Misted double glazing is common in rented homes: the sealed unit fails, condensation creeps between the panes, and the window fogs for good. Many landlords
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Misted double glazing is common in rented homes: the sealed unit fails, condensation creeps between the panes, and the window fogs for good. Many landlords refuse to replace them, arguing the glass is not "broken". Here is whether they must, and what you can do.
What causes double glazing to mist up?
A sealed unit holds gas between two panes, sealed at the edges. Age, heat cycles, poor fitting or knocks can break the seal. Humid air then enters the gap, condenses on the cooler inner faces, and creates the misting you cannot wipe away.
A misted unit cannot be repaired, only replaced: the old unit comes out, a new sealed one goes in.
Is misted double glazing disrepair?
The question: does a failed seal count as "broken" for the landlord's repair duties?
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 the landlord must keep windows in repair. A pane you cannot see through is not working as a window: the unit has failed at both its jobs, keeping heat in and letting you see out. Most solicitors and courts treat that as a repair the landlord must make.
Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 the home must be fit to live in. Misted glazing alone rarely makes it unfit, but it can feed a wider case about poor heating, insulation and ventilation.
Unshattered does not mean unbroken: the unit has failed. The landlord's "not my problem" argument is usually wrong.
The heat loss dimension
A failed unit loses insulating power, sometimes performing little better than single glazing. For a tenant already fighting a cold home or high bills, it makes everything worse.
Misted windows feeding a cold home strengthen the case for reporting them inside a wider disrepair and cold or damp complaint.
What to do
- Report in writing: say which windows are misted, explain the sealed units have failed and cannot be wiped clear, and ask for replacements.
- Give a fair deadline: misted glazing is rarely an emergency, unless the window also fails to close or lock. Around 4 to 8 weeks suits a non-urgent repair, sooner in cold weather.
- Photograph the windows: try different light. Daylight usually shows the misting most clearly.
- Follow up if ignored: no response means a follow-up, then the formal complaints process.
- Contact environmental health: where the glazing feeds cold conditions, the council team can inspect under HHSRS.
How many misted windows triggers a disrepair claim?
One failed unit rarely supports a large claim on its own. Several across the home, above all with cold conditions, weak heating or other disrepair, build a stronger one. Courts weigh the pile-up of disrepair on your use and enjoyment of the home.
Double-glazing replacement vs sealed unit replacement
A landlord agreeing to act should replace the sealed unit: the two panes and their seal. A sound frame need not go. If your landlord insists on a full window, and uses that to justify delay or cost, the sealed unit alone is usually the correct, cheaper repair.
When should I contact Support for Tenants?
Misted windows beside other unfixed disrepair? Call us on 0800 030 4669 to talk through whether you have a claim.
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
- Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
Related articles
- Is my landlord responsible for broken windows?
- Draughty windows, landlord duty
- My home is too cold, excess cold
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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