When you have children at home, housing disrepair is not just a repair problem. It can affect sleep, school, breathing, safety, and everyday family life.
A small patch of mould in the corner can spread. A leak can damage bedding or flooring. No heating can make winter nights harder for children. Pest problems can make a home feel unsafe and unhygienic.
Parents should not ignore these problems, especially when the landlord has already been told and nothing has been fixed.
Why Children Are More at Risk
Children spend a lot of time at home. Their bodies are still developing, and poor housing conditions can affect them faster than adults.
Damp and mould are especially serious. Government guidance says damp and mould can pose serious health risks and landlords should respond quickly. NHS advice also links damp and mould with breathing problems, respiratory infections, allergies, and asthma.
This does not mean every child will become ill. But it does mean parents should take damp, mould, leaks, cold rooms, and unsafe repairs seriously.
Common Housing Problems That Can Affect Children
Some disrepair issues are more likely to affect family health and safety.
These include:
- Damp and mould in bedrooms or living rooms
- Leaks from ceilings, pipes, roofs, or bathrooms
- No heating or hot water
- Broken windows or doors causing cold rooms
- Unsafe electrical sockets or exposed wiring
- Pest infestations
- Damaged flooring, stairs, or loose handrails
- Blocked drains, sewage smells, or toilet problems
If your child’s bedroom has mould, start with the damp and mould claims page.
If the problem is a leak, visit plumbing and leak disrepair claims.
If your family has been left without proper heating, use boiler and heating system disrepair claims.
Signs Parents Should Not Ignore
Parents know when something is not right at home. You should keep a record if your child has:
- Coughing or wheezing that gets worse indoors
- More asthma symptoms
- Skin irritation
- Trouble sleeping because of cold, damp, noise, or pests
- Complaints of bad smells, headaches, or discomfort
- Anxiety about using a damaged room
- Clothes, toys, bedding, or school items damaged by mould or leaks
If symptoms are serious or breathing becomes difficult, contact a medical professional urgently.
For ongoing health concerns linked to housing conditions, speak to your GP, health visitor, or asthma nurse. Shelter also advises tenants to get medical help if damp and mould affects health, especially where someone is in a higher risk group.
What Parents Should Tell the Landlord
When reporting disrepair, do not only say, “There is mould,” or “The heating is broken.”
Give the landlord clear details, such as:
- Which rooms are affected
- Whether a child sleeps in that room
- When the problem started
- How often it happens
- Whether your child has health symptoms
- Whether belongings have been damaged
- Whether the problem is getting worse
This matters because landlords need enough information to understand the risk. Under Awaab’s Law guidance for social housing tenants, tenants are told to give as much information as possible about the hazard and who lives in the home, so the landlord can make the right decision.
Evidence Parents Should Keep
Good evidence can make a housing disrepair claim stronger.
Keep:
- Photos and videos of mould, leaks, damage, pests, or broken repairs
- Dates when you reported the issue
- Emails, texts, app reports, or complaint letters
- Repair reference numbers
- Photos of damaged clothes, bedding, toys, furniture, or school items
- GP notes or appointment records if health was affected
- A short diary of how the problem affected your child
If your landlord says the issue is not disrepair, read Landlord Says There Is No Disrepair: How Tenants Can Challenge It.
If the landlord blamed your family for the problem, this guide may help: Landlord Blaming Tenant for Disrepair.
Can Parents Claim Compensation?
Yes, parents may be able to claim if the landlord knew about the disrepair and failed to deal with it in a reasonable time.
A housing disrepair claim may cover:
- Repairs that still need to be completed
- Stress and inconvenience
- Damage to belongings
- Loss of use of a bedroom or living space
- Health impact, where supported by evidence
- Extra costs caused by the disrepair
For example, if a child could not sleep in their bedroom because of mould, that may be relevant. If bedding, clothes, toys, or furniture were damaged by damp or leaks, keep proof.
Local Help for Families
Housing disrepair can happen anywhere, but many tenants search locally when dealing with councils, housing associations, or private landlords.
Useful local pages include:
Housing Disrepair Claims in London
Housing Disrepair Claims in Birmingham
Housing Disrepair Claims in Manchester
Housing Disrepair Claims in Liverpool
These pages can help parents find support based on where they live.
What Parents Should Do Next
If housing disrepair is affecting your child, act early.
Report the problem in writing. Take photos. Keep medical notes if your child has symptoms. Do not rely only on phone calls. If the landlord delays, ignores you, or sends contractors without fixing the real cause, keep adding to your evidence.
Children should not have to live with damp bedrooms, unsafe electrics, leaks, cold rooms, pests, or repeated failed repairs.
If your landlord has had a fair chance to fix the problem and your family is still living with disrepair, visit Housing Disrepair Team to check what steps you can take next.