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What is your landlord responsible for?
As a tenant, it is important to know what a landlord is legally responsible for and their obligations to you.
Understand your rights
- Repairs - A landlord must repair or replace things that are part of the tenancy agreement. Also, anything that breaks due to wear and tear. Such as, any windows, doors, fixtures and fittings. Or any furniture or white goods if provided by the landlord.
- Security - The property must be made safe by the landlord. This includes fixing locks on doors or windows and could mean installing burglar alarms and security lighting.
- Safety - Your landlord must make sure the property has clear exits, working smoke alarms and is free from damp, mould and pests.
Damage caused by delayed repairs
If you tell the landlord there’s a problem with the roof and they don’t get it fixed in good time, they may be responsible for any damage caused due to a leak.
Repairs to the property
Landlords are responsible for the upkeep of the property, except for cleaning. It’s important to note that repairs for any of the following issues shouldn’t be taken from your deposit, unless you or your guests have caused the damage.
Typically a landlord should take care of the:
- Structure of the property
This also includes doors, walls, windows and the stairs and banisters. - Property exterior
Brickwork, external doors, windows and the roof are part of the exterior. - Plumbing
If you’ve got issues with water, heating or toilets, your landlord must sort this out. If there’s a leak, a landlord must arrange for this to be fixed straightaway. - Heating and gas
Anything that uses gas in the property, including boilers and kitchen hobs, must be fully functional. The landlord must also complete a gas safety check once a year and have a valid electrical installation conditions report every five years. Any furniture supplied will need fire safety labels and fireproofing.
Landlords are required to share a copy of the gas safety certificate and electrical safety report with a tenant, alongside the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Find more information on the government website. - Food preparation
The kitchen area should have working appliances checked by an electrician. Anything that’s broken, such as the oven, needs to be replaced or repaired.
Landlords can inspect the property, but they will have to give you advance notice of their visit.
Minimum energy-efficiency standard
In England and Wales, all rental properties should have a minimum of an E rating on their EPC, or a valid exemption. Your landlord is required to give this to you. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, privately rented properties need a valid EPC, but there is no minimum standard.
Report any issues to the landlord as soon as possible so they can carry out repairs or sort out replacements. Citizens Advice have support if you’ve reported a problem but are getting ignored.
Security
The landlord has a responsibility to keep you and the property safe against intruders. They’ll need to fix anything that could compromise the security of your house.
If they don’t and you get burgled, you could sue your landlord for damages.
Landlords should make sure:
- Fences around the property are secure, not broken or damaged, with a lockable gate.
- Windows open, close and are lockable. If a window gets broken or damaged, they should arrange to fix it as soon as possible.
- Broken locks must be repaired or replaced straightaway.
- If your property comes with a burglar alarm, it must be in full working order. It’ll need servicing each year, and you’ll need to know the code for setting it.
Safety
The landlord must make sure the property is safe to live in, including:
- Fire alarms, which are tested regularly
- Carbon monoxide detectors
- Safe water supply
- Working toilets and sanitation
- Heating.
The property must be free of mould, mildew or damp that could cause harm or illness to you or make the property uninhabitable.
A landlord should also make sure that any pests are dealt with safely and quickly to avoid any distress or damage to the property.
Handy to know
‘Statutory nuisance’
A landlord can be liable for ‘statutory nuisance’ if an issue has unreasonably disrupted the enjoyment of your home or could cause injury or health issues.
If the landlord has not helped resolve these issues, you could seek legal action. For example, the landlord must sort out any damp or mould in your home. They must also address potential hazards to yourself and the wider community, like asbestos, faulty electrical work or pests.
Damage caused by negligence
Making sure that damage is fixed quickly and adequately is essential for everyone, especially you as the tenant.
If there’s an issue with your rental property, make your landlord aware of this in writing. You could seek compensation If this issue is ignored and allowed to get worse.
For example, if there’s a plumbing issue that your landlord is ignoring, which then floods the property, you could claim for any ruined possessions.
This is classed as a 'private nuisance' and is where a landlord controls a property but has neglected to maintain a part of the building.
Let’s take a closer look
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Your landlord is responsible for removing pests or repairs to stop pests from getting in.
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Yes, they are responsible for maintaining the drains, pipes and plumbing in the home.
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Yes, if your landlord has supplied the washing machine that worked when you moved in, they have a responsibility to replace or repair it.
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The landlord is responsible for getting the mould sorted and fixing any underlying issues causing the problem.
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Your tenancy agreement should say how much notice your landlord will give you to visit the property. If it doesn’t, then you should be given at least 24 hours' written notice. If the landlord wants to enter when it doesn’t suit you, you can ask for another time.
When you rent a property from a landlord it becomes your home. They can then only enter the property when you aren’t there, if you have given permission for them to do so. Or in a genuine emergency.
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