The repairs you are entitled to.

When you rent your home from a council or housing association, your landlord has legal obligations to maintain certain parts of the property. Although every tenancy is different, landlords are generally responsible for maintaining the structure and exterior of the property, roofs and external walls, windows and external doors, plumbing systems, water, gas and electricity installations, heating and hot water systems, and sanitation facilities.

In England, these obligations are underpinned by section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and rented homes must be fit for human habitation under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. The exact responsibilities will depend on your tenancy agreement and the applicable law, and a landlord will usually need to know about the repair issue before it can be expected to carry out the necessary works.

Common repair problems

We regularly advise tenants experiencing a wide range of repair issues, including:

• Damp, condensation and mould growth
• Roof leaks and plumbing leaks
• Faulty boilers and heating failures
• Electrical defects
• Broken windows and damaged doors
• Structural cracks and loose roof tiles
• Blocked gutters, defective drains and faulty flooring
• Broken fences where the landlord is responsible

Some problems develop gradually, while others require urgent attention. Every situation should be assessed according to its own circumstances.

What to do if repairs are needed

Notify your landlord as soon as possible and explain the problem clearly, reporting the issue in writing or keeping a record of any telephone conversations. Take photographs and continue updating them if the condition deteriorates, and retain emails, letters, text messages, repair reference numbers and appointment confirmations. Provide reasonable access for inspections or repairs and keep a record of each visit, and note how the repair problem is affecting you and your household — for example, rooms that cannot be used, damage to belongings, repeated appointments and ongoing inconvenience.

Not every repair issue will result in a legal claim. However, you may wish to seek legal advice if you are a council or housing association tenant, your landlord has been informed of the repair issue, and repairs have not been completed within a reasonable time — particularly where the disrepair is affecting your use and enjoyment of your home, your belongings have been damaged, or the condition of the property has continued to deteriorate. Every case depends upon its own facts.

Common repair delays

Many tenants contact us after experiencing repairs being repeatedly postponed, contractors failing to attend appointments, temporary repairs that do not resolve the issue, multiple reports without meaningful progress, poor communication from the landlord, or long periods waiting for essential repairs. Where repair issues remain unresolved despite repeated reports, legal advice may help clarify your options.

Supporting your claim

If you believe your landlord has failed to carry out repairs, useful evidence may include photographs, copies of repair requests, letters and emails, appointment records, survey reports where available, medical evidence if relevant, and photographs of damaged belongings. The evidence required will depend on the circumstances of your case.

Can you claim compensation?

In some circumstances, tenants may be entitled to seek compensation where a landlord has failed to meet its legal repairing obligations. Whether compensation may be available depends on factors such as the type of repair issue, how long the disrepair continued, whether the landlord had been notified, damage to personal belongings, the inconvenience experienced, and the overall impact of the disrepair. Each claim is assessed individually.

We understand how stressful it can be to live with unresolved repair problems. We begin by reviewing the repair history, considering the circumstances of your tenancy and advising whether legal action may be appropriate. Where suitable, we assist council and housing association tenants in pursuing claims aimed at ensuring repairs are completed and, where appropriate, seeking compensation for losses arising from the disrepair. Our advice is clear, practical and tailored to your individual circumstances.

Why choose Jefferson Clarke?

• Specialist housing disrepair advice
• Clear explanations of your legal rights
• Practical legal guidance
• Professional communication throughout your claim
• A supportive and approachable service

Return to our Housing Disrepair overview to see the specific problems we take on.