"uninhabitable" house

[arrystokles]

I've recently written a letter informing the landlord I'm withholding the rent, citing a letter from Environmental Health Agency, which deems the conditions a "Category 1 Hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating Scheme, which means that any person living within the property is likely to suffer health effects within the next 12 months as a result of living in the property."

The landlord and the agency claim they would accept my withholding only if the property is deemed uninhabitable, and they claim the report doesn't imply it's uninhabitable. What do you think of this? If the above quote doesn't imply uninhabitabilty, what would? What then does it mean to have an uninhabitable house?

Thanks a lot for any advice!

[Paul_f]

Tel them it's a breach of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 as it's a form of harassment. You shouldn't withhold all of the rent though, only a reasonable proportion. What is the hazard anyway