Landlord's repair responsibilities

Your landlord is responsible for most repairs in your home. This applies to private landlords, councils and housing associations.

Their responsibilities include repairs to:

1.     electrical wiring

1.     gas pipes and boilers

1.     heating and hot water

1.     chimneys and ventilation

1.     sinks, baths, toilets, pipes and drains

1.     common areas including entrance halls and stairways

1.     the structure and exterior of the building, including walls, stairs and bannisters, roof, external doors and windows

Your landlord should also redecorate if needed once the problem is fixed. Your landlord is always responsible for these repairs even if your tenancy agreement says something different.

If your property needs repairs

Contact your landlord if you think repairs are needed. Do this straight away for faults that could damage health, for example faulty electrical wiring.

Your landlord should tell you when you can expect the repairs to be done. You should carry on paying rent while you’re waiting.

If repairs are not done

Contact the environmental health department at your local council for help. They must take action if they think the problems could harm you or cause a nuisance to others.

If your house is not fit to live in

If you think your home’s unsafe, contact housing department at your local council. They’ll do a Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) assessment and must take action if they think your home has serious health and safety hazards.