Civil way: 25 January 2019

THREAT TO RODENTS

There’s as much chance that a landlord will expressly covenant to put, let alone keep, their rented dwelling in a state that makes it fit for human habitation as me being honoured for services to the administration of justice. Yes, I know that s 8 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 implies a condition and undertaking to this effect but, because of the qualifying rental limits, its application is effectively now restricted to hovels comprising no more than a matchbox, devoid of loo and wifi. Of course, councils can take action against landlords of festering premises. However, the risk criteria they employ is out of date, and it just may happen that the council is the landlord and unable to enforce against itself. The 1985 Act obligation on landlords, if discharged, to keep in repair the structure and exterior of premises and installations for the supply of water, heating and sanitation may still leave those premises unfit