How long can a landlord leave you without heating?

Direct Answer

No heating or hot water is treated as an emergency, especially in cold weather. If you rent from a council or housing association in England, Awaab's Law says they must make an emergency hazard safe within 24 hours of you reporting it. For all tenants in England and Wales, Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 says repairs must be done in a reasonable time. Courts treat no heating in winter as needing action in hours, not weeks.

Key facts

• The 2024 to 2025 English Housing Survey found about 2% of homes in England had excess cold as a category 1 (most serious) hazard, rising to 3% of privately rented homes. English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK
• The same survey found about 9% of homes in England, around 2.3 million, had a category 1 (most serious) hazard under the HHSRS. In the private rented sector the figure was 10%. English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK

When no heating is an emergency

No heating is usually an emergency if:

• It is cold weather, or someone in the home is very young, elderly, disabled, or unwell.
• You have no hot water at all.
• The boiler has broken down completely, not just a small fault.

In warmer months a short delay may be allowed. But if you are cold and at risk, treat it as an emergency and say so when you report it.

What the law says

If you are a council or housing association tenant, Awaab's Law applies. It started on 27 October 2025. For an emergency hazard like no heating in winter, your landlord must make it safe within 24 hours.

For all tenants, including private renters, Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 makes your landlord responsible for the heating and hot water system. The law says repairs must be done in a reasonable time. For no heating in cold weather, that means very quickly.

What to do right now

1. Report it in writing today. A text, email, or letter all count. Say clearly that you have no heating or hot water and that it is making the home cold or unsafe.
2. Keep a copy of everything you send and note the date and time.
3. Ask for temporary heaters while they fix it. Many landlords will provide them.
4. If anyone in the home is ill because of the cold, see your doctor and ask for a short note.
5. Take photos of a thermometer in the home if you can, to show how cold it is.

If your landlord does nothing

If your landlord ignores you, you have two routes, and the first one is free.

• A no-win-no-fee claim: a solicitor can take your case. If you do not win, you pay nothing. If you win, you pay an agreed fee out of your compensation, never out of your own pocket, and we explain it clearly before you start.

Support for Tenants is a regulated company. We are not a solicitor. We connect you to panel solicitors who run the case, and we will tell you honestly which route is right for you.

Talk to someone

If you have been left without heating and your landlord is not helping, call us free on 0800 030 4669. A real person will help, and it costs nothing to find out if you have a claim.

Sources

• Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Awaab's Law: guidance for social landlords (GOV.UK)