Last month the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 came into force in England. However, in their own guidance the government admit that it more or less changes nothing. It states "there are no new obligations for landlords under this act". It goes on to say that tenants can take landlords to court if the property is not fit for habitation, a right that already exists. Landlords are already required by law to ensure properties are fit and safe for tenants, and councils already have powers to enforce this. So exactly what is the point of this time wasting peice of legilslation? Simple - the Tories need more renters to vote for them, so they came up with this bit of election marketing. It won't have any effect in Northern Ireland, but then it makes no difference as the legislation is already in place.