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Housing

Repairs ignored, deposit withheld, mould, eviction notice, rent rises, housing association complaints. Whether you rent, own the leasehold or live in social housing, there are more routes to challenge the landlord than most people realise.

How long does the landlord have to fix repairs?
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 makes serious disrepair a breach on day one. The landlord must respond within a reasonable time. "Reasonable" depends on urgency: a boiler in winter is days, cosmetic wear is weeks. A written repair request starts the clock.
Can my landlord evict me for complaining?
Not lawfully. Retaliatory eviction is restricted by the Deregulation Act 2015. If you formally complained about repairs first, a s.21 notice served afterwards can be invalid. Section 21 is being abolished from 1 May 2026 anyway.
What if the deposit isn't protected?
If your landlord failed to protect the deposit in an approved scheme within 30 days, you can be awarded up to 3x the deposit's value. This is one of the strongest tenant rights in England and Wales.
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