Specific repair problems
Step-by-step guides for the exact problems tenants ring us about: boilers, leaks, mould, pests, drains, sockets, doors and more.
Guides in this topic
40 plain-English guides. 3 to 5 minute reads, no jargon, free to use.
Burst pipe: who is responsible, the landlord or tenant?
A burst pipe is your landlord's job to repair. It is an emergency. Here is the law, who pays for the damage, and what to do right now.
Read · 2 min
Is my landlord responsible for a broken toilet?
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.
Read · 1 min
Is my landlord responsible for broken windows?
Yes, your landlord must repair broken windows. A window that will not close is a security and cold-weather risk. Here is the law and what to do.
Read · 2 min
New-build snagging: your rights as a tenant
Moving into a brand-new or recently built home is exciting, but new builds often come with defects that need fixing in the first months. Understanding your
Read · 3 min
Failed cavity wall insulation: damp, your landlord, and what to do
Yes. If failed cavity wall insulation is letting damp penetrate the external walls of your rented home, putting it right is your landlord's responsibility
Read · 4 min
Loose or rotten floorboards: is my landlord responsible?
Floorboards that are loose, rotten, springy, or broken are more than a nuisance. They are a structural defect and a trip hazard, and in most cases, they are
Read · 4 min
Is my landlord responsible for a broken door lock or front door?
Yes. A broken front door or lock leaves your home unsafe, so your landlord must fix it quickly. Here is the law and what to do.
Read · 2 min
Cockroaches and bedbugs: is it your landlord's responsibility?
Pests like cockroaches and bedbugs can be the landlord's responsibility, especially where they get in through disrepair. Here is who must deal with them and what to do.
Read · 2 min
Cracks and subsidence: what to do
Some wall cracks are harmless, but widening cracks, sticking doors or a sinking feel can mean subsidence. Your landlord must keep the structure safe. Here is what to do.
Read · 1 min
My ceiling has collapsed or is bulging, what should I do?
A bulging or collapsed ceiling is dangerous and usually an emergency repair. Here is what to do, your landlord's duty, and how to claim if they ignored the cause.
Read · 1 min
Blocked drains, sewage and bad smells
Blocked drains, sewage backing up, or a constant drain smell are your landlord's responsibility to fix. Here is what to do and how we can help.
Read · 1 min
The lift in my block is broken, what are my rights?
A broken communal lift is your landlord's or managing agent's responsibility, and matters most if you are disabled, elderly or live high up. Here is what to do.
Read · 1 min
My home is freezing cold, what are my rights?
A home you cannot keep warm is a health hazard. Your landlord must keep heating working and the home fit to live in. Here is what to do about excess cold.
Read · 2 min
My storage heaters don't work, what are my rights?
Broken or useless storage heaters mean your landlord is not keeping your heating working. That is their job to fix. Here is what to do.
Read · 1 min
There's been a leak from the flat above for months, what can I do?
A leak from the flat above can damage your ceiling, walls and belongings. Your landlord must act. Here is how to push it forward.
Read · 2 min
Water is coming through my ceiling light, what should I do?
Water coming through a ceiling light is an emergency. Turn the electrics off, report it as urgent, and we may be able to help with a claim.
Read · 1 min
My boiler won't fire up at all, what should I do?
A boiler that won't fire up is an emergency, no heating and no hot water. Your landlord must fix it fast. Here's what to do step by step.
Read · 3 min
No hot water but the heating works, what's going on?
Hot water gone but radiators still warm? It is usually a diverter valve or cylinder fault. Your landlord must fix it. Here is what to do.
Read · 3 min
Mice keep coming back even after pest control, what can I do?
If mice keep coming back after pest treatment, your landlord has not fixed the cause. Here is what they must do, and how we can help.
Read · 3 min
I keep getting little shocks from a socket or switch, what should I do?
Small electric shocks from a socket or switch are a serious warning sign. Stop using it, report it as an emergency. Here is what your landlord must do.
Read · 3 min
The home is in bad condition the day I moved in, what now?
If the home was already in disrepair on day one, document it fast, refuse to sign anything that says 'good condition', and report it in writing within 48 hours.
Read · 3 min
Radon gas in your home: your landlord's responsibility
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can build up in homes in certain parts of England and Wales. Find out what your landlord must do and how to escalate if they ignore it.
Read · 3 min
Japanese knotweed and invasive plants: your landlord's duty
Japanese knotweed can cause serious structural damage and make a property unmortgageable. Find out what your landlord is required to do and what options you have as a tenant.
Read · 4 min
Draughty windows: is your landlord responsible?
Yes, in most cases. If cold air is getting in through a broken window frame, a failed seal, or gaps around the window, this is a repair your landlord must
Read · 4 min
Storm damage to your roof or windows: who is responsible for fixing it?
Your landlord is responsible for repairing storm damage to the roof, windows, and structure of your rented home. This is true even if the damage was caused
Read · 3 min
Pigeons or birds in my home: is my landlord responsible?
If pigeons or other birds are getting into your home through gaps in the roof, eaves, or vents, fixing the entry point is your landlord's legal
Read · 3 min
Misted or fogged double glazing: is the landlord responsible?
Misted double glazing is a common problem in rented homes. The sealed units fail, condensation gets between the panes, and windows become opaque or
Read · 4 min
Low water pressure: is it your landlord's problem?
If the water pressure in your rented home is so low that the shower barely trickles or filling a bath takes a very long time, you may wonder whether your
Read · 3 min
Bed bugs in a rented home: your landlord's duty
It depends on the cause. If a bed bug infestation comes from a disrepair problem your landlord is responsible for, or the property was already infested when
Read · 4 min
Wasps and bees: is it your landlord's problem?
Finding a wasp nest or bee colony in or near your rented home is alarming. Whether your landlord has to deal with it depends on where the nest is, what kind
Read · 3 min
Broken oven or cooker: what can I do?
If the oven or cooker came with the property (it is on your inventory or in the tenancy agreement), your landlord must keep it in working order and repair or
Read · 4 min
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
Read · 3 min
Gas leak in a rented home: your rights and what to do
A gas leak is a serious safety emergency. If you smell gas or think there is a gas leak in your rented home, you must act immediately. Here is what to do in
Read · 4 min
Leaking roof: is your landlord responsible?
A leaking roof can cause serious damage to your home and your belongings. Water coming through the ceiling can lead to damp, mould, damaged plaster, ruined
Read · 4 min
Sewage leak or drainage problem: who is responsible?
A sewage leak or blocked drain is an urgent health hazard. The smell and contamination risk can make your home unusable, and delays in dealing with it are
Read · 4 min
Spray foam insulation in rented homes: what tenants need to know
Spray foam insulation (also called polyurethane foam or PU foam) was installed in many homes as an energy efficiency measure. While it can improve
Read · 3 min
Cracks in ceilings and walls: when is the landlord responsible?
It depends on the crack. Hairline, cosmetic cracks are usually not something the landlord must fix. But wide or widening cracks, diagonal cracks, cracks that
Read · 3 min
Crumbling or falling plaster: is it your landlord's problem to fix?
Walls and ceilings should not shed plaster. If the plaster in your rented home is crumbling, cracking, or falling away, there is usually an underlying cause,
Read · 3 min
Radiator not working in a rented home: your landlord's duty
A radiator that is cold, only partially heating, or leaking is a disrepair issue your landlord should fix. Below we cover what your landlord is responsible
Read · 3 min
Leaking shower: is it the landlord's responsibility to fix?
A shower that leaks, whether from the showerhead, the tray, the door seal, or the connections, can cause significant water damage if not fixed. Here we look
Read · 3 min
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