Some homes are cold however much you spend on heating. Uninsulated solid walls and lofts, draughty windows and undersized or failing heating systems all leave tenants choosing between high bills and a cold home.
Excess cold is one of the most serious hazards in housing law because of its effect on health. A landlord who lets a home that cannot be kept warm at reasonable cost may be letting a home that is unfit to live in.
Signs your landlord should be dealing with
- Rooms that stay cold even with the heating on
- Ice or heavy condensation inside windows
- Draughts through floors, windows, doors or loft hatches
- No loft insulation, or insulation that is wet or missing in places
- Too few radiators, or heaters that are expensive to run
Why it happens and who is responsible
Solid brick walls, uninsulated roofs and floors, single glazing in poor repair, gaps in the fabric of the building, and heating that is too small or too costly for the home.
Broken heating, rotten windows and holes in the fabric are disrepair under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. A landlord does not have to improve a sound building, but the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 requires the home to be fit to live in, and excess cold is one of the hazards that can make it unfit. From 30 November 2026, excess cold is covered by Awaab's Law for council and housing association tenants, with set timescales to investigate and act. Private landlords must also meet minimum energy efficiency standards before letting.
How it affects you
Cold homes increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, respiratory illness and falls, and make arthritis and mental health worse. They also drive condensation and mould and leave families in fuel poverty.
Evidence that helps your claim
- Temperature readings in each room, with dates and times
- Energy bills and your heating pattern
- Photos of missing insulation, gaps and draught points
- The Energy Performance Certificate for the property
- Medical records where cold has affected your health
You can send photos and documents to us through the secure evidence upload page.
What you can claim
A successful claim for insulation and excessive cold usually has two parts. First, an agreement or court order that the landlord carries out the repairs by a fixed date. Second, compensation for the period you lived with the problem after the landlord knew about it, worked out as a share of your rent, plus the cost of damaged belongings and any extra expenses. If your health has suffered, that is assessed separately. Our compensation calculator gives an illustration.
What to do next
- Report it in writing to your landlord if you have not already, and keep a copy.
- Keep recording the problem with dated photos.
- Use the complaints process if you rent from Haringey Council or a housing association. You do not have to finish it before getting legal advice.
- Ask us for a free assessment. If you have a claim, it can be run on a no win no fee basis.
Not sure whether you have a claim? It takes two minutes to find out and costs nothing.
Questions tenants ask
Can I make my landlord install insulation?
There is no general right to demand improvements. But if the home is so cold that it is unfit for habitation, the landlord must do what is needed to make it fit, and in practice that can mean insulation or better heating.
What temperature should my home reach?
Health guidance suggests at least 18°C in living rooms and bedrooms for most people, and warmer for those who are older or unwell. Regular readings well below that with the heating on are useful evidence.
My Energy Performance Certificate rating is F. Is that legal?
Private landlords in England generally cannot let a property rated below E unless they have registered an exemption. Report it to Haringey Council and get advice about a claim.
