{"id":3058,"date":"2019-03-20T10:45:15","date_gmt":"2019-03-20T10:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/?p=3058"},"modified":"2019-07-19T10:19:29","modified_gmt":"2019-07-19T09:19:29","slug":"the-homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/blog\/the-homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act\/","title":{"rendered":"Landlords Beware: The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Landlords who deal with private and social housing may want to take the time to ensure that their properties meet all the required standards before the introduction of a new Act- <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2018\/34\/introduction\/enacted\">The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act<\/a><\/strong> on the 20th March 2019!<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\">The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The new Act: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/2018\/34\/introduction\/enacted\"><strong>The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>highlights new rights given to tenants, including the power to sue landlords who haven&#8217;t made the adequate steps to maintaining their properties and keeping them fit for human habitation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">In addition the act will offer tenants the chance to force negligent landlords to complete improvement work, if they fail to do so, they could be taken to court for a breach of contract, and even potentially claim compensation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3078\" src=\"https:\/\/www.networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Contract.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Contract.jpg 600w, https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Contract-260x87.jpg 260w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act received Royal Assent on the 20th December 2018, and when it comes into force it will amend relevant sections of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/1985\/70\/contents\"><strong>Landlord and Tenant Act 1985<\/strong><\/a>, through extending the terms to almost all landlords and modernising the &#8216;fitness for habitation&#8217; test.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Which Tenancies are affected?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The new Act applies to private and social tenants in England when they:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Start a new tenancy after 20th March 2019; or <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Renew a tenancy after 20th March 2019.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">*Any Tenancy (or renewal) entered into before the 20th March will\u00a0<strong>not\u00a0<\/strong>be covered\u00a0 by the legislation, even if occupation begins after that date.*<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The Act covers all tenancy contracts that last up to 7 years. This is slightly different for a contract lasting more than 7 years as this will have a break clause at two years (for instance), so it will instead be treated as a 2 year tenancy, unless the break clause applies only for the tenant.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>Why is it needed?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">There have been concerns for a long time that property standards in the private rented sector are below sub-standard. The 2016\/17 English Housing Survey found that the private rented sector had the highest proportion of homes with at least one indicator of poor housing. Furthermore the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/collections\/housing-health-and-safety-rating-system-hhsrs-guidance\"><strong>Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)<\/strong><\/a>, a risk assessment tool used to assess potential health and risks to occupants of residential properties in England and Wales, reported over 244,000 social dwellings and 794,000 private dwellings to be a &#8216;Catagory 1&#8217; hazard.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3073 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Catagory-1-HHSRSsmall.png\" alt=\"Category 1 is defined by the HHSRS as &quot;A serious and immediate risk to a person's health&quot;\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Catagory-1-HHSRSsmall.png 600w, https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Catagory-1-HHSRSsmall-260x87.png 260w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>What makes a home &#8216;unfit for human habitation?<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">There are various issues that can render a property unsafe, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Problems with damp<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Insufficient water supply<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Poor drainage<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Inadequate ventilation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Insufficient lighting<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Unsatisfactory cooking facilities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Whilst the HHSRS is currently under review by the government, a property&#8217;s standard of fitness will be assessed by the court utilising the 29 hazard categories provided by the HHSRS.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">The new Act will give greater power to tenants, and is backed by both the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rla.org.uk\/\"><strong>Residential Landlords Association<\/strong><\/a> and the Minister for Housing, Helen Wheeler who commented, &#8220;Everyone deserves a safe and decent place to live, regardless of whether you own your home or rent it&#8221;.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">NC Insurance<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">For more information on how NC Insurance can help with <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/commercial-insurance\/landlord\/\">Landlord Liability Cover<\/a><\/strong>, contact us on <a href=\"tel:01914821219\"><strong>0191 482 1219<\/strong><\/a> or visit our website.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Why not check out one of our past posts?<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/blog\/2018\/10\/01\/what-makes-a-good-landlord-here-are-six-top-tips\/\">What makes a good landlord?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/blog\/2018\/06\/14\/calling-all-pub-landlords-are-you-prepared-to-get-the-most-out-of-the-2018-fifa-world-cup\/\">Calling all pub landlords!<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"height: 32px;\" width=\"124\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 34px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NCinsurance.Brokers\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2152 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/thirdsectorprotect\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/09\/facebook.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 34px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_ncinsurance?lang=en-gb\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2154 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/thirdsectorprotect\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/09\/twitter.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 34px;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/ncinsurance\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2153 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/thirdsectorprotect\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/09\/LinkedIn.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"108\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Landlords who deal with private and social housing may want to take the time to ensure that their properties meet all the required standards before the introduction of a new Act- The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act on the 20th March 2019! The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 The new Act: The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[18,14],"tags":[189,190,37],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3058"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3058"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4196,"href":"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3058\/revisions\/4196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/networkportfolio.co.uk\/ncinsurance.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}