A home you cannot keep warm is a health hazard. Your landlord must keep heating working and the home fit to live in. Here is what to do about excess cold.
On this page
Direct answer
A home you cannot keep warm is a serious problem. "Excess cold" is one of the health hazards the law takes seriously. Your landlord must keep the heating working and the home fit to live in. If your home is freezing because of broken heating, draughts, or poor insulation your landlord will not fix, call us free on 0800 030 4669.
Key facts
- The 2024 to 2025 English Housing Survey found about 2% of homes in England had excess cold as a category 1 (most serious) hazard, rising to 3% of privately rented homes. English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK
- The same survey found about 9% of homes in England, around 2.3 million, had a category 1 (most serious) hazard under the HHSRS. In the private rented sector the figure was 10%. English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK
What makes a home too cold
- A broken or weak boiler or heating system
- Draughty windows and doors that do not seal
- Damp walls, which feel colder
- Poor or missing insulation
Your landlord's duty
- Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, your landlord must keep the heating and hot water working.
- Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, your home must be fit to live in, and a home that is too cold may not be. See the Fitness for Human Habitation Act.
- "Excess cold" is a recognised serious hazard the council can act on.
What to do
- Report it in writing, especially in winter.
- Note the temperature inside if you can.
- Say if anyone in your home is very young, elderly, or unwell, as cold affects them more.
- Keep copies of everything.
How we can help
If your landlord has left you in a cold, hard-to-heat home, you may have a claim. Call us free on 0800 030 4669.
Free call: 0800 030 4669 | Start your claim
Sources
- Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Awaab's Law: guidance for social landlords (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 If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.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 25 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.
Related guides
Burst pipe: who is responsible, the landlord or tenant?
A burst pipe is your landlord's job to repair. It is an emergency. Here is the law, who pays for the damage, and what to do right now.
Read
Is my landlord responsible for a broken toilet?
Yes. Your landlord must fix a broken toilet. If it is the only toilet in the home, it is an emergency. Here is the law and what to do.
Read
Is my landlord responsible for broken windows?
Yes, your landlord must repair broken windows. A window that will not close is a security and cold-weather risk. Here is the law and what to do.
Read
Still stuck?
Call us free or start a claim online. We'll tell you honestly whether you have a case worth pursuing.