Yes. The harm to your mental health from a damp, cold, or unsafe home can count towards a disrepair claim. Here is how it works and what proof helps.
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Direct Answer
Yes. The harm a bad home does to your mental health can count towards a disrepair claim, alongside the damage to the home itself. Living with damp, mould, cold, or an unsafe home for months is stressful. If it has made your anxiety, low mood, or sleep worse, tell us, and tell your doctor.
Why this counts
A disrepair claim is not only about the building. It is about how the problem affected you and your family. That includes:
- Stress, worry, and low mood from living in poor conditions.
- Anxiety about your health or your children's health.
- Sleep problems caused by cold, damp, or noise from the fault.
- Embarrassment that stops you having people round.
The law expects landlords to keep your home fit to live in. Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 makes them responsible for repairs. For council and housing association tenants, Awaab's Law (since 27 October 2025) sets firm deadlines: 24 hours for an emergency, 10 working days to look at a serious problem, then 3 working days for a written summary and 5 working days to begin the work.
What proof helps
- See your doctor and tell them how your home is affecting you. Ask for a short note.
- Keep a simple diary of how you have felt and why.
- Keep copies of every time you told your landlord, with dates.
- Take photos of the damp, mould, or fault.
You do not need to prove everything yourself. We help gather the evidence.
If your landlord does nothing
A no-win-no-fee claim is one route open to you.
- A no-win-no-fee claim: a panel solicitor takes your case. If you do not win, you pay nothing. If you win, you pay an agreed fee out of your compensation, never out of your own pocket, and we explain it clearly before you start.
Support for Tenants is a regulated company. We are not a solicitor. We connect you to panel solicitors and tell you honestly which route is right.
You can read more about your rights at tenant rights in the UK, or about damp and mould.
Talk to someone
If a bad home is wearing you down, call us free on 0800 030 4669. A real person will help.
Sources
- Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home (GOV.UK)
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 20 May 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.
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Still stuck?
Call us free or start a claim online. We'll tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.