Housing and cystic fibrosis

It’s important to know your housing status. Your housing status means the kind of home you live in, who owns it, or if you have no fixed home. It affects your rights about eviction, passing on the tenancy, rent, repairs, and homelessness.

When you start renting, you make a contract with the landlord, even if nothing is written. Your rights depend on:

• when the tenancy started
• the paperwork you have
• whether you share the home with the landlord or their family.

The most common contract is an assured shorthold tenancy. 

In Wales, the Renting Homes (Wales) Act makes renting fairer and safer. There are now two types of contract: ‘Secure’ for the social rented sector and ‘Standard’ for the private rented sector.

In England, the Renters' Rights Act is now law, which will affect things like evictions and rent increases. We expect the changes to start in 2026. Some changes have already come into force, but most things will stay the same for now. 

A safe, warm home is very important for people with cystic fibrosis. 

Fitness for habitation

Landlords must keep homes fit to live in. A home should be:

• structurally safe
• not in serious disrepair
• free from harmful damp and mould
• properly heated, lit, and ventilated.

If your home has serious health or safety problems, it may be unfit to live in.

Repairs

Landlords (private, council, or housing association) must do most repairs within a reasonable time. Times depend on how serious the problem is. You must report faults as soon as you can. 

Timescales start when you tell the landlord, not when the problem began. Keep records of messages and photos.

The council and HHSRS

If you're a tenant in private rented accommodation or a housing association tenant, you can ask the council for help. You can ask the council to inspect your home under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). An environmental health officer can assess your home and make the landlord act if there are serious problems.

Awaab’s Law 

Awaab’s Law sets clear times for social landlords to check and make safe serious hazards in homes. 

• Awaab’s Law covers social housing tenants in England, councils, and housing associations.
• Awaab’s Law does not cover shared ownership, leaseholders, homeless or supported accommodation, or licenses in social housing.

What landlords must do

• Within 24 hours: investigate and make safe emergency hazards (except those caused by overcrowding).
• Within 10 working days: carry out a standard investigation for other serious hazards.

Landlords do not have to look again at hazards first reported before 27 October 2025 unless there has been a material change.

A material change could include a change to the severity of the hazard or a change to the effect it is having on a tenant’s health.  

Emergency hazards

• Meaning: a danger that could seriously harm someone right away. A reasonable landlord would act within 24 hours.
• Examples: gas leaks, no heating, excess heat or excess cold, no water, big electrical faults, large water leaks, broken external doors or windows that affect security, severe damp and mould, or structural danger.
• Note: overcrowding issues are not covered as emergencies under this law.

Significant damp and mould

• Meaning: damp or mould that risks health but is not an immediate life threat. A reasonable landlord must act urgently, but not necessarily within 24 hours.

When tenants are more at risk

If people in the home are vulnerable (for example, small children, someone who is pregnant, or someone with a health condition or disability), a hazard may be treated as an emergency and acted on faster.

How investigations work

• Emergency investigations: must start and finish any urgent repairs within 24 hours. Investigations can be done remotely using photos or videos.
• Standard investigations: must start within 10 working days (count starts the day after the landlord is told). These can be remote unless the tenant asks for an in‑person visit. If a tenant asks for a visit during the 10 days, the 10‑day clock restarts.

If the landlord fails to act

Tenants can:

• make a formal complaint to the landlord
• take the complaint to the Housing Ombudsman Service
• If the landlord if a housing association, ask the council to inspect the home under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
• apply to court for an order or compensation (legal aid may be needed).

Start with a formal complaint to the landlord.

Getting help

If your landlord is not fixing things and your home is unsafe, get help:

• Tell your CF team if housing is harming your health.
• Get advice from Shelter, Citizens Advice, Advice UK, or your local council.
• For Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland use the local Shelter or housing advice services.
• If you’re unsure where to start, contact our Helpline by calling 0300 373 1000, emailing [email protected], or WhatsApping us on 07361 582053.

In the devolved nations

• Information if you live in Scotland
• Information if you live in Wales
• Information if you live in Northern Ireland

In England

Recent government guidance tells landlords what to do when a tenant reports damp and mould.

Why this matters

People with cystic fibrosis are at high risk from damp and mould. Damp can make breathing worse and raise the chance of infections.

Who is most at risk

The guidance says: “people with a pre-existing health condition (for example allergies, asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, other lung diseases and cardiovascular disease) who are at risk of their condition worsening and have a higher risk of developing fungal infections and/or additional allergies.”

• Local Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) can help find funding and support for home repairs and adaptations.
• In England and Wales, the Disabled Facilities Grant can provide financial help for essential changes such as installing ramps or widening doorways.
• Similar help is available in Scotland and Northern Ireland through other grants.
• Independence at Home may help with equipment or adaptations.
• Living Made Easy offer guidance on adaptations and funding.
• If you are disabled, some building work to adapt your home may be zero-rated for VAT. Check if VAT relief applies.

