We have a property that we are renting, and which is very damp. The landlord used to live in the property and knows of its condition better than anyone.

The house has no cavity insulation, no loft insulation and is single glazed.

We brought it to the landlord's attention, after moving in and several times during the tenancy so far, that the house is unusually hard to heat and constantly cold and damp. We were advised to open windows to reduce the condensation and to runt the kitchen extractor fan (true!).

Eventually the council were called in to do a Housing Health and Safety inspection; they immediately declared it to be a category one health hazard. In these cases, options are a) effect repairs immediately, b) demolition and so on. Pretty serious stuff.

Legalistic Question: Did the landlord, with their detailed foreknowledge of the state of the building, fail in any duty to inform us of the likelihood of higher than normal heating costs (nearly £1000 for the last quarter in a 4brm bungalow)?

Or is it Caveat Emptor?