No working bath or shower: is the landlord responsible?

Access to a functioning bath or shower is a basic requirement for living in a rented home. If your bath or shower is broken, leaking, or not working, this guide explains your rights and what your landlord must do.

Is a working bath or shower a legal requirement?

Yes. Landlords are legally required to keep installations for the supply of water and sanitation, including baths, showers, and wash basins, in repair and proper working order. This duty comes from the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.

This means that if your bath or shower is broken because of a defect, not because of something you have done, your landlord must fix it.

What kinds of problems are the landlord responsible for?

Your landlord is responsible for:

• A broken bath that cannot be used because of a crack, leak, or structural failure
• A shower that does not work, for example, because the pump has failed, the head is broken, or there is no water pressure
• An electric shower that is faulty or has stopped working
• Hot water supply problems that mean you cannot run a hot bath or shower
• Drainage problems, for example, a bath or shower that will not drain

What is not the landlord's responsibility?

You are responsible for damage you cause, for example, if you break a shower fitting through misuse. You are also responsible for keeping fixtures clean. Ordinary wear and tear may also not give rise to a repair obligation if the item is simply old but still functional.

What to do

Report it in writing

Contact your landlord by email, text, or letter as soon as you notice the problem. Include:

• A description of what is wrong (for example, the shower stopped working on a specific date, or the bath has a crack that makes it leak)
• When you first noticed it
• Whether you have been able to use the bath or shower since
• Photographs if you have them

Keep a copy of everything you send.

Follow up if there is no response

If you do not hear back or the repair is not carried out within a reasonable time, write again. For loss of a bath or shower, a reasonable time is short, days, not weeks. This is a basic sanitation issue.

How long does the landlord have to fix it?

Loss of a working bath or shower is not a minor inconvenience. It affects basic hygiene and is particularly serious for people with health conditions, mobility difficulties, or dependent children. You should expect a prompt response from your landlord.

If the landlord cannot fix the problem immediately, they should arrange temporary measures, for example, a portable shower, while the permanent repair is being made.

Can I make a housing disrepair claim?

If your landlord has been told about the problem and has not fixed it within a reasonable time, you may be able to make a housing disrepair claim. This could result in:

• An order requiring the repair to be carried out
• Compensation for the inconvenience and impact on your quality of life

When should I contact Support for Tenants?

If your landlord has failed to fix a broken bath or shower in your rented home, call us.

Call us on 0800 030 4669. 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.

Sources

• Section 11, Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) guidance (GOV.UK)