Housing rights for older tenants: a practical guide

Older tenants, particularly those living in the private rented sector later in life, or in social housing they have occupied for many years, face a distinctive set of housing challenges. Health conditions that are worsened by poor housing, landlords who are slow to act for vulnerable tenants, and the complexity of navigating housing rights can all create barriers. This guide is a practical overview of the rights older tenants have and where to turn for help.

Your repair rights as an older tenant

Your landlord's duty to repair your home does not reduce because of your age. Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, your landlord must keep the structure and exterior of your property in repair and maintain the heating and hot water system, for the full duration of your tenancy, however long that is.

Many older tenants have lived in properties for many years and may have come to accept poor conditions as "just how things are." They are not. If your heating system is inadequate, your home is damp, or there are structural problems, these are repairs your landlord is required to carry out, regardless of how long you have lived there.

Health and housing for older tenants

Cold and damp housing has a disproportionate health impact on older people:

• Excess cold is a leading 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

If your health has been affected by cold or damp in your rented home, the impact of the disrepair on your health is relevant to any compensation claim.

The Equality Act and older age

Age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. A landlord cannot treat you less favourably because of your age. While the Equality Act most often matters in the context of housing allocation and access, it can also be relevant if a landlord dismisses or deprioritises repair requests in a way that is connected to the tenant's age.

If you also have a disability (which many older tenants do), the Equality Act's disability protections apply separately: your landlord must make reasonable adjustments and must not treat you less favourably because of your disability.

Tenancy security for long-term social tenants

If you have been a council or housing association tenant for many years, 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:

• 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

If you are unsure what type of tenancy you have, check your tenancy agreement or ask your housing officer.

Older private renters

Older people in the private rented sector often face greater insecurity than social tenants. If you have an assured shorthold tenancy, you can be required to leave with two months' notice (or following the abolition of Section 21 under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, only on specific grounds). If you are facing eviction and you are over state pension age, you may be able to argue priority need on grounds of vulnerability if you approach the council as homeless.

Applying for adaptations

If you have mobility difficulties or other health needs, you may be able to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant to adapt your home, a wet room, grab rails, a stairlift, or level-access modifications. These adaptations are funded (subject to means testing) and can make it possible to remain in your home safely.

Your landlord must consent to adaptations funded by a Disabled Facilities Grant, though they cannot unreasonably withhold that consent.

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

Downsizing and transfers

If your home is now too large for you, perhaps because your family has grown up and left, you may be eligible for a council cash incentive to downsize, or for a transfer to a smaller social housing property.

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

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

If your home is in disrepair and your landlord has not fixed problems with heating, damp, or structure, call us on 0800 030 4669. Age does not affect your right to a disrepair claim.

No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation. 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