Glossary
Statutory nuisance
A condition listed in Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 that is prejudicial to health or a nuisance. Examples include damp and mould affecting health, active pest infestations, sewage smells, and structural conditions making a home unsafe. Tenants can take landlords to the Magistrates' Court under Section 82 EPA 1990 once a 21-day written notice has been sent.
Where it comes from in law
- Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 82, An alternative legal route for tenants whose home is a statutory nuisance: pests, mould, no heating, smells. Magistrates' Court. Often faster than civil disrepair and runs in parallel with it.
Related terms
Maladministration
When a landlord fails to do something they should have done, or does something they shouldn't. The most serious category is 'severe maladministration', which an independent statutory ruling can find against a landlord.
EPA Section 82 (Environmental Protection Act 1990)
A route a tenant can use to take a landlord to the Magistrates' Court if the home is a statutory nuisance, like serious damp or sewage smells. You usually have to give the landlord 21 days' written notice first.
Statutory periodic tenancy
The tenancy type that a fixed-term AST automatically becomes when it expires, if neither side ends it. It runs from week to week or month to month, depending on how rent is paid. Most private tenants are in a statutory periodic tenancy without realising it.
Abatement order
An order issued by the Magistrates' Court under Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, requiring a landlord to remedy a statutory nuisance (such as serious damp, pests, or sewage problems) within a fixed period. Non-compliance can result in a fine and daily penalties.
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Glossary entries explain the words. If you have a damp, mould, heating or repair problem your landlord is ignoring, we can help. Call free or start your claim online.
By: Support for Tenants editorial team
Last updated:
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 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 and not guaranteed; every case is different.