What Repairs Is My Landlord Responsible For?
When something goes wrong in a rented home, the first argument can be about who is supposed to fix it.
When something goes wrong in a rented home, the first argument can be about who is supposed to fix it.
A tenancy agreement matters, but it cannot simply transfer every legal repairing duty to the tenant. In England, landlords have core responsibilities for important parts of the property and its installations.
Understanding that boundary can help you report the problem more clearly and recognise when an unresolved repair may be more than ordinary maintenance.
The structure and exterior
Landlords are generally responsible for the structure and exterior of the property.
That can include matters such as roofs, external walls and other structural elements. A defect may show itself inside the home, staining, damp, cracking or water penetration, even though the underlying repair is outside.
Describe both the visible problem and what you think may be causing it, without pretending to diagnose a building defect you cannot see.
Water, sanitation, heating and hot water
The landlord’s responsibilities normally include basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary fittings, together with pipes and drains.
Heating and hot-water installations are also landlord responsibilities.
A dripping tap and a total loss of heating are obviously different in urgency, so explain the consequence as well as the component that has failed.
Gas, ventilation and electrical wiring
Government guidance also identifies gas appliances, pipes, flues and ventilation, and electrical wiring among landlord repair responsibilities.
Electrical or gas safety concerns can require urgent attention.
If something presents an immediate danger, use the appropriate emergency route rather than relying only on an ordinary repair request.
What are tenants usually responsible for?
Tenants are expected to take reasonable care of the home and can be responsible for damage caused by themselves, family or visitors.
You should not normally be forced to carry out repairs that are legally the landlord’s responsibility.
There can be grey areas around minor maintenance, accidental damage and responsibilities created by a particular agreement. Where responsibility is disputed, ask the landlord to explain its position in writing.
Common areas can matter too
In a block of flats, a problem may originate outside the individual property.
Landlords are usually responsible for common areas such as staircases, and councils can have powers where conditions in common parts or another property create hazards.
A leaking communal pipe or defective shared heating system should not be ignored simply because the fault is not physically inside your flat.
A legal responsibility does not automatically answer every claim question
Establishing that a landlord was responsible for a repair is only part of a potential housing-conditions case.
Other questions can include when the landlord knew, whether reasonable access was provided, what action was taken, how long the problem continued and what effect it had.
That is why a good repair history can become important if you later seek housing-law advice.
Last reviewed
6 September 2026
Important informationThis guide provides general information only and does not constitute legal, medical or other professional advice. Housing rights and legal remedies depend on the type of tenancy, landlord, location, the condition of the property and individual circumstances. Check current official guidance and consider advice from an appropriately qualified housing adviser, healthcare professional or legal professional where needed.