HomeSouth East · Portsmouth
Housing disrepair claims in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is one of the most densely populated cities in the UK and the council directly manages its housing stock. Awaab's Law and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 apply across the island city.
What you need to know about repairs in Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Council directly manages around 15,000 council homes. Because almost the entire city sits on Portsea Island, housing density is among the highest in the country, which intensifies damp, ventilation and overcrowding-linked disrepair. Vivid, Abri and Sovereign Network Group are the major housing associations operating locally.
Awaab's Law (Section 10A LTA 1985, in force 27 October 2025) binds Portsmouth City Council and every registered provider to the 24-hour emergency / 10-working-day investigation / 3-working-day written summary / 5-working-day completion timetable.
High-rise and mid-century blocks in Portsea, Landport, Buckland and Somerstown carry concentrations of damp and condensation complaints. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 covers the dense private rented sector serving the naval base and the University of Portsmouth equally.
Awaab's Law deadlines, in plain English
Awaab's Law started on 27 October 2025. It gives every social landlord in Portsmouth firm deadlines to fix dangerous problems once you report them. Here are the deadlines:
| Action | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Emergency hazard, make safe | 24 hours |
| Significant hazard, investigate | 10 working days |
| Written summary of findings | 3 working days after investigation |
| Complete the works | 5 working days after investigation ends |
See the full breakdown of what counts as an emergency vs significant hazard at /law/awaabs-law.
Major landlords in Portsmouth
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 applies to every rented home in Portsmouth, social or private. If your landlord is not listed above, the same rights apply.
Explore Portsmouth in depth
Has Portsmouth council been ignoring your repairs?
If you reported damp, mould, a leak, broken heating or another serious repair more than three months ago and the council has not fixed it, you may be entitled to make a formal housing disrepair claim. The law gives you the right to get the repairs done and to claim compensation for the time you have lived without them.
- Free initial advice. We tell you honestly if you have a case
- FCA-authorised claims management company
- SRA-regulated panel solicitors handle the legal work
How a claim works
- Tell your landlord in writing. First you report the problem to your landlord and ask them to put it right. Keep a copy of what you send and any reply. If they do not sort it out, you may have a claim.
- A no-win-no-fee claim. A panel solicitor takes your case, and we explain the terms clearly before you start. Worth thinking about if the problem has gone on a long time, or the landlord keeps ignoring you.
Support for Tenants is a regulated company. We are not a solicitor. Panel solicitors run the cases.
The law is on your side
These published outcomes show what landlords across England were made to pay tenants in one recent year. A panel solicitor can advise what may be recoverable in an individual claim.
- £5.4m
- compensation ordered for tenants in one year
- 26,901
- orders and recommendations made
- 578
- cases had orders over £2,000
- Almost £32,000
- the largest single order
Figures from the independent statutory review, Annual Complaints Review 2024 to 2025. These are sector-wide outcomes for social housing tenants in England.
Speak to an adviser about your Portsmouth home
Five-minute call. 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. We cover every postcode in England and Wales.
By: Support for Tenants editorial team
Last updated:
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 6 August 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, not a promise; every case is different.