Landlord guide · England
What repairs is a landlord responsible for?
A landlord in England is always responsible for the structure and exterior, heating and hot water, gas appliances and pipes, electrical wiring, basins, sinks, baths and drains, and fire safety. Tenants pay for damage they, their family or their guests cause.
Checked against official guidance on . General information for England, not legal advice.
Always the landlord
- The structure and exterior of the property
- Basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary fittings, including pipes and drains
- Heating and hot water
- Gas appliances, pipes, flues and ventilation
- Electrical wiring
- Fire safety
- Damage caused by the landlord’s own repair attempts
Usually the landlord
Common areas such as staircases in a block of flats. Check the tenancy agreement and any lease.
The tenant
- Damage they, their family or their guests cause
- Repairs the tenancy agreement says they can do — and only those
- Reporting faults promptly, and straight away where there is a risk to health
Getting repairs done fast
Most disputes about repairs are really disputes about delay. Keep a record of when each fault was reported and fixed, and keep the certificates and invoices with the property — that is what a Property Passport on Atria Trades is for.
Sources
Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you are not sure how they apply to your property, ask your council’s private housing team or a solicitor.
Find someone to do it in Sheffield
More landlord guides
Are you a tradesperson?
Free to join, no subscription and no paying for leads. Commission only on work you have been paid for.
Join as a tradesperson