When your council won’t carry out repairs.

When you rent a property from a local authority, your tenancy agreement and the law place certain repair obligations on your landlord. Although the exact responsibilities depend on the circumstances, councils are generally expected to maintain the structure and exterior of the property, together with certain installations relating to water, gas, electricity, sanitation, heating and hot water.

In England, a landlord’s core repairing obligations come from section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and rented homes must be fit for human habitation under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018. Not every repair issue automatically results in a legal claim, though. A council must normally be aware of the problem — either because you have reported it or because it ought reasonably to have known about it — and must be given a reasonable opportunity to carry out the repairs.

Common repair problems

We regularly advise council tenants experiencing issues such as:

• Damp and condensation
• Mould growth
• Roof leaks and plumbing leaks
• Faulty heating systems and broken boilers
• Electrical faults
• Damaged windows and doors
• Structural defects and water penetration

These problems can vary in severity, but where repairs remain outstanding for an unreasonable period, legal advice may be appropriate.

When might you have a claim?

You may wish to seek legal advice if you rent your home from a local authority, you have reported repair problems to the council, and repairs have not been completed within a reasonable period — particularly where the condition of your home has affected your health, safety or enjoyment of the property, or your belongings have been damaged because of the disrepair. Whether you have a claim will depend on the individual facts of your case.

Supporting your claim

If you believe your property is suffering from disrepair, it can be helpful to keep records of the problems. Depending on the circumstances, useful evidence may include copies of repair reports, photographs of the defects, correspondence with the council, records of appointments, medical evidence where relevant, and photographs of damaged belongings. Every case is different, and the evidence required will depend upon the issues involved.

Common challenges

Council tenants often tell us that repairs have been reported several times, that contractors have attended but not resolved the issue, that appointments have been missed, that damp or mould continues to return, or that communication with the landlord has broken down. Where repair problems continue despite repeated reports, legal advice may help clarify your options.

At Jefferson Clarke Solicitors, we understand how frustrating it can be when essential repairs remain outstanding. We begin by reviewing your circumstances, considering the repair history and advising whether legal action may be appropriate. Where suitable, we assist council tenants in pursuing claims aimed at securing the necessary repairs and, where the law permits, seeking compensation for losses or inconvenience arising from the disrepair.

Why choose Jefferson Clarke?

We focus specifically on housing disrepair claims involving council tenants and housing association tenants. Clients choose us because we provide:

• Clear legal advice
• Practical guidance
• Professional communication
• A client-focused service
• Experience in social housing disrepair matters

You can also read our full Housing Disrepair overview to see the other repair problems we take on.