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Guides › Housing › Housing Problem Finder

Which Housing Problem Do I Have?

Pick the situation that sounds most like yours. Every page below sets out your rights in England, the official source for each fact, and who to contact next.

79 housing problem guides General information, not legal advice
Renting Privately Council and Housing Association Homes Owning, Leasehold and Moving Bills, Council Tax and Insurance

England First

These guides cover England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different housing laws and different bodies to complain to. We give information and point you to the official routes. We do not give legal advice, benefits advice, or advice on disrepair claims, mortgages, insurance or immigration. For those, use the free services listed on each page.

Free Housing Tools

Checkers and a repairs log that run on your device.

Rent Increase Notice CheckerToolDeposit Deadline CheckerToolSection 8 Notice Period CheckerToolRepairs LogToolHousing Complaint Route FinderToolHousing GlossaryGuide

Renting Privately

Tenants of a private landlord or letting agent in England.

Starting a Tenancy

Landlord Refuses Tenants on Benefits or With ChildrenProblem guideRental Bidding: Offers Above the Advertised RentProblem guideLandlord Asking for Rent in AdvanceProblem guideHolding Deposit Not ReturnedProblem guideHow Much Deposit Can a Landlord Take?Problem guideClaiming Back a Banned Tenant FeeProblem guideRight to Rent Checks: What the Landlord Can Ask ForProblem guideRent Guarantors: What They Are and What If You Have NoneProblem guideWritten Terms and the Renters' Rights Information SheetProblem guide

Deposits

Landlord Did Not Protect My DepositProblem guideLandlord Will Not Return My DepositProblem guide

Rent Rises

Rent Increase: Is It Allowed? (England)Problem guideChallenging a Rent Increase at the TribunalProblem guide

Repairs and Safety

Landlord Won't Do RepairsProblem guideDamp and Mould: Landlord Will Not Fix ItProblem guideMice, Rats or Pests in Your Rented HomeProblem guideAsking the Council to Inspect Your Rented HomeProblem guideLandlord Has No Gas Safety CertificateProblem guideElectrical Safety Checks in a Rented HomeProblem guideSmoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms in a Rented HomeProblem guideUnlicensed HMO: Your Rights as a TenantProblem guideLandlord Entering Without PermissionProblem guide

Living There

Asking Your Landlord If You Can Keep a PetProblem guideJoint Tenancy: One Tenant Wants to LeaveProblem guideComplaining About a Letting AgentProblem guide

Ending a Tenancy

Landlord Served a Section 21 Notice: What Now?Problem guideSection 8 Eviction Notice: What It Means NowProblem guideLandlord Wants to Sell or Move In: Your RightsProblem guideRent Arrears and a Possession Notice: What HappensProblem guideEnding Your Tenancy: Giving Notice in EnglandProblem guideLandlord Changed the Locks or Evicted Me IllegallyProblem guideRent Repayment Orders: Getting Rent BackProblem guide

Council and Housing Association Homes

Tenants of a council or housing association.

Complaints

Social Housing Complaint: Using the Housing OmbudsmanProblem guideHow to Complain About Your CouncilProblem guideSocial Landlord Complaint: Stages and Time LimitsProblem guideCompare Your Social Landlord: Tenant Satisfaction MeasuresProblem guide

Getting a Home

Applying for Council Housing: The Waiting ListProblem guideHomeless or About to Be? What Your Council Must DoProblem guideIntentional Homelessness and Rent Arrears: What It MeansProblem guideRent Higher Than Your Benefit Covers: Housing PaymentsProblem guide

Repairs and Safety

Awaab's Law: Social Landlord Deadlines for Damp, Mould and EmergenciesProblem guideDamp and Mould: Landlord Will Not Fix ItProblem guideMice, Rats or Pests in Your Rented HomeProblem guideAsking the Council to Inspect Your Rented HomeProblem guideElectrical Safety Checks in a Rented HomeProblem guide

Owning, Leasehold and Moving

Owners, leaseholders, buyers and sellers.

Leasehold

Leasehold Service Charges Too HighProblem guideLeasehold Reform: Lease Extensions and Ground RentProblem guideUnsafe Cladding: What Leaseholders Do Not Have to PayProblem guideShared Ownership and Leasehold: Who to Complain ToProblem guide

Buying and Selling

Checking Who Owns a Property: Land Registry FeesProblem guideEstate Agent Problems When Selling a HomeProblem guideEstate Agent Fees and Contract Tie-InsProblem guideNew-Build Home Defects: The New Homes OmbudsmanProblem guideSolicitor Complaint: The Legal OmbudsmanProblem guide

Building Work

Builder or Trader Did Poor WorkProblem guideBuilder Taking Too Long or the Price Went UpProblem guideBuilder Took My Deposit and DisappearedProblem guide

Neighbours

Noisy Neighbours: What You Can DoProblem guideNeighbour's CCTV Filming My HomeProblem guide

Bills, Council Tax and Insurance

Help with the costs of running a home.

Council Tax

Council Tax: Disabled Band Reduction and Mental Impairment DiscountProblem guideCouncil Tax Band Wrong: How to Challenge ItProblem guideCouncil Tax Single Person DiscountProblem guideCouncil Tax Reduction: Can You Get Help?Problem guideBehind on Council TaxProblem guide

Energy and Water

Energy Supplier Wants to Force a Prepayment MeterProblem guideDo I Have to Accept a Smart Meter?Problem guideWarm Home Discount: £150 Off Your Electricity BillProblem guideCan't Afford My Energy BillsProblem guideEstimated or Wrong Energy BillProblem guideEnergy Back-Bill: Do I Have to Pay for Energy Used Over 12 Months Ago?Problem guideEnergy Bill for the Previous OccupierProblem guideEnergy Supplier Went Bust: What Happens NowProblem guideThames Water Complaint and CompensationProblem guide

Home Insurance

Leak Claim Refused: The Gradual Damage ExclusionProblem guideHome Insurance Payout Too LowProblem guideHome Insurance Payout Cut for UnderinsuranceProblem guideBoiler Cover or Home Emergency Claim RefusedProblem guideInsurer Rejected My ClaimProblem guideInsurer Delaying My ClaimProblem guide

Find Your Local Council

Many housing problems, such as repairs that are not done, illegal eviction, rent in advance, rental bidding and discrimination, are reported to your council. GOV.UK’s service finds your council’s website from your postcode and covers England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Find your council (GOV.UK)

Sources and official links

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