Answers
Can I claim housing disrepair as a council or housing association tenant?
Checked 20 June 2026
Yes. If you rent from a council or a housing association, your landlord has the same legal duty to keep your home in repair as any other landlord, under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. Social tenants also have extra protection under Awaab's Law. If your landlord ignores repairs you have reported, you can claim for the disrepair and any compensation you are owed.
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Key facts
- Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 applies to council and housing association tenancies, the same as private ones.
- Social tenants also have Awaab's Law, which sets fixed deadlines for social landlords to investigate and fix serious hazards.
- You normally have six years to claim for the disrepair, and three years for any related personal injury.
- Report the problem in writing and keep a copy: the legal deadlines run from when your landlord was told.
The extra protection of Awaab's Law
On top of section 11, social tenants have Awaab's Law. It requires social landlords to investigate a serious hazard within fixed deadlines and to carry out the work within set timescales once they have been told about it. It applies to councils and housing associations, and has been in force for social landlords since 27 October 2025, with further phases following.
Related questions
Do council tenants have the same repair rights as private tenants?
Yes. Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 applies to council tenancies in the same way as private ones, so the repairing duty is the same.
Does Awaab's Law apply to housing associations?
Yes. Awaab's Law applies to social landlords, which includes both councils and housing associations.
Can I claim against the council for damp and mould?
Yes. Damp and mould are covered by the same repairing duty, and you can claim if the council was told and failed to put it right within a reasonable time.
How long do I have to claim?
Usually six years for the disrepair itself and three years for any related personal injury, under the Limitation Act 1980.
Sources and legislation
If your landlord has left repairs undone, We check whether you may have a claim. If you do, we refer you to an SRA-regulated panel solicitor who gives legal advice and runs the case. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.
By: Support for Tenants editorial team
Published:
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 20 June 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only, not a promise; every case is different.