Property condition
Property condition is the overall state of a rented property. It includes how safe, weatherproof, clean and functional it is for a tenant to live in throughout a tenancy. For a landlord, it’s both a commercial issue and a legal one, including poor condition can trigger enforcement, compensation, and restrictions on how you manage the tenancy.
At the legal baseline, most landlords’ ongoing duties include keeping the structure and key installations in repairs and ensuring the home is not unsafe or unfit. Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 covers core repairing obligations for most shorter residential lets, and the “fitness” duty in section 9A requires the home to be fit to live in at the start and remain so during the tenancy. If condition issues escalate, they can become disrepair claims or formal housing disputes.
Practically, condition management starts with a clear inventory and regular check-ins, and a simple process for reporting a repair so you are put on notice quickly. When access is needed, give written notice, agree reasonable times, and respect quiet enjoyment.
If you fail to address serious hazards, the local housing authority can act under HHSRS. That can mean an improvement notice, prohibition orders, or emergency action where there is an immediate risk.
The Renters’ Rights Act makes property condition even more central. The Act applies the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector and introduces a new Ombudsman and landlord database on a phased timeline. Separately, councils are already briefing landlords that Awaab’s Law requirements will apply to the private rented sector, raising expectations around damp and mould responses. With Section 21 notice abolished, possession relies on Section 8 notice and valid grounds for possession, so staying on top of condition is now a core risk control task.
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