It is illegal to treat you unfairly because of who you are; for example, if you are disabled. Landlords must make reasonable changes for disabled people. You can complain or go to court if they break the law.

The Equality Act 2010 protects people in England, Wales, and Scotland. In Northern Ireland the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 applies. Cystic fibrosis counts as a disability.

If you’ve missed a rent payment, you’re in 'arrears'. This means that you owe rent to your landlord.

You should speak to a specialist debt adviser who can check the tenancy and if rent is lawfully due – to help you work out what you can afford and advise you on your options.

If you have rent arrears, it’s important that you act quickly to stop your arrears getting bigger and to avoid your landlord trying to evict you. You can read more about your options below (depending on where you live).

If you’re in England

• Rent arrears in social housing
• Rent arrears in private housing

 You can also get free debt and money advice from National Debtline and Citizens Advice.

If you’re in Scotland

• Rent arrears in social and private housing  

You can also get free debt and money advice from Money Advice Scotland, National Debtline and Citizen’s Advice Scotland.

If you’re in Wales

• Rent arrears in social housing
• Rent arrears in private housing

You can also get free debt and money advice from Shelter Cymru and National Debtline.

If you’re in Northern Ireland  

• Rent arrears in social and private housing

You can also get free debt and money advice from Advice NI and StepChange Debt Charity

If you struggle to pay rent, you may get financial help.

If you’re on a low income, Universal Credit payments can help towards paying your rent.

You can make a claim if:

• you’re on a low income or out of work
• you’re 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
• you’re under State Pension age (or your partner is)
• you and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you
• you live in the UK.

It is means-tested and the income and savings of both you and your partner will be taken into consideration.

In some circumstances, you may be able to claim Housing Benefit to help pay your rent. 

You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if: 

• you have reached State Pension age, or
• you’re in supported, sheltered, or temporary housing.

Please note that if you currently receive income-related ESA, you may have already been asked to claim UC. Read more about how and when the DWP will ask you to claim Universal Credit.

To claim Universal Credit

Apply online, or call the Universal Credit helpline (0800 328 5644) to get help making your claim online. You can also contact Citizens Advice to access their help to claim scheme.

You will be asked for proof of your income and savings as well as a copy of your tenancy agreement.

The amount you will receive will depend on the rent you pay, your age, the number of people in the house, and your income.

If your disability or health condition limits your capability for work, you can still claim, but you will need a sick note (fit note or Statement of Fitness for Work) from your doctor and will be asked to go through a Work Capability Assessment process. You can find out more about health conditions, disability, and Universal Credit here.

If you are a private tenant, the amount you could get help with is capped to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) for the property in your area depending on the number of bedrooms you and your family are deemed to require.

Bedroom calculator

Find your LHA

If you are a council or social housing tenant, you should receive help towards the full amount. This also depends on the number of bedrooms you and your family are deemed to require.

The amount awarded will also depend on your financial circumstances. It will not cover charges for water, gas, or electricity.

Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)

If Universal Credit or Housing Benefit does not cover your rent, you can ask your local council for extra help. DHP can help with rent shortfalls, deposits, or rent in advance.

• DHPs in England and Wales: Applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment – GOV.UK
• DHPs in Scotland: Applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment – mygov.scot
• DHPs in NI: The Housing Executive – More help with paying your housing costs

How we can help

• Our Helpline, Welfare Officer, or Welfare and Rights Advisor can explain options and help you gather evidence.
• We cannot pay your rent, but we may help with other costs through welfare grants.
• Contact our Helpline on 0300 373 1000, at [email protected] or on WhatsApp at 07361 582053

We have put together some guidance on getting support with your bills.

Take a look at our guidance on bills

You may be homeless if you are sleeping rough, have no right to stay where you are, or live in unsafe or unsuitable housing.

What to do now

• Contact your local council and make a homelessness application. Say your situation is urgent.
• The council must help if you are homeless now or likely to be homeless within eight weeks.
• Emergency housing may be offered while the council investigates. Tell the council about health needs so they place you safely.

Who gets priority

You may have priority need if you are:

• living with dependent children
• pregnant
• homeless because of domestic abuse
• a care leaver aged 18–21
• homeless from fire or flood
• considered vulnerable because of health or other serious reasons.

Ask your CF team or our Helpline for a support letter to show you are vulnerable. If you are not happy with the way the local authority responds to your homeless concerns, you can make a formal complaint. For help with local authority complaints, you can contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. 

• Tell your CF team if housing is harming your health.
• Get advice from Shelter, Citizens Advice, Advice UK, or your local council.
• For Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland use the local Shelter or housing advice services.
  • Shelter Scotland
  • Shelter Cymru
  • Shelter NI
• If you’re unsure where to start, contact our Helpline on 0300 373 1000, at [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 07361 582053.