What Repairs are Landlords Responsible For?

Landlords are responsible for most repairs to the exterior or structure of a property, for example, the roof, chimney, walls, guttering and drains.  Some structural problems may be covered by your building’s insurance, and you should contact your insurer as soon as possible.  The landlord is also responsible for the repair of sanitary installations (basins, baths etc) and heating and hot water installations.  You must also ensure that the equipment which supplies water, gas and electricity, are in safe working order.  Generally, the landlord is not responsible for repairs arising from damage caused by the tenant, nor the rebuilding of the property following damage from, for example, a fire or flood.  The landlord does not have to repair anything which the tenant has the right to remove at the end of the tenancy, unless that damage was caused by the landlord’s failure to carry out their repairing obligations.  Landlords are not able to recover the cost of repairs through a service charge.  If you are the landlord of a flat, or dwelling which is only part of a building, you may have additional responsibility for repairs, which you should seek specific guidance on.  If you have a licence, not a tenancy, you do not have the same obligations as landlords to keep the property in good repair.  However, local authorities require licensors to maintain their properties to certain standards in the interests of public health and safety.

**note – these repair guidelines refer only to tenancies where the tenancy has a fixed term of less than seven years.