What Makes a Property Uninhabitable?
A domestic property may be classed as uninhabitable if it is empty and requires, or is undergoing, major repairs to make it habitable. To be eligible for a Council Tax discount, the property must be vacant, unfurnished and undergoing major repair works. An uninhabitable property would cause risk of physical harm or injury, as well as ill health. It does not allow you to access all the facilities properly. Below are factors which make a property unsafe to live in:
- A non-functioning bathroom or kitchen
- No running water
- The structure is unstable
- There is a severe damp problem
Inhabitable vs. Uninhabitable Land
The total land surface area of Earth is about 57,308,738 square miles, of which about 33% is desert and about 24% is mountainous. Subtracting this uninhabitable 57% from the total land area leaves 24,642,757 square miles of habitable land.
Six out of nine planetary boundaries have been crossed as a result of pollution and devastation of the natural world, including:
- Stratospheric ozone depletion
- Atmospheric aerosol loading
- Land system change
- The introduction of entities such as chemicals and nuclear waste
- Biogeochemical flows such as nitrogen through element cycles
Unless CO2 emissions drop significantly, by 2500, global warming will make the Amazon barren, the American Midwest tropical, and India too hot to live in. Study authors said Africa, parts of Central and South America and South Asia are “hot spots” for harms to people and ecosystems.
Nearly 40% of Australia’s land is uninhabitable due to shortage of rainfall. The male to female ratio in Russia is 86.8 men per 100 women. The gender ratio in Russia and former Soviet nations is similarly low. Russia’s population is indeed declining.
Future Projections
What cities will be underwater by 2050? Jakarta, Indonesia is the fastest sinking city, sinking at 6.7 inches per year. By 2050, 95% of North Jakarta will be submerged. Humans are anticipated to have adaptations like larger nostrils and denser hair, and perfectly symmetrical faces. Life expectancy in 2050 remains an open question.
Legal Definition of Uninhabitable Conditions
The definition of uninhabitable varies, but generally, it refers to any rental house or apartment in which conditions exist that make it an unhealthy or unsafe place to live. In legal terms, an uninhabitable property fails to meet minimum housing regulations, such as:
- Structural integrity
- Sanitation
- Safety standards to protect tenants
If the structure is unstable or there is a severe problem with damp, it may be deemed uninhabitable. Additional uninhabitable conditions include:
- Chipping lead paint
- Exposed asbestos
- Inconsistent water temperature
- Excessive filth
While definitions differ across jurisdictions, they aim to ensure tenant well-being.