General Question - House uninhabitable???

[LittleMissSunshine]

Hi all

I have read some of the threads here and have a general question hopefully someone can give an answer to.

My question is when becomes a house uninhabitable to live in? I understand when it is due to flooding, fire, collapsing, but I was more interested in more difficult situation, for example long term neglect.
And what is the best way to proof this and where do both landlord and tenant stand? And what is the process?

For example the house i live a friend of mine lives in is far behind in repairs and I wont say it is inhabitable but its questionable if any future rentincreases can be justified by the state it is in. For example, the complete electric wiring is a mess, the window frames are completely rotten through, the ceiling of the extended bathroom is rotten (result is woodlice in the shower) and cracks in the outside walls.

I wont say it is dangerous to live here, but how far can you go to make the landlord do repairs?
As with an earlier question regarding leakage of water that causes a problem with electricity, I think it might be usefull if some people who know a lot can explain what is acceptable and what not and what action to take.

I want to make clear than my friend is not after a case for his landlord but it is something than can be of use by looking houses in the future or future negotiations with his landlord.

Thanks in advance.
LMS

[blacksheep1979]

easiest method is to call environmental health - let them decide as ultimately it will be up to them to condemn a house.