When renting a property, both the tenant and the landlord have certain responsibilities, usually shown in a tenancy agreement.
It is usually the landlord’s responsibility to maintain the structure and exterior of the property, including drains, gutters, pipes, garden paths, steps, electrical wiring, sinks, baths, toilets, fixed heaters and water heaters. Interior repairs should be listed in the tenancy conditions.
If you feel the condition of the property is affecting your health or is causing a nuisance to others, we advise you check your tenancy agreement and talk to your landlord. Don’t withhold your rent, you could be served notice to leave, which could affect getting a home.
If this isn’t successful, we can assess the property. We will inform your landlord that we intend to visit. If we agree there is work to be done by your landlord we will write to them asking them to attend to the issues.
We may serve notice to your landlord, requiring them to undertake necessary repairs. A notice would include a deadline for works and if it isn’t met we can take further action. Landlords can be prosecuted for failing to undertake works.
In an emergency, we may carry out the work. If we consider the property too hazardous or unsafe to be lived in we could declare it uninhabitable. If this happens, we will support you through our homeless prevention service.
If you decide to take action against your landlord due to disrepair, be mindful of the type of tenancy you have. It may be that your landlord will decide to serve you notice.
If you have been served notice, contact us on 0300 456 9545 for advice.
Next: Problems with a private landlord