Question about renting under deceptive description of rental

[IamlividandfumingIam]

Hi, just wondering if anyone can advise, as I understand there are few protections for lodgers in the renting world in the UK. But is there any penalty at all for a landlord mis-advertising (withholding information due to environmental factors that would make it none habitable) and then subsequently renting a room?

Thanks.

What information was withheld?

I don't know, but interested to find out.
My guess is that at least they would be in breach of the contract made between you ( civil law)

If the room was non-habitable , surely that would be obvious when you first looked at it, before you agreed to move in ?

Thanks for the replies. Here's the copy from my thread in AIBU for more context:

Has anyone been in a similar situation, I really feel exploited by all of this but wondering if I'm being a drama llama before going to CAB/Shelter and my concern is more for people renting this room after me than me. I just want to move on and forget the experience!

I moved in as a lodger to a house a year ago, I was in a rush due to the lack of places to rent near my workplace and needing somewhere in the town centre due to a health condition (so ease of getting to work) the house seemed nice, I had a look around and everything seemed in working order; the landlady lives in her own flat attached so thought great it won't feel too intense but was happy to be in a sharing situation and all that entails.

There was a large water mark on the bedroom wall and when I asked about this she said it was not damp and some stain? Fast forward a few weeks I moved in and the room is awful; plaster dust constantly falling down onto my belongings, I wheeze if I spend more than a day or two in there studying etc, then this wet patch starts to grow across the wall and looks to be penetrating damp.

She then admits the room has always been damp and she had trouble renting it! I feel really annoyed at all of this as I ended up having to stay elsewhere whilst looking for somewhere else to live as I became very ill as I have a long term condition which affects my lungs.

I understand rights are thin on the ground for lodgers but isn't this very deceptive or do I just have to suck up that I paid rent for a place that wasn't fit to live in? It's now advertised just after I have left with no pic of the damp room and at an eye watering amount of rent!

Thanks for any advice.

Also to add, have paid every rent installment up until leaving so no quibble on that. She is not giving me my deposit back though!

I suppose I feel she is exploiting people by not mentioning it. I'm not a damp expert and didn't realise how bad it was. She admitted it was very bad in there after I moved in.

Are you a lodger or a tenant? Do you and her share kitchen and bathroom facilities?

A tenant really but lodger status due to her coming into the kitchen once a week from her adjoined flat to bake. So no rights I suppose?

Has she stated to you that she comes back to bake for that purpose? It benefits her massively if you're a lodger not a tenant and I might want to have a chat with shelter or my local housing authority to see if she's breaking the law in your situation

Most types of advertising must not be false or fake or wrong and local trading standards may investigate.

If it's any help, I understand that this room is now available!:

archive.ph/XXf8Q

There is some law around the accomodation needing to be fit for human habitation, and it might apply in your situation if the landlady had her own kitchen and bathroom for everyday use:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018/guide-for-tenants-homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018