One of the most common sources of friction between landlords and tenants is confusion over who is actually responsible for a repair. This guide gives a general overview of how responsibilities are usually split in a rented property. It is not a substitute for your tenancy agreement, which is always the first place to check, or for legal advice on a specific dispute.
Before anything else, check what your tenancy agreement actually says. Many agreements set out repair responsibilities explicitly, and where they do, that wording takes precedence over general assumptions. If anything below seems to conflict with your agreement, the agreement — and, where relevant, applicable law — is what actually governs your situation, not this guide.
In most tenancies, the landlord is generally expected to keep the structure and exterior of the property in reasonable repair, along with the main installations for supplying water, gas, electricity, heating and sanitation. This commonly includes things like:
Landlords are also generally expected to carry out repairs within a reasonable time once they are made aware of a problem, and to arrange any legally required safety checks, such as gas safety inspections.
Tenants are generally expected to take reasonable care of the property day to day and to report problems promptly rather than letting them get worse. This commonly includes things like:
If damage is caused by the tenant, a guest, or a pet, it is common for the tenant to be responsible for the cost of putting it right, rather than the landlord.
Not everything falls neatly into one category. Appliances provided by the landlord (such as a washing machine or oven) are often, but not always, the landlord's responsibility to repair or replace — check your agreement to see what is actually classed as included. Similarly, who is responsible for pest control can depend on the cause and the specific terms of the tenancy.
When something is unclear, raising it directly and in writing with your landlord or letting agent is usually the quickest way to get clarity, and it creates a record you can refer back to later if needed.
Reporting repairs in writing — email or text rather than a verbal conversation — gives both sides a clear record of when the issue was raised and what was said. Include a brief description of the problem, when it started, and photos where relevant. Keep a copy for yourself.
If a repair is urgent — a burst pipe, no heating in winter, or a safety issue such as an electrical fault — say so clearly and follow up if you don't hear back within a reasonable time.
If a landlord and tenant cannot agree on responsibility for a repair, or a landlord is not responding to a genuine issue, Housing Rights and Consumerline can offer independent advice on next steps. Keeping clear written records of every communication throughout the tenancy makes it much easier to resolve a dispute if one arises.
