Special situations and getting more help

Discrimination, harassment, language, NRPF, domestic abuse, hoarding, Wales-specific law, and where else to turn for help.

Guides in this topic

40 plain-English guides. 3 to 5 minute reads, no jargon, free to use.

• Can you help me in my language?Yes. Whatever language you speak, we can help. If English is not your first language, we arrange an interpreter so you can talk to us in your own words, free.1 min read→
• Noisy neighbours and antisocial behaviourAntisocial behaviour and noisy neighbours are not housing disrepair, but here is who can help: your landlord's ASB team, the council, and the police.1 min read→
• Housing help if you are experiencing domestic abuseIf you are experiencing domestic abuse, your safety comes first. Here are the free, confidential services that can help, and your housing rights.1 min read→
• Disability discrimination by a landlord: your rightsLandlords must not treat disabled tenants unfairly and must make reasonable adjustments. Here is what that means and who can help.1 min read→
• I have a disability: does my landlord have to take my repairs more seriously?If you have a disability and your home is in disrepair, the law gives you more protection than you might think. The Equality Act 2010 applies to landlords. A4 min read→
• Landlord refuses you because of benefits, family, or background, is that legal?'No DSS', 'no benefits', 'no children', 'no pets' policies can be unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Here is what to do.2 min read→
• Right to Rent immigration checks, what your landlord can and cannot doRight to Rent checks apply to most private rentals in England. Here is what the landlord can lawfully ask for, and what they cannot.3 min read→
• I have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), can you still help with disrepair?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.1 min read→
• I'm a tenant in Wales, can Support for Tenants help?Wales has its own housing law. We may still help with serious disrepair. For Welsh-only issues, Shelter Cymru: 0345 075 5005.1 min read→
• Living with hoarding behaviour and unsafe housing, who can help?Hoarding can affect housing safety and the people around it. Here is who can help, how the right support works, and where housing disrepair fits in.1 min read→
• My letting agent isn't doing repairs, how do I complain about them?All letting agents in England must belong to a redress scheme. Complain to the agent first, then to the scheme. Here is how, and where we fit in.1 min read→
• Where to get free housing help (Shelter, Citizens Advice, your council)We help with housing disrepair claims. For homelessness, eviction, benefits, rent arrears, and rehousing, here are the free, trusted services that can help, and how to reach them.2 min read→
• My landlord is anonymous or I cannot find them: what to doSome tenants do not know who their landlord is, or cannot find a name and address to write to. Find out how to trace your landlord and what to do if you still cannot locate them.5 min read→
• Student tenants and housing disrepair: your rightsStudents hold the same legal protection as any other private tenant. No landlord can run a student house to a lower standard. Damp, mould, broken heating or3 min read→
• Park homes and mobile homes: disrepair and your rightsDo you live in a park home or mobile home on a residential site? The law treats you differently from a normal tenant. The main laws that protect you are the4 min read→
• Housing rights for Gypsies and Travellers on permanent sitesDo you live on an authorised permanent site? It might be council-run or run by a private firm. You have housing rights. They are much like the rights of4 min read→
• Housing rights for wheelchair users: disrepair, adaptations and accessWheelchair users face their own set of housing problems. If a home is not set up properly, daily life gets harder or even impossible. Disrepair can make this4 min read→
• Housing rights for older tenants: a practical guideOlder 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 social4 min read→
• Acquired brain injury: housing rights and disrepairMaybe you have an acquired brain injury (ABI). This could be from a stroke, a head injury, encephalitis, or another cause. If your rented home has disrepair,3 min read→
• Mental capacity and housing decisions: a guide for tenants and carersThe Mental Capacity Act 2005 is the law about making decisions for people who may not be able to make those decisions themselves. Some housing decisions fall3 min read→
• Help for tenants who cannot go online: accessing housing rights without the internetNot everyone has access to the internet, a smartphone, or the confidence to use digital services. If you are in this situation, this guide explains how you3 min read→
• Refugees and asylum seekers: housing rights and disrepairIf you are a refugee or asylum seeker in the UK, your home may be in poor condition. It may be worse than you have a right to expect. This page explains the3 min read→
• Racial discrimination in housing: your rights as a tenantRacial discrimination in housing is against the law. You have legal protections, whether you are looking to rent or already renting. Here is what the law3 min read→
• Prison leavers and housing: your rightsLeaving prison with nowhere to live makes rebuilding much harder. But prison leavers hold housing rights, and the council may owe help. Here is what exists,2 min read→
• Housing rights for veterans: what help existsLeaving the armed forces can be hard. Housing is one of the biggest worries veterans face. This page sets out the rights and support for veterans in England.3 min read→
• Immigration status and housing rights: what you need to know as a tenantYour immigration status can affect your housing rights in England. Some housing support is only open to people with a right to reside in the UK. And4 min read→
• Single parent housing rights: what you need to knowA single parent renting privately or in social housing holds the same legal rights as any other tenant. Sometimes extra priority for housing help sits on3 min read→
• Kinship carers: housing rights and supportKinship carers look after children who cannot live with their parents. Usually they are grandparents, aunts, uncles or other family members. They often face3 min read→
• Autism and housing rights: what you are entitled toAutistic people can face certain problems with housing. Some homes are hard to live in because of sensory issues. Forms and assessments can also be hard to4 min read→
• Learning disability and housing rightsPeople with learning disabilities hold the same right to safe, suitable housing as anyone, plus extra legal protection to make it real. Here are the rights,3 min read→
• Mental health and housing: your rights as a tenantA poor home can harm your mental health. If you already live with a mental health condition, problems at home can hit you harder. Damp, cold and unsafe3 min read→
• LGBTQ+ tenants: your housing rightsAs an LGBTQ+ tenant you have the same housing rights as anyone. You also have extra protection from discrimination. This page covers those rights. It shows2 min read→
• Care Act housing rights: what tenants need to knowThe Care Act 2014 set up the legal framework for adult social care in England. It matters for people with care and support needs, including where they live.3 min read→
• Modern slavery and housing: rights and support for victimsPeople who survive modern slavery often have nowhere safe to live. Modern slavery includes trafficking, forced labour, and domestic servitude. The way you3 min read→
• Pregnancy and housing rights: what tenants need to knowPregnancy can change your housing rights in several ways that matter. Renting privately, living in social housing, or facing homelessness, knowing your2 min read→
• Disability adaptations in rented homes: your rightsDisabled and renting? You may have the right to ask your landlord for adaptations: changes that make the home safer and easier to live in. Here is the legal3 min read→
• Sheltered housing: your rights as a tenantSheltered housing is a home for older people. It often has a warden or scheme manager. You may also be able to use shared rooms and facilities. It helps to3 min read→
• Domestic abuse injunctions and your housing: what to knowExperiencing domestic abuse? The law gives you tools to protect yourself and your home. Court orders can remove the abuser from the home, or ban them from3 min read→
• High-rise building safety: your rights as a tenantThe Building Safety Act 2022 brought in big new protections for people who live in tall buildings. It came after the Grenfell Tower fire. If you live in a4 min read→
• Shared ownership and disrepair: who is responsible for repairs?Shared ownership is a mix of buying and renting. You buy a share of a home. You pay rent on the rest to a housing association. Who fixes repairs depends on4 min read→