How Long Do Landlords Have to Fix Problems in the UK

In the UK, problems arising from disrepair in a rented house are one of the essential elements of a landlord’s responsibilities. A reasonable time frame must be given to the landlord for repair works to the rented house. But it is possible after the tenant’s notification to the landlord. Some of the most common problems with rented property that the tenants face. These include dampness, leakages, broken heaters, structural damages, electrical faults, pest infestations and more.

 

Landlords Responsibilities:

Landlords are liable for repairing damaged rental properties in the UK. They have a legal duty to make sure their rental properties are safe and properly maintained. However, they are not responsible for fixing issues until a tenant informs them of the disrepair. 

When tenants are notified to the landlord by making sure that the disrepair is their responsibility (rather than the tenants). Then, landlords must act quickly and carry out any necessary repairs within “a reasonable timeframe”.

The government of the UK has set no specific laws or regulations regarding this “reasonable timeframe.” This time may differ based on the level of seriousness of the issue. Some problems can include damage to heating systems, wires, mould, damages caused by pests, faulty building structures and much more. 

 

Problems That Affect Health and Safety

The common problems that may be included in the UK are as below:

• Faulty Electrical Wiring or Loose Sockets
• A Dangerous or Broken Boiler
• Structural Damages
• No Running Water or Leakage
• Broken Locks or Other Security Flaws
• Damp and Mould
• Pest Infestation

It is our advice to report repairs to your landlord in writing. Landlords are accountable for addressing the disrepair issue if tenants have informed them about the issues. 

 

Can a Landlord Enter a Property to Repair Damage Without Permission?

Tenants are required to reasonably prepare the property to give permission when landlords plan to inspect or repair the property. Notice has to be provided at least 24 hours before inspection. 

If tenants do not provide accessibility for repairs, then it may be a breach of the tenancy agreement. However, the landlord can enter the property without the tenant‘s permission when there are emergency repairs.

Fill out the Claim Form or call us at +4402030264595 to know more about tenant rights.

 

Landlord Repair Rules and Timelines

Some regulations make the landlord (council or housing association) responsible for fixing problems in the UK. These are: 

The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985

Based on the law, it identifies the landlord’s and tenants’ responsibilities over a rented property.

• Landlord’s Duty: A building’s vital parts like plumbing and electrical systems need to be in good status as well as the whole building structure. Further, the overall condition of the building must be satisfactory for human residents. 
• Tenant’s Duty: They are responsible to report or alert potential problems to the landlord. 

Retaliatory Evictions and Deregulation Act 2015 

According to the Act 2015, landlords respond to a tenant’s complaint within 14 days which is a reasonable repair time. It also includes guidelines for repair timeframes:

• They are required to respond within 14 days to requests for repairs that don’t cause an immediate health or safety threat. 
• Urgent repairs such as a leaking roof should be carried out within 48 hours. 

Awaab’s Law

Awaab’s Law makes the landlords responsible to fix problems:

• For emergency repairs, landlords need to fix them within 24 hours.
• Health hazards such as damp and mould, must be fixed within 14 days. 
• For the significant health risks, landlords need to fix issues within 7 days.

 

Start a Claim With Us

If a landlord ignores your housing issues, you can claim against them by contacting our team. For this, follow the below steps:

1. First of all, tenants make photos/videos of the disrepair issue
2. After that, notify the landlord about the particular issues 
3. Then, tenants need to remind the landlord after a reasonable time
4. After that, gather the proof, such as photos, videos, or any communications with the landlord
5. If the disrepair affects tenants’ health, get the medical report.
6. Finally, start the claim with our housing disrepair team or by filling out the Claim Form.

 

Conclusion

In terms of emergencies, the landlord fixes the disrepair issue within 24 hours. Under the Deregulation Act, landlords must respond to the tenant’s complaint within a reasonable time of 14 days. They must ensure that the property meets the mandated safety requirements. Therefore, the landlord needs to be aware of anything that may result in negligence or endanger the safety of tenants’ lives.