A habitable home
Repairs
- When something goes wrong, you must contact the landlord/agent immediately. They cannot be held responsible until they have been informed. Give details of what isn’t working, when it happened and if it affects anything else.
- Follow up phone calls with an email or letter (and always keep a copy). This is proof that you reported the repair.
- Check the ID of anyone who is called to your property e.g. an engineer.
- Write to your landlord in the first instance if they haven’t undertaken the repairs within a reasonable period of time.
- The law allows the landlord a ‘reasonable period of time’ to carry out repairs, but if you think that they are still taking too long to do them, you should contact the Student Hub.
| Landlord responsibilities | Tenant responsibilties |
|---|---|
| Heating and hot water supply |
Report repair issues to landlord or agent |
| Basins, sinks, baths and toilets |
Change light bulbs |
| Structure of the property, windows, external doors, drains and gutters |
Test smoke alarms and provide batteries |
| Gas appliances and fixed electrical installations |
Keep the property clean and in good order |
Damp and condensation
Depending on the cause, heating and ventilation can remove damp and hiring or purchasing a dehumidifier can help.
Avoiding excessive moisture in the air by:
- Covering pans whilst cooking
- Opening windows after showering
- Drying clothes outside
Damp and mould
Damp can cause mould on the walls and furniture, and make timber window frames rot. It can increase the risk of respiratory illness. It is not always the landlord’s responsibility to deal with damp. It depends on the tenancy agreement, the severity (e.g. if it is causing health problems) and the cause (e.g. disrepair to the exterior of the building).
If you are concerned, you should seek further advice. If you are worried about your health, first contact the landlord, ideally in writing. However, if they fail to respond, you can contact the Environmental Health Department at the council and they should investigate.
Infestations
Infestations can be a problem. Local councils often offer a service to treat or eliminate them.
| What you can do | What the landlord can do |
|---|---|
|
Regularly clean and take out rubbish and recycling. Do not leave anything edible or perishable out; use plastic containers for food. Follow the instructions from pest control professionals. |
Block any holes that might be letting pests into the property. If the infestation was an existing problem before your tenancy, the landlord will be responsible for resolving the problem. |
BEDBUGS
Bedbugs are becoming more and more common in London. Ensure you report this immediately and seek advice about how to deal with the problem. Do not take furniture from the street as they might have an infestation. Be aware that bed bugs can attach themselves to clothing and move from property to property in this way.