Cardiff council repairs not done? Help for tenants.
Free, no-obligation claim check if Cardiff has ignored damp, mould, leaks or broken heating. If you may have a claim, we refer you to an SRA-regulated panel solicitor.
Cardiff Council manages around 14,000 council homes, the largest LA stock in Wales. As a Welsh council, repair duties run under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 and Welsh Housing Quality Standard 2 (WHQS2), not Awaab's Law.
Welsh contract holders are not covered by Awaab's Law, so its English deadlines do not apply. But you have similar rights under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 and WHQS2. If the council still does not fix it after its own complaints process, you may have a claim, call us free on 0800 030 4669.
You may have a claim if:
- You rent from a council, housing association or private landlord, are a leaseholder, or live in temporary accommodation
- You reported the problem to your landlord
- It still hasn't been fixed
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How to complain to Cardiff Council about housing
Welsh councils publish a complaints process for housing matters. Follow each stage and keep every response.
- Stage 1, formal complaint to the council's housing complaints team. Keep a copy and the complaint reference.
- Final complaint stage if the first response does not resolve the repair. Use the stage named in the council's policy.
- Complain to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, the free service for unresolved social-housing complaints in Wales, if Cardiff Council's final response does not put it right.
- Get a free claim check if the problem is disrepair such as damp, mould, a leak or broken heating and it is still not fixed. We check whether you may have a claim and refer suitable matters to a panel solicitor. Call free on 0800 030 4669.
To find Cardiff Council's housing complaints email and online form, search "Cardiff Council housing complaints policy" on their official website. They're required to publish it.
Sample complaint email to Cardiff Council
Subject: Formal complaint: disrepair at [your address], Cardiff Dear Cardiff Council, I am writing to formally complain about disrepair at my council home at [your address]. The issue: [describe damp / mould / leak / broken heating / other, including the rooms affected, when it started, and any health effects]. I reported this on [date] by [phone / email / portal / in person]. The reference number is [reference if any]. The repair has not been completed. LEGAL POSITION: Under Part 4 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016, you must keep the structure, exterior and key installations in repair and keep my home fit for human habitation. This letter is formal notice of the problem. Please confirm what you will inspect, what work you will carry out, and the dates for that work. If your final response does not resolve the complaint, I may complain to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales and seek independent advice about my legal rights. Yours faithfully, [Your name] [Your address] [Your phone] [Your email]
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Landlords in Cardiff
Most-reported issues in Cardiff
Damp and mould
Welsh repair and fitness duties apply. Report urgent risks immediately.
Your rights
Leaks and flooding
Welsh repair and fitness duties apply. Report urgent risks immediately.
Your rights
Broken heating and hot water
Welsh repair and fitness duties apply. Report urgent risks immediately.
Your rights
Common questions, Cardiff
How long does my landlord have to fix repairs in Cardiff?
In Wales, the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 requires a landlord to keep the structure, exterior and key installations in repair and to keep the home fit for human habitation. Awaab's Law and the English repair Acts do not apply. Report an urgent health or safety risk straight away. For other repairs, the landlord must act within a reasonable time after it is told.
How do I report damp and mould in Cardiff?
Report it to your landlord in writing if you can, and keep a copy. Describe where the damp or mould is, when it started, and any effect on your health. Ask for a repair reference and the date of the inspection.
Can I claim compensation for disrepair in Cardiff?
You may have a claim if you reported the problem and your landlord did not put it right within a reasonable time. The result depends on the facts and evidence. No upfront cost. You only pay if you win, and the fee comes out of the compensation, not your pocket. If you don't win, you pay nothing.
Who do I complain to about social housing in Cardiff?
Use your landlord's complaints process first. If you remain unhappy after its final response, you can complain to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales for free.
What are my rights if I have no heating or hot water in Cardiff?
No heating or hot water can be an urgent health and safety risk. Report it immediately and explain if anyone is very young, older, disabled, or unwell. In Wales, the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 requires a landlord to keep the structure, exterior and key installations in repair and to keep the home fit for human habitation. Awaab's Law and the English repair Acts do not apply.
What can I do if my repairs are not being done in Cardiff?
Put the complaint in writing and keep a copy. Follow the landlord's complaint stages, then use the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales if the final response does not resolve it. We check whether you may have a claim. If you do, we refer you to an SRA-regulated panel solicitor who gives legal advice and runs the case.
By: Support for Tenants editorial team
Last updated:
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 June 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only, not a promise; every case is different.