Housing Act 1985

Covenants by the landlord.

14 (1) This paragraph applies where the dwelling-house is a flat.

(2) There are implied covenants by the landlord—

(a) to keep in repair the structure and exterior of the dwelling-house and of the building in which it is situated (including drains, gutters and external pipes) and to make good any defect affecting that structure;

(b) to keep in repair any other property over or in respect of which the tenant has rights by virtue of this Schedule;

(c) to ensure, so far as practicable, that services which are to be provided by the landlord and to which the tenant is entitled (whether by himself or in common with others) are maintained at a reasonable level and to keep in repair any installation connected with the provision of those services;

but subject to paragraph 15(3) (restrictions where landlord’s interest is leasehold).

(3) The covenant to keep in repair implied by sub-paragraph (2)(a) includes a requirement that the landlord shall rebuild or reinstate the dwelling-house and the building in which it is situated in the case of destruction or damage by fire, tempest, flood or any other cause against the risk of which it is normal practice to insure.

(4) The county court may, by order made with the consent of the parties, authorise the inclusion in the lease or in an agreement collateral to it of provisions excluding or modifying the obligations of the landlord under the covenants implied by this paragraph, if it appears to the court that it is reasonable to do so.

15 (1) This paragraph applies where the landlord’s interest in the dwelling-house is leasehold.

(2) There is implied a covenant by the landlord to pay the rent reserved by the landlord’s lease and, except in so far as they fall to be discharged by the tenant, to discharge its obligations under the covenants contained in that lease.

(3) A covenant implied by virtue of paragraph 14 (implied covenants where dwelling-house is a flat) shall not impose on the landlord an obligation which the landlord is not entitled to discharge under the provisions of the landlord’s lease or a superior lease.

(4) Where the landlord’s lease or a superior lease, or an agreement collateral to the landlord’s lease or a superior lease, contains a covenant by a person imposing obligations which, but for sub-paragraph (3), would be imposed by a covenant implied by virtue of paragraph 14, there is implied a covenant by the landlord to use its best endeavours to secure that that person’s obligations under the first-mentioned covenant are discharged.