Attendance Allowance (AA) is a benefit for people aged 65 or over who have a physical or mental disability that means they need help with personal care or
On this page
Attendance Allowance (AA) is a benefit for people aged 65 or over who have a physical or mental disability that means they need help with personal care or supervision. If you receive Attendance Allowance and live in a privately rented home with disrepair, this guide explains how the two issues may connect and what your rights are.
What is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested, non-contributory benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions. It is for people who:
- Have reached state pension age (currently 66)
- Have a disability or health condition that has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 6 months
- Need help with personal care (washing, dressing, eating, managing medication) or supervision to stay safe
There are two rates:
- Lower rate: for those who need help or supervision during the day or night, but not both
- Higher rate: for those who need help or supervision during both day and night, or who are terminally ill
Attendance Allowance is not affected by whether you rent or own your home, or your income and savings. It is paid to help with the extra costs of having a disability.
How does disrepair affect Attendance Allowance recipients?
People who receive Attendance Allowance are often older or have significant health conditions. Disrepair in their home can have a more serious impact on them than on a younger, healthier tenant:
- A broken boiler or inadequate heating can put an older person with heart disease, respiratory illness, or poor circulation at serious health risk
- Damp and mould worsen conditions such as asthma, COPD, and arthritis
- Structural problems, broken steps, cracked floors, unsafe rails, pose greater falls risks to older or disabled people
- A broken bath or shower may leave someone unable to maintain basic hygiene if they rely on bathing rather than showering for mobility reasons
- Cold and damp homes worsen existing conditions and can lead to hospital admissions
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) explicitly takes into account the vulnerability of the occupants. An older person in poor health is considered a vulnerable occupant, and hazards are assessed as more serious as a result.
Can I make a housing disrepair claim?
Yes. Your age and any health conditions you have do not prevent you from making a housing disrepair claim. If your landlord has failed to carry out repairs they are legally obliged to make, and this has affected your health, comfort, or quality of life, you may be entitled to compensation.
The impact of disrepair on an older or disabled person can be significant, both the health impact and the distress of living in inadequate conditions, and this is reflected in how compensation is assessed.
Does receiving Attendance Allowance affect my housing disrepair claim?
Not directly. Whether you receive Attendance Allowance does not affect your legal entitlement to have your landlord repair the property, or your right to compensation if they do not. However, the condition or disability that qualifies you for Attendance Allowance may be relevant as evidence that you are a vulnerable occupant, which can be relevant to how the impact of the disrepair is assessed.
What about my carer?
If you have a carer, whether paid or unpaid, the impact of disrepair on them can also be relevant. Disrepair that makes caring harder or less safe can form part of the overall picture when the claim's impact is assessed.
When should I contact Support for Tenants?
If you are an older person living in a privately rented home with disrepair that your landlord has not fixed, call us. We can advise whether you have a claim.
Call us on 0800 030 4669. 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.
Sources
- Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (Attendance Allowance) (legislation.gov.uk)
- Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) guidance (GOV.UK)
Related articles
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
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.
Related guides
Can I withhold rent if my landlord won't do repairs?
Thinking of stopping your rent until repairs are done? It is risky and can get you evicted for arrears. Here is the safer way to force repairs, and your rights.
Read
Help with rent arrears and housing benefit
Behind on rent, or struggling with Universal Credit housing costs? You have options, and free help. Here is what to do first and who to call before things get worse.
Read
Will a disrepair payout affect my Universal Credit or benefits?
Worried compensation could cut your Universal Credit? Savings under £6,000 are ignored, and money for a health problem is protected for 12 months. Here is how it works.
Read
Still stuck?
Call us free or start a claim online. We'll tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.