Yes. Your landlord must fix a broken toilet. If it is the only toilet in the home, it is an emergency. Here is the law and what to do.
In short
Yes. A broken toilet is your landlord's job to fix. If it is the only working toilet in your home, it is an emergency and they must act very quickly. You should not be left with no way to use the toilet.
What the law says
Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 makes your landlord responsible for the sanitation in your home, which includes the toilet. The law says repairs must be done in a reasonable time. With no working toilet, that means hours, not days.
If you rent from a council or housing association, Awaab's Law applies. Since 27 October 2025, an emergency hazard must be made safe within 24 hours. A serious problem must be looked at within 10 working days, with a written summary 3 working days after that and the safety work completed within 5 working days of the investigation ending (larger follow-on jobs must start within 12 weeks).
What to do
- Report it to your landlord in writing straight away. Say if it is your only toilet.
- Keep a copy of what you sent, with the date and time.
- Take a photo of the fault.
- Ask for it to be treated as an emergency if you have no other toilet.
If your landlord does nothing
A no-win-no-fee claim is one route open to you.
- A Conditional Fee Agreement may fund the solicitor's work. 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.
Support for Tenants is a regulated company, not a solicitor. Panel solicitors run the cases.
See your rights as a tenant for more.
Talk to someone
If you have a broken toilet your landlord will not fix, call us free on 0800 030 4669.
Sources
- Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 20 May 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.
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