Student Advice Centre

Getting Repairs Done

If you have a resident landlord please take extra advice from the Student Advice Centre. This information is for students who do not live with their landlord.

Responsibility for repairs in private accommodation depends on the type of repair that needs doing.

Generally small repairs are usually the tenant's responsibility – e.g. changing light bulbs

Landlords are responsible for:

• Keeping the structure and exterior of the building in good repair – including drains, gutters, roof and external pipes
• Keeping in proper working order the water, gas, electricity and sanitation – this would include sinks, baths, toilets and drains
• Ensuring any heating systems provided is in good working order

Repairs needed due to fair wear and tear are the landlord's responsibility.

A repair needed because of damage caused by the tenant or their visitors will be the tenant's responsibility.

For more information, see our page on Landlord Obligations.

Problem areas

Disputes can occur when items such as cookers or fridges stop working properly; sometimes it is not completely clear whether or not the landlord has to repair these items and it can depend on the written agreement, marketing information and what has been agreed verbally.

Urgent repairs should be carried out quickly by the landlord and you should contact the landlord or agent in person or by telephone, describe the repairs that are needed, say how urgent it is and follow this up with a letter, preferably sent recorded delivery.

Less urgent repairs should be carried out in a reasonable time frame. You could contact the landlord in person or by telephone or you could send a letter/email, explain what repair is needed and what problem it is causing and ask for it to be fixed as soon as possible. You could also send this information by recorded delivery post.

Help from the local Council

If you have very poor housing conditions the environmental health staff at the local Council may be able to inspect the property and can sometime help enforce repairs. You can telephone them and discuss your options and they may agree to visit and inspect the property. If you do arrange a visit do keep to it and make sure everyone in the house knows what is happening.

For houses and flats in Coventry, more information can be found on the Coventry City Council website.

For houses and flats in Leamington Spa and Kenilworth more information can be found on the Warwick District Council website

Further Resources

Shelter gives comprehensive advice about repairs and poor conditions on their website. You can also download their leaflet on repairs.

You can book an appointment with an advisor at the Student Advice Centre to discuss repairs and poor housing. Contact details are to the right of this page.