Landlord repair responsibilities: what you must fix and how quickly

As a landlord, you have clear legal responsibilities to keep a rented property in good repair. Getting repairs wrong can lead to complaints, disputes and even legal action, so it pays to know what you must fix and how quickly.

Here is a practical guide to landlord repair responsibilities in the UK and how to handle them efficiently.

Your main repair duties

Landlords are legally responsible for:

• The structure of the property — walls, roof, windows and doors.
• Water and gas systems — including the plumbing, heating and boiler.
• Electrical installations and appliances supplied with the property.
• Sanitary fittings such as toilets, sinks and baths.
• The property being fit to live in and safe.

You also have specific duties around gas safety and electrical safety, which are separate legal requirements.

How quickly you must respond

The law expects urgent repairs to be handled promptly. The general expectation is:

• Urgent issues that affect health and safety, or the fabric of the building, should be dealt with as soon as possible. This includes leaks, heating failures and drainage problems.
• Routine repairs should be completed within a reasonable time, agreed with the tenant.

A clear repair policy and a reliable contractor make it easier to meet these expectations. See our guide to landlord gas safety certificates for the gas-related duties.

Tenants’ rights and communication

Tenants have the right to live in a property that is safe and in good repair, and to have repairs done without unreasonable delay. Good communication is key: acknowledge repair requests quickly, keep tenants informed, and give clear access arrangements.

If you manage several properties, a consistent process for logging and tracking repairs keeps everything on schedule. Our guide to managing maintenance across multiple properties explains how to standardise this.

Getting repairs done

Our plumbing, heating and property surveys & safety services cover the most common landlord repairs across London, from leaks and boilers to compliance checks. Get in touch via our contact page to arrange a visit.

For the authoritative rules, the GOV.UK private renting pages explain your responsibilities, and Citizens Advice covers repairs and tenants’ rights in detail.