NRPF limits welfare benefits but it does not stop your right to safe housing. If your landlord ignores repairs, you may still have a claim.
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Direct answer
Yes, often. Having "No Recourse to Public Funds" (NRPF) limits which benefits you can claim, but it does not take away your right to a safe home. If you have a tenancy and your landlord has left your home in disrepair, you may still have a claim. Call us free on 0800 030 4669.
What NRPF does and does not do
- It restricts most welfare benefits, including housing benefit and Universal Credit.
- It does not change your landlord's duty to keep your home in repair under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
- It does not change the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, which says your home must be fit to live in.
Where to get NRPF-specific advice
NRPF rules are complicated, especially around housing and immigration. Specialist help is free:
- Citizens Advice for housing advice with NRPF awareness
- Project 17 for families with NRPF and children
- The NRPF Network lists local-authority NRPF teams and other support
If you are at risk of homelessness
Some local authorities have a duty to help families and adults with care needs even where there is NRPF. Ask your council's NRPF team.
How we can help
If you have a tenancy and your landlord has left your home with damp, mould, leaks or no heating, we may be able to help with a disrepair claim. Call us free on 0800 030 4669.
Free call: 0800 030 4669 | Start your claim
Sources
- Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.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 If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.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 26 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?
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