How to report rental repairs in England

What repairs is a private landlord responsible for in England?

Landlords are generally responsible for the structure and exterior of the home, and for keeping water, gas, electricity, heating, hot water and sanitation working safely. Your tenancy agreement may also say who handles smaller jobs. The official guidance below explains the current rules.

How to report repairs to your landlord or letting agent

Tell your landlord or letting agent as soon as you notice a repair problem, using the method in your tenancy information. If you first speak by phone or in person, follow up in writing and keep a copy.

• Give the property address and the room or exact location.
• Say when you first noticed the problem and what has changed.
• Describe the visible symptoms and how they affect your use of the home.
• Include any immediate safety concerns without guessing the cause.

If someone is in immediate danger, contact the appropriate emergency service first, then your landlord or agent directly.

How long does a landlord have to fix repairs in England?

For most repairs there is no single fixed deadline. Repairs should be done within a reasonable time once the landlord knows about them, and what is reasonable depends on how serious the problem is — a gas leak or no heating in winter is more urgent than a dripping tap.

This is why the date you reported the problem matters. A dated record shows when your landlord was told and how long the problem has continued.

How to take photo evidence of home repairs safely

Take a wider photo to show where the problem is, then a close-up of the affected area. Keep the original files and add follow-up photos if the problem changes, rather than replacing earlier ones.

Do not touch unsafe electrical fittings, enter dangerous areas or disturb materials just to get a better picture. Avoid including people or unrelated private information.

What to do if your landlord ignores repair requests

Keep your original report, replies, and the actual dates of visits — including missed ones — together with what work was done. Keep full conversations where possible, so a cropped screenshot is not the only record.

Use your landlord's or agent's complaints process, then check the official guidance below. For problems that may harm health, your local council's environmental health team may be able to help. Keep paying rent unless a qualified adviser tells you otherwise.

How to record a completed repair

After work is completed, note the date and what was done, and take after photos if it is safe. If the same problem returns, add a new dated update.

A date-stamped record shows what was reported and when. It does not prove the cause of a fault or guarantee the outcome of a complaint.