Vulnerable tenants may require additional support from landlords in various areas such as finances, tenancy management, and property amendments. Landlords have a duty of care especially to tenants who have mental or physical health issues, disabilities, experience domestic abuse, or are elderly. Vulnerable tenants may need help with benefit claims, longer to review documents, longer term tenancies, and alternative communication methods if not technology proficient. Under the Equality Act, landlords must make reasonable adjustments to ensure tenants can use services regardless of disabilities, considering costs, practicality and organization size. Security measures, hand rails, and ramps can assist vulnerable tenants such as those experiencing domestic abuse or who are elderly.

1. Vulnerable households

2. 2
Tenants may be vulnerable for a variety of reasons
such as:
• Mental health issues or learning difficulties
• Physical health issues or disability
• Substance abuse
• Experiencing domestic abuse
• Age related vulnerability
Ignore this titleVulnerable households
Landlords have a duty of care to their tenants and
especially so if they are vulnerable

3. 3
Vulnerable tenants may need additional support
with their finances
• Help with benefit claims – ensure tenant gives
permission on forms for information to be shared
with landlord
• Credit unions – useful for ring fencing housing
benefit and ensuring rent gets sent to the
landlord. See www.findyourcreditunion.co.uk for
more info on how they can help
Ignore this titleFinancial assistance

4. 4
• Vulnerable tenants many need longer to peruse legal
documents, ensure they are given well in advance of
signing and allow time for them to get advice
• Suggest that a friend or family member be present at
any meetings
• Longer term tenancies may provide the stability they
need
• Offer mediums of communication which suit the
tenant – if they’re not IT confident, use letters and
phone calls
Ignore this titleTenancy management

5. 5
• Under the Equality Act 2010, landlords are service
providers
• Duty to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to ensure
that people are not prevented from using their
services because they have a disability
• Cost of the adjustment, the practicality of making it,
health and safety factors and the size of the
organisation are all relevant to what is ‘reasonable’.
Ignore this titleAmendments to property

6. 6
Landlords should consider other
adjustments/improvements in assisting vulnerable
tenants such as:
• A tenant experiencing domestic abuse may benefit
from increased security measures such as house
alarm, panic button or better locks on doors
• Older tenants may need more hand rails in the
property or ramp access
When completing risk assessments landlords should
consider the needs of vulnerable tenant groups.
Ignore this titleAmendments to property