Dispute Resolution - Rental Repairs

17 APRIL 2025 11:00

If my landlord won’t fix my disrepair in my rented home, can I withhold rent?

You don’t have the right to withhold your rent. If you do, your landlord might take action to evict you.  It is not recommended.  You should only use your rent money to pay for the repairs if you follow the correct procedure and understand the risks involved. If you do decide to stop paying your rent, keep the money in a separate bank account so you can pay off the arrears immediately if you have to.

Will my landlord evict me if I stop paying rent because of disrepair?

Yes, it is possible that the landlord might try to evict you for rent arrears. The exception is where you have used the money to pay for repairs, but only if you use the correct procedure.

How quickly should repairs be done?

The time taken to carry out repairs must be reasonable and will depend on the type of repair needed. Urgent repairs (such as a blocked drain) should be carried out within a day, whilst repairs needing building works may take much longer. In some situations, temporary repairs may be required.

Do I have to allow the landlord access to do repairs?

You must allow the landlord or agent access to see what repairs are needed and to carry out the work. They should give you reasonable notice – usually 24 hours unless it’s an emergency.

What should I do if I have disrepairs?

If you need to take further action, you should gather evidence of the disrepair, the damage that it has caused and the steps you have taken to try and get your landlord to carry out repairs. That could include taking photos of the disrepair, keeping receipts of items that have been damaged, keeping copies of all letters, emails and text messages between you and your landlord and keeping receipts of any expenditure related to remedying the disrepair. If the disrepairs have affected your health, inform your GP and obtain a copy of your medical records.

If you find yourself in this situation, please don’t hesitate to contact our Dispute Resolution team on 01554 755101.

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