Know Your Rights: Housing Disrepair Claims for Breaches of the Fitness for Human Habitation Act

Ensuring Your Home is Fit for Habitation: An In-Depth Look at the Fitness for Human Habitation Act

The fitness of a home for human habitation is of utmost importance. It affects the overall well-being of individuals living within the home and is also a basic human right. In the UK, there are laws in place to ensure that homes meet a certain standard of fitness for habitation. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 provides a guide with 29 points that a landlord must adhere to in order for their property to be deemed fit for habitation. In this article, we will explore these 29 points and their significance in ensuring that homes in the UK are fit for human habitation.

The 29 Key Points:

1. Repair: The property must be kept in good repair. This includes the structure, exterior, and interior.
2. Stability: The building must be structurally stable.
3. Freedom from damp: The property must be free from damp.
4. Internal arrangement: The internal arrangement of the property must be suitable for the intended use.
5. Natural lighting: There must be enough natural light in the property.
6. Ventilation: There must be adequate ventilation in the property.
7. Water supply: The property must have a supply of clean water.
8. Drainage and sanitary conveniences: The property must have adequate drainage and sanitary conveniences.
9. Facilities for preparation and cooking of food and for the disposal of waste water: The property must have adequate facilities for the preparation and cooking of food and for the disposal of waste water.
10. Storage: There must be adequate storage space in the property.
11. Occupiers’ accessibility: The property must be accessible for occupiers.
12. Structural movement: The property must not be subject to undue movement.
13. Hazards: The property must be free from hazards.
14. External lighting: There must be adequate external lighting.
15. Noise: The property must be free from excessive noise.
16. Domestic hygiene, pests and refuse: The property must be kept clean and free from pests and refuse.
17. Crowding and space: The property must not be overcrowded.
18. Entry by intruders: The property must be secure against entry by intruders.
19. Lighting to shared areas: There must be adequate lighting in shared areas.
20. Falling hazards: The property must be free from falling hazards.
21. Electrical hazards: The property must be free from electrical hazards.
22. Fire: The property must be free from fire hazards.
23. Flame, heat and hot surfaces: The property must be free from flame, heat, and hot surface hazards.
24. Radiation: The property must be free from radiation hazards.
25. Radon: The property must be free from excessive radon.
26. Uncombusted fuel gas: The property must be free from the risk of uncombusted fuel gas.
27. Asbestos and manufactured mineral fibres: The property must be free from the risk of asbestos and manufactured mineral fibres.
28. Lead: The property must be free from the risk of lead.
29. Carbon monoxide: The property must be free from the risk of carbon monoxide.

Conclusion

The 29 points outlined in the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 are essential in ensuring that homes in the UK are fit for human habitation. If a landlord fails to meet any of these points, they are in breach of the law, and tenants have the right to take legal action against them. Housing Disrepair Experts is a company that can help tenants make a no win no fee claim against their landlord if they are living in a property that is not fit for human habitation. This company is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ensure that they provide their services ethically and to a high standard.