What is the definition for an Urgent Repair?

What your landlord must do

Your landlord is always responsible for repairs to:

• the property’s structure and exterior
• basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary fittings including pipes and drains
• heating and hot water
• gas appliances, pipes, flues and ventilation
• electrical wiring
• any damage they cause by attempting repairs

Your landlord is usually responsible for repairing common areas, for example staircases in blocks of flats. Check your tenancy agreement if you’re unsure.

Tenant responsibilities

You should only carry out repairs if the tenancy agreement says you can.

You cannot be forced to do repairs that are your landlord’s responsibility.

If you damage another tenant’s flat, for example if water leaks into another flat from an overflowing bath, you’re responsible for paying for the repairs. You’re also responsible for paying to put right any damage caused by your family and friends.

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.

Coronavirus has not changed these rules, so you should work with your landlord to make sure that any urgent repairs happen safely. Follow NHS guidelines if the repair must happen.

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.

Contact the Private Rented Housing Panel (PRHP) if you’re in Scotland.

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.

There are different housing standards and procedures in Scotland and Northern Ireland