Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018

Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to amend the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to require that residential rented accommodation is provided and maintained in a state of fitness for human habitation; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2018 c. 34
Introduced by	Karen Buck MP (Commons) Lord Best (Lords)
Dates
Royal assent	20 December 2018
Status: Current legislation
History of passage through Parliament
Text of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which gives tenants in England certain rights relating to the maintenance of their dwellings.

Provisions

The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 is amended to include new requirements which require an obligation on landlords of residential properties requiring "fitness for human habitation". ^[1] The act allows tenants to take their landlords to court rather than relying on their local authority doing this. ^[2]

The requirements apply at the start of and throughout a tenancy. ^[3] The legislation applies to both he private rented sector and the social rented sector. ^[4]

Commencement

The act came into force in March 2019. ^[5]

References

1. Green, Terry; Payne, Joe; Tewari, Kumar; Vollans, Gavin (23 April 2019). "Understanding the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018". The National Law Review . Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
2. Whitlock, Victoria (20 March 2019). "Homes Fitness for Human Habitation Act: new tenants' rights in the UK mean landlords can be taken to court if they don't complete necessary home repairs". Evening Standard . Archived from the original on 6 July 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
3. Bratley, Meg (13 August 2025). "The decent homes standard: what landlords need to know". IFA Magazine . Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
4. Wilson, Matthew; Evans, Sian (15 February 2019). "Assessing the impact of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018". Local Government Lawyer . Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
5. Hill, Jessica (20 August 2019). "Permitted development conversions could 'fall foul' of new law". Local Government Chronicle . Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.