Home repairs: who is responsible

You have the right to have small repairs done quickly. This is called a ‘Right to Repair’ scheme. It covers repairs that cost under £250.

Right to repair scheme for council tenants (Shelter)

They might:

• have a priority repair scheme for disabled people or 
• carry out small repairs that are normally a tenant’s responsibility

Check with your local council.

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

Report problems in your rented home

There may be a scheme like the council ‘Right to Repair’ scheme. Check with yours to find out.

Report problems in your rented home

There will not be a ‘Right to repair’ scheme. But you can still ask yours to carry out repairs, as they are responsible for most of them.

Landlord and tenant responsibilities for repairs (Shelter)

Even if you think a repair is minor, try to report it to your landlord or letting agent as soon as you notice it. That is because the problem could get worse.

You can report a repair:

• in your online account if you have a social landlord
• by email
• on the phone
• in person

If you report a problem in person or on the phone, try to send an email or letter as well so you have it in writing.

How to report repairs (Citizens Advice)

As a homeowner, you are normally responsible for repairs. You may be eligible for a homeowner repair grant from your local council.

Your council will have its own rules about:

• who is eligible for funding and
• what repairs the funding can be for

Not all councils offer this funding. Contact yours for more information.

Find your local council (GOV.UK)

You may also be able to get financial assistance for repairs from a charity or grant-giving trust.

Care and Repair and Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs)

If you own a leasehold property

If you are a leaseholder, it means that you own your home for a fixed period. Most flats are leasehold.

The freeholder owns:

• the building your property is in and
• the land it is built on

As a leaseholder, you are responsible for repairs inside your home.

But the freeholder is responsible for repairs to:

• the structure of the building
• communal areas, such as lifts and hallways

Leasehold homes: responsibilities for repairs (Shelter)

You can get free advice from the Leasehold Advisory Service.

Pests or vermin include:

• rats
• mice
• wasps
• cockroaches

If you rent your home

Your landlord must deal with a pest or vermin problem if it is caused by a repair that they must carry out. For example, there are gaps in the skirting board that let vermin in.

Your tenancy agreement will say if there are situations when your landlord is not responsible for a pest or vermin problem. For example, if rubbish is not put in bins.

If you notice a problem, report it to your landlord as soon as you can. They might say you need to pay to get rid of pests if it is not their responsibility.

Pests and vermin in rented homes (Shelter)

If you own your home

It is your responsibility to deal with pests and vermin. 

Your local council may offer pest control services. You may have to pay for this. Check with your local council.

Find your local council (GOV.UK) 

You can find a pest controller in your area on the British Pest Control Association website.

If you notice damp and mould in your rented home, report it to your landlord as soon as you can. They must fix the cause of the problem.

If it is affecting your health, tell your GP or medical team. Ask them to write a letter saying how it is making your condition worse. This is evidence you can use if your landlord does not deal with the problem properly.

Damp and mould in social housing (Shelter)

Damp and mould in private rented homes (Shelter)

If you own your home, it is your responsibility to prevent and treat damp and mould.

Condensation, damp and mould (Centre for Sustainable Energy)

An emergency repair is something that is a risk to your immediate health and safety. 

This is an emergency. If you smell gas or think there has been a gas leak:

• open all your doors and windows
• move outside

Then call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

You can contact them for free at any time. They can:

• give you safety advice and
• send a gas safe engineer

Who to call if you smell gas (National Gas)

If you rent your home

After you have called the National Gas Emergency Service, contact your landlord to tell them. They are responsible for:

• the safety of gas appliances they supply and
• the pipework that gas appliances connect to

Gas safety in rented homes (Shelter)

If you own your home

You are responsible for repairs due to gas leaks. The Gas Safe Register has a postcode search tool for finding a gas safe engineer near you:

Find a gas safe engineer

This is an emergency. You may not know if you have a carbon monoxide leak because it does not smell and has no colour.

Signs of a carbon monoxide leak (Gas Safe Register)

If you suspect a leak, open all your doors and windows. Move outside.

Then call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 to report the carbon monoxide leak. You can contact them for free at any time. They can:

• give you safety advice and
• send a gas safe engineer

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning (NHS)

If you think you have carbon monoxide poisoning, call 111.

Call 999 or go to A&E if you or anyone:

• finds it hard to breathe
• feels confused
• has lost consciousness

If you rent your home

Call the National Gas Emergency Service, then contact your landlord to tell them. It is your landlord’s responsibility to make your home safe.

Your landlord must provide carbon monoxide alarms in rooms that have solid fuel or gas appliances.

Gas safety in rented homes (Shelter)

If you own your home

Call the National Gas Emergency Service.

You should have carbon monoxide alarms in rooms that have solid fuel or gas appliances.

