Housing disputes
Housing disputes are disagreements between a landlord and tenant about the rented property, money, behaviour, or legal rights under a tenancy agreement. Common flashpoints include repairs and standards, rent arrears, deposit deductions from a tenancy deposit, access for property viewings, alleged harassment, and challenges to rent increases.
Your best defence is process and evidence. Put everything in writing, keep a timeline, and attach proof, including messages showing the tenant put you on notice, contractor quotes and invoices, and dated photos. For deposit disputes, a signed inventory, check-in and check-out report, plus receipts, usually determines whether deposit protection adjudicators allow deposit deductions. The official deposit schemes offer dispute routes when landlord and tenant cannot agree.
Start with an internal complaints approach. Acknowledge the issue, propose a remedy, and set clear dates. Parliament’s Commons Library notes the normal expectation is that tenants raise complaints with the landlord or agent first, and only then seek independent redress where available.
Escalation routes depend on the dispute type:
Condition and safety complaints may involve the local housing authority using HHSRS powers such as an improvement notice or prohibition order.
Deposit disagreements go to the relevant Tenancy Deposit Scheme (often via ADR).
Possession and serious breaches go through the court, typically using Section 8 notice and specific grounds for possession.
From 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act reshapes the landscape in England, including Section 21 notice is abolished and most tenancies become open-ended, so disputes you might previously have “managed” by ending the tenancy must be handled through evidence-led resolution and lawful routes. The Act also introduces a new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman and a landlord database, aiming to resolve complaints without court where appropriate, including issues such as pet requests.
Also see our landlord blog articles, including:
