Who is responsible for repairs?

Your landlord has a responsibility to make sure the property or accommodation you are renting is maintained to a certain standard.

Repairs

Unless the tenancy has a fixed term of more than seven years, the landlord is responsible for repairs to:

• The structure and exterior of the property
• Baths, sinks, basins and other sanitary installations
• Heating and hot water installations

Responsibility for other repairs depend on what agreement (if any) you have arranged with your landlord. The landlord is not responsible for repairing damage a tenant has caused. The rent the landlord charges can include a sum to cover the cost of repairs - but the landlord cannot pass this cost on to the tenant in the form of a separate service charge.

Safety of gas and electrical appliances

Landlords are required by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to ensure that all gas appliances are maintained in good order and that an annual safety check is carried out by a tradesman who is registered with Gas safe

The landlord must keep a record of the safety checks and issue it to the tenant within 28 days of each annual check. The landlord is not responsible for maintaining any gas appliances the tenant is entitled to take with them at the end of the letting.

Landlords should also ensure that the electrical system and any electrical appliances that they supply (such as cookers, kettles, toasters, washing machines and immersion heaters) are safe to use.

Related Pages (2)

• Private rented housing

  Information about private rented housing in North West Leicestershire

• Find a privately rented home

  A list of privately rented properties where the landlord is willing to consider tenants in receipt of housing benefit.