Carbon monoxide (Energy UK)

This is an emergency if there is damage to your home. Turn off the water at the stopcock. The stopcock is also called the internal stop tap.

How to find your stopcock (HomeServe)

If you rent your home

Contact your landlord. It is normally their responsibility to fix water leaks and carry out repairs because of flooding. Water leaks can include leaks from basins, sinks and baths. It can also include leaks from a roof and neighbouring property.

If there is flooding in your rented home (Citizens Advice)

Citizens Advice also has information on what to do if you have a leak from a neighbouring property.

If you own your home

You are usually responsible for repairs if you have water leaks or flooding.

What to do if you have a water leak (YourRepair)

This is an emergency. Check with your neighbours to see if they have electricity. If they do not, there is a power cut.

If they do have electricity, it could be a problem in your home.

You can report a power cut by calling 105 for free. You can also find which network operator you have by entering your postcode:

Find your electricity network operator (Energy Networks Association)

What to do during a power cut (National Grid)

If you rent your home

If you have a power cut, you need to wait until the electricity comes back on.

If the problem is caused by something else, contact your landlord. They are responsible for your home's electrical wiring, fuse box and sockets.

If you own your home

If the problem is not caused by a power cut, it is your responsibility. You may need to call an electrician.

What should I do if there is no electricity? (Checkatrade)

This is an emergency. You should:

• try to stay away from the dirty water
• wash your shoes and hands if they have touched the water

If you rent your home

Contact your landlord. It is their responsibility to investigate and fix the problem.

If you own your home

You will need to call a plumber or a drains specialist. There is information online on how to work out which you will need.

Why is my kitchen sink overflowing (Checkatrade)

What to do when your outside drain is blocked (Checkatrade)

This is an emergency. Try to move away from the area and turn off plugs and lights near it.

If you rent your home

Contact your landlord. They are responsible for repairing the ceiling. 

They are responsible for replacing or repairing possessions that have been damaged if you had already told them about a problem with the ceiling.

If you own your home

It will be your responsibility to

• repair the ceiling
• replace or repair possessions that have been damaged

This is an emergency. Use safe portable heaters to keep as warm as possible until the problem is fixed.

Scope Disability Energy Support can offer free advice about energy bills.

Disability Energy Support

If you rent your home

If you have no central heating in winter, contact your landlord. They are responsible for problems with heating and hot water. This includes a broken boiler.

If you own your home

It is your responsibility to fix the central heating. The Gas Safe Register has a list of gas safe engineers.

You might be eligible for a disability grant to cover repairs to your boiler or heating.

Disability grants

This is an emergency. If the lock on your front or back door has broken because of a burglary, dial 999.

If you rent your home

Contact your landlord. It is their responsibility to repair or replace broken locks quickly. It does not matter whether the lock has broken because of a burglary or because of wear and tear.

If you own your home

It is your responsibility to repair the lock. You can enter your postcode to find an emergency locksmith.

Find an emergency locksmith (Master Locksmiths Association)

You might choose to claim on your home insurance if you:

• rent your home and there are repairs that are not your landlord's responsibility
• own your home

There is information online about:

• when it may be a good idea to make a claim and
• how to make a claim

Making a home insurance claim (Which?)

Contact your landlord again in writing if you tell them about a problem but they:

• do not respond to you or
• do not carry out the repair

Shelter has templates you can use in an email or message:

• if you live in social housing
• if you have a private landlord

Your rights if social housing is not meeting your needs

Make a complaint about your landlord 

You can complain if your landlord:

• refuses to do repairs
• does not respond when you tell them about problems
• carries out the repairs badly
• takes a long time to do the repairs

If you live in a council or housing association property, your landlord will have a complaints procedure on their website. You can ask for a copy, or where to find a complaints form.

Shelter has more information on what to do if you want to complain.

Complain to your council or housing association landlord about repairs (Shelter)

Complain about your private landlord (Shelter)

If you rent from a private landlord, you could have more chance of being evicted if you ask for repairs. This is also called a revenge eviction. Shelter has more information on who could be at risk.

Revenge eviction if you ask for repairs (Shelter)

If your landlord carries out major repairs, it might be unsafe for you to stay in your home during the building works.

This is the same if your home needs adaptations to make it accessible for you.

You might need to provide medical evidence to prove that the repairs will affect your condition.

You could apply for emergency homeless accommodation from your local council. This may not be accessible.

Emergency local council housing

You can find housing advice and support in your area through: 

• Advicelocal
• Turn2us
• Citizens Advice

These organisations can also help you find out what your rights are.

You could also speak to an advocate. This is someone who can support you to express your views and stand up for your rights.

Find an advocate