crucially, the Bill will help private and social renter’s voices to be heard, by giving them the right to take their landlord to court over unfit and unsafe conditions like these in their home.
“The Bill could help to prevent another tragedy like the Grenfell tower fire. This was the starkest reminder of the dangers of unsafe accommodation.
“There are currently almost one million rented homes with hazards that pose a serious risk to health and safety.
“This affects around 2.5 million people, who’ll all benefit from this landmark change in the law.”
Tenants will be able to take legal action against their landlord if there are issues with repair, damp, stability, ventilation, water supply, drainage or cooking facilities.
The new law means that instead of going to their local council, renters can take court action to fight for the right to have changes made to their homes.
