Yes. A landlord who sold the property while it sat in disrepair can still be claimed against for that period. Selling up wipes out none of their liability.
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The short answer
Yes. A landlord who sold the property while it sat in disrepair can still be claimed against for that period. Selling up wipes out none of their liability.
Who is the claim against?
The claim targets the landlord who owned the home and failed on repairs while you lived there. That duty does not jump to the buyer at sale.
A new owner who kept ignoring the same disrepair took on the Section 11 duty the moment they became your landlord. Then you may hold claims against both: old and new, each for their own period.
What if I have already moved out?
Moving out kills nothing. You can seek compensation for the time you lived with the disrepair: lost enjoyment of the home, health harm, damaged belongings. What matters: the disrepair existed, the landlord knew, and the fix never came in fair time.
How long do I have?
The standard time limit runs six years from when the cause of action arose. For ongoing disrepair the clock is kinder than it sounds: each month of continuing disrepair can stretch the period you claim for.
Moved out a while back? Take advice sooner rather than later. Six years approaches faster than it feels.
What evidence do you need?
The key evidence is what existed at the time:
- Dated photos (your phone's camera roll usually keeps the dates)
- Texts, emails or letters showing when you reported it
- The landlord's written replies
- Medical records, where health suffered
- Records of costs: damaged items, stand-in heating
Reported by phone only? Hunt for other traces: a portal entry, a rent-book note, a witness who heard it.
A note for social tenants
Council and housing association tenants may also hold a Housing Ombudsman route, after the landlord's own complaints procedure. The court route through a solicitor stands open either way.
When should I contact Support for Tenants?
Contact us if a former landlord sold up and you wonder whether a claim survives, if you moved out after a long stretch of disrepair, or if the time limit worries you.
Call us free 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
- Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Limitation Act 1980 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
Related articles
- How long do I have to claim disrepair?
- Can I claim housing disrepair after I have moved out?
- What evidence do I need?
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, not a promise; every case is different.
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Still stuck?
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