Unbelievable Letting Agent Fails: Renting Out the Uninhabitable

Most landlords take pride in maintaining safe and decent homes. Yet every so often, stories emerge of letting agents marketing and renting out properties that are clearly unfit for human habitation. These cases grab national headlines because they strike at the heart of trust in the rental market.

In one case reported in the UK press, tenants moved into a property only to find ceilings caving in, damp spreading across walls, and faulty electrics posing immediate risks. Shockingly, the agent continued to insist the property was “in good condition” despite clear evidence to the contrary.

Another example saw a family living in a home without running water for weeks, because the agent allegedly delayed repairs while continuing to collect rent. It took local authority intervention before the issue was resolved, leaving the tenants traumatised and the landlord facing reputational damage.

These examples highlight how badly things can go wrong when letting agents fail to carry out basic checks, or worse, ignore obvious safety breaches. For landlords, the consequences are severe: not only financial costs but also potential legal liability.

Why This Matters to Landlords

Even though it may be the agent who dropped the ball, it is ultimately the landlord’s name on the property. That means councils, insurers and courts will look first to the landlord if something goes wrong. Choosing a competent, diligent letting agent is therefore critical to protecting both tenants and landlords.

Join the Discussion

We are building this new series, Unbelievable Letting Agent Fails, to shine a light on the most jaw-dropping examples of poor practice. Share your experiences in the comments – but please remember not to name and shame specific agents or agencies, as doing so could expose you to libel action. Instead, focus on the facts and lessons learned.

Other articles in this series:

• Introducing Our New Series: Unbelievable Letting Agent Fails
• Letting Agent Fails: The Property Advertised with the Wrong Photos
• Unbelievable Letting Agent Fails: Renting Out the Uninhabitable
• Unbelievable Letting Agent Fails: The Sale Nobody Mentioned
• Letting Agent Fail: Listed on Airbnb Without Consent
• Letting Agent Fail: Advertising a Property That Did Not Exist
• Letting Agent Fail: Flat Advertised with No Kitchen
• Letting Agent Fails to Protect Tenant’s Deposit
• The Inventory That Charged for Thin Air
• Letting Agent Fail: £50 to View a Flat Through a Window
• Unbelievable Letting Agent Fails: No Keys on Move In Day