Repairs

Reporting repairs and getting them done can cause problems between private tenants and their landlords. 

A good starting point is to know who is responsible for what . . .

 

The property must be dry, safe and structurally stable. It must have adequate heating, drainage, lighting, ventilation, toilet and bathing facilities. It should meet minimum health and safety standards.

The landlord is responsible for repairs to the structure of the building: the roof, windows, doors, drains, gutters, baths, sinks, toilets, heating, hot water, damp and general building repairs. You must also repair damage that was caused by someone with no connection to the tenant - for example during a break-in or vandalism.

 

The tenant must do minor jobs, like replacing fuses, or clearing a blocked sink. They must also repair damage that they or their visitors have caused.

 

When a repair needs doing, the tenant must tell the landlord in writing as soon as possible - or by phone if it's an emergency (such as a burst pipe).

The landlord has a 'reasonable time' to do the repair. There are no hard and fast rules about how long work should take; it depends on the urgency of the job. A blocked toilet should be repaired much more quickly than a sticking window for example.

If you are a tenant and the repair isn't done in a reasonable time, even after reminding the landlord,  do not stop paying your rent.

 

The landlord has the right to come into your home to check what needs repair. But they must give at least 24 hours notice, and must come at an agreed time - as quickly as possible if it's an emergency job.