IF something breaks in your rented home, it might be your landlord’s responsibility to fix it.
That’s because there are specific items your landlord must always repair – and if they don’t, you might be entitled to compensation.
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This is important to know as a quarter of private renters in England have avoided asking for repairs due to concerns they’ll be evicted, according to a new study by YouGov for housing charity Shelter.
It found 76% had experienced disrepair in the past year, with 25% not requesting repairs or conditions to be improved out of fear.
However, there are laws to protect renters.
For example, repairs must be carried out “within a reasonable time period”, according to Shelter.
How long a landlord has to fix the problem depends on how serious it is.
You might be able to get cash if the repairs go over the reasonable time period.
Here is the full list of items that your landlord is responsible for fixing in your home:
- Electrical wiring
- Gas pipes and boilers
- Heating and hot water
- Chimneys and ventilation
- Sinks, baths, toilets, pipes and drains
- Common areas including entrance halls and stairways
- Structure and exterior of the building – including: walls, stairs, bannisters, roof, external doors and windows
These rules apply to all private landlords, councils and housing associations.
Shelter says that even if your tenancy agreement states something different, your landlord is always responsible for making these repairs.
They might also be responsible for redecorating if the problem caused damage to the property.
It’s also worth checking your tenancy agreement to see if there are any other repairs outlined.
For example, it might state that your landlord has to repair any faults with a fridge or other appliance.
Although, tenants have to make repairs themselves to their own furnishings if they bought them themselves because the property was unfurnished when they moved in.
Renters are also in charge of fixing any damage that they or their family caused in the home – but this doesn’t include general wear and tear.
What compensation could you get?
You may be entitled to compensation from your landlord if they fail to carry out repair work within a reasonable time, or if your house is unfit to live in due to poor conditions.
This may be in the form of a rent reduction or a payout.
If your landlord agrees to this, Shelter advises you to get it in writing.
If your landlord won’t agree, renters can take legal action to claim compensation either during the tenancy or after it ends.
You must have reported the problem to your landlord during your tenancy, it’s best to have this in writing, and you have up to six years to make a claim.
What to do if your landlord won’t carry out repairs
If a landlord is still taking unreasonably long to carry out repairs then tenants can take them to court.
Of course, most tenants would rather not take this action and work things out between themselves.
You can complain to your letting agent or council if you face lengthy delays.
If a tenant does need to go to court over repairs, then they must apply to the local county court.
The court can force a landlord to carry out a fix and pay compensation.
If the court finds in favour of the tenant then the landlord could be liable for some or all of the legal costs.
Compensation for housing disrepair usually ranges from 25% to 50% of your rent, according to solicitors FreemanHarris.
For example, if you paid £9,600 in rent over a year and had heating issues continuously for that period, if your claim was successful you could get 25% of that back – which is £2,400 in compensation.
How much you’ll get will depend on the damage and how long the landlord took to make the repairs.
But if not, you could be left covering costs so it’s worth considering court as a last resort.
Tenants are also able to complain to Environmental Health or a relevant landlord association, but only if their landlord is a member.
For more advice, you can visit Shelter or Citizens Advice.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk
