A radiator cold, half-heating, or leaking is a disrepair issue the landlord should fix. Here is what falls to the landlord, the common causes, and what to do
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A radiator cold, half-heating, or leaking is a disrepair issue the landlord should fix. Here is what falls to the landlord, the common causes, and what to do when they fail to act.
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
Is the landlord responsible for radiators?
Yes. Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the landlord must keep the space heating installations in proper working order. Radiators belong to the central heating system, an installation the law makes the landlord maintain.
The duty runs from your report of the fault, with a reasonable time allowed for the repair.
Common radiator problems
Cold at the top, warm at the bottom: the radiator usually needs bleeding; air sits trapped in the system. Some tenancy agreements let tenants bleed radiators. Others leave it to the landlord. Where it falls to the landlord, ask them.
Completely cold: the thermostatic valve may be stuck, the lockshield valve closed, or the boiler or pump faulty. A repair for the landlord.
Leaking: a leaking radiator or valve needs fast attention before water damage spreads. Report it at once and photograph any damage to flooring or nearby surfaces.
Banging or gurgling: air in the system, debris, or a pump fault. Report it.
What if only one room has no heating?
Even with most of the home warm, a failed radiator in a bedroom or living room stays a disrepair issue. A child's bedroom, or a much-used room, left unheated runs more urgent.
The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 requires the whole home free of serious hazards. Weak heating in any livable room may fail the standard.
What if the landlord says it is not their responsibility?
Some landlords suggest routine radiator upkeep falls to tenants. The law runs clear: radiators and the central heating system belong to the space heating installations, the landlord's to keep. Servicing, repairs, and replacing failed parts all sit with them.
What should you do?
- Report the faulty radiator in writing. Which room, what problem, when you noticed it.
- Document it. A smart thermostat can show room temperatures falling short.
- Keep every message and reply from the landlord.
- No action? Contact the council's environmental health team where weak heating touches your health.
When should I contact Support for Tenants?
We help tenants with housing disrepair claims where heating failures sat unfixed after the landlord was told. Living without proper heating, with your health or wellbeing touched? We may be able to help.
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)
Related articles
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 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.
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