Housing rights for older tenants: a practical guide

Older tenants can face their own set of housing problems. This is true if you rent privately later in life. It is also true if you have lived in social housing for many years. Poor housing can make health problems worse. Some landlords are slow to act for tenants who need extra care. Housing rights can also be hard to understand. This guide gives you a simple look at the rights older tenants have. It also shows you where to get help.

Your repair rights as an older tenant

Your age does not change your landlord's duty to fix your home. Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, your landlord must keep the structure and outside of your home in good repair. They must also keep the heating and hot water working. This lasts for your whole tenancy, however long that is.

Many older tenants have lived in a home for years. You may have come to think poor conditions are "just how things are." They are not. Maybe your heating is not good enough. Maybe your home is damp. Maybe there are problems with the structure. Your landlord must fix these things. It does not matter how long you have lived there.

Health and housing for older tenants

Cold and damp homes can harm older people more than others:

• Excess cold is a major cause of excess winter deaths in the UK, particularly among people over 65
• Cold worsens arthritis, heart and lung conditions, and cardiovascular disease
• Mould exposure causes and exacerbates respiratory conditions, which are more dangerous in older people
• Cold homes increase the risk of falls, cold muscles and slower reactions increase accident risk

Has cold or damp in your rented home harmed your health? If so, that harm matters in any compensation claim.

The Equality Act and older age

Age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. A landlord cannot treat you worse because of your age. The Equality Act most often matters with how homes are given out and who can get them. But it can also matter in another way. A landlord may ignore or push back your repair requests because of your age. The Equality Act can apply then too.

Many older tenants also have a disability. If you do, the Equality Act's disability rules apply on their own. Your landlord must make reasonable adjustments. They must not treat you worse because of your disability.

Tenancy security for long-term social tenants

Have you been a council or housing association tenant for many years? If so, you may have an assured tenancy or a secure tenancy. These give you much stronger security of tenure than a short-term assured shorthold tenancy. This means it is harder for you to be made to leave:

• A secure tenancy (most council tenants before 2012) cannot be ended without grounds and a court order, and gives you succession rights
• An assured tenancy (housing association tenants) has similar protections

Not sure what type of tenancy you have? Check your tenancy agreement. You can also ask your housing officer.

Older private renters

Older people who rent privately often feel less secure than social tenants. Say you have an assured shorthold tenancy. You can be asked to leave with two months' notice. Section 21 has now been abolished under the Renters' Rights Act 2025. So you can now only be asked to leave on specific grounds. Are you facing eviction and over state pension age? If so, you may be able to argue priority need on grounds of vulnerability when you approach the council as homeless.

Applying for adaptations

You may have trouble moving around, or other health needs. If so, you may be able to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant to adapt your home. This could pay for a wet room, grab rails, a stairlift, or level-access changes. These changes are funded, but you may be means tested first. They can help you stay in your home safely.

Your landlord must agree to changes paid for by a Disabled Facilities Grant. But they cannot unreasonably withhold that consent.

See our guide: /help-centre/disabled-adaptations-and-the-disabled-facilities-grant.

Downsizing and transfers

Maybe your home is now too big for you. This can happen when your family has grown up and left. You may be able to get a council cash incentive to downsize. Or you may be able to transfer to a smaller social housing home.

See our guide: /help-centre/social-housing-transfer-request.

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

Is your home in disrepair? Has your landlord not fixed problems with heating, damp, or structure? Call us on 0800 030 4669. Your age does not change your right to a disrepair 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)
• Equality Act 2010 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Renters' Rights Act 2025 (legislation.gov.uk)

Related articles

• My home is too cold, excess cold
• Disability discrimination in housing
• Disabled adaptations and the Disabled Facilities Grant
• Equality Act, housing disrepair and reasonable adjustments