Floors and staircases are part of the structure of your home. If they are rotten, broken or unstable, your landlord must repair them, and must do so quickly where someone could fall.
These defects matter most to older tenants, small children and anyone with limited mobility. If you have already been hurt, you may have a personal injury claim alongside your disrepair claim.
Signs your landlord should be dealing with
- Floorboards that are soft, springy, broken or missing
- Holes in floors or collapsing floor panels
- Stair treads that are cracked, loose or uneven
- Handrails and banisters that are loose or missing
- Broken steps, paths or communal stairs outside your door
Why it happens and who is responsible
Leaks and damp rot joists and boards. Woodworm weakens timber. Fixings work loose with age, and communal stairs and walkways suffer from heavy use and poor maintenance.
Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 covers floors, joists and staircases as part of the structure, and communal stairs, landings and paths the landlord controls. Under section 4 of the Defective Premises Act 1972, a landlord who knows, or ought to know, about a defect must take reasonable care to see that people in the home are safe from injury. From 30 November 2026, falls are among the hazards covered by Awaab's Law in social housing. Floor coverings such as carpet and laminate are usually the tenant's responsibility unless the landlord supplied them.
How it affects you
Falls on stairs and through floors cause fractures, head injuries and long-term loss of confidence. Tenants often stop using parts of the home altogether.
Evidence that helps your claim
- Photos and video of the defect, with something for scale
- Reports to the landlord, especially any made before an accident
- Accident details, witness names and medical records
- Photos of temporary fixes you have had to make
- Records of missed or abandoned repair visits
You can send photos and documents to us through the secure evidence upload page.
What you can claim
A successful claim for unsafe flooring and stairs 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
I fell because of a broken stair. Can I claim for my injury?
Possibly. If the landlord knew or should have known about the defect and did not fix it, you may be able to claim for your injury as well as the disrepair. Injury claims usually have a three-year time limit, so get advice early.
Are communal stairs my landlord's responsibility?
Yes, if your landlord owns or controls the common parts, which is usual for council and housing association blocks. Report defects in writing even if you think others already have.
The carpet is worn and I keep tripping. Is that disrepair?
Carpet you supplied is yours to replace. If the landlord provided it, or the hazard is the floor underneath, the landlord is likely to be responsible.
