Advice For tenants How long repairs should take
UK · For tenants · Timescales
How long should repairs take?
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There is no single legal stopwatch for every repair in a private rented home in England. Some jobs are urgent, some can wait a little, and you should still keep a written record. This page sets out a practical way to think about timescales, with official links.
Your call
Go or no?
If it is a small, safe job that is yours to do, give it a go. We’ll point you to a beginner guide and a short shopping list. If you’d rather not, or the work needs a trade, say no and we’ll help you find someone local. If the job is the landlord’s, report it to them first.
Right then. Here’s a sensible starter kit, and links to the relevant guides.
No problem. We’ll show you how to find a local tradesperson.
This is about England
Most of what follows is written for private renting in England. It is general information, not legal advice, and it is not a ruling on your tenancy. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules — use the official guidance for the nation you live in. The country notes at the top of this page point to official starting points elsewhere too.
There is no one legal deadline for every job
Official guidance does not give a single number of days that covers a dripping tap and a failed boiler. What the law does expect, in England, is that the home is kept in repair and free from serious hazards, and that the landlord deals with problems in a reasonable time once they know about them. “Reasonable” is shorter when the problem is dangerous, or when you have no heat, no water, or no security.
Treat these as urgent
Report at once, and chase if nothing happens: a gas leak or a dangerous gas appliance; exposed electrics; a serious leak; no heating or hot water in cold weather; a home that will not lock; or a structural danger. Make the situation safe if you can (for example, the gas emergency line), then confirm everything in writing.
What “a reasonable time” often looks like
Many tenancy agreements and agents use their own bands — for example, emergencies within 24 hours, urgent work in a few days, and routine work in a number of weeks. Those bands can be a useful yardstick, but they are not a substitute for official advice in a serious case. If the agreement has timescales, keep a copy, and write when they have been missed.
Awaab’s Law sets specific timescales for some serious hazards in social housing. Extending those rules to private rented homes in England has been the subject of government consultation; do not assume private landlords already have those exact clocks, but do not wait quietly if a hazard is serious.
If nothing happens
Write again, attach the original report and photos, and say what has already been missed. If the problem is a health or safety hazard and the landlord still does not act, you can contact your council’s environmental health or private-housing team. Shelter explains the next steps in more detail on the page below, and our article If the landlord doesn’t fix it walks through them.
Official guidance
These official and specialist pages are the best place to confirm the rules for your situation. We have used them as the starting point for this article.
- GOV.UK: Private renting — repairs — repair duties and reporting
- Shelter England: Repairs advice — including what to do if work is delayed
- GOV.UK: Private renting — complaints — how to take things further, including your council
- GOV.UK: Extending Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector — proposed future timescales, not yet a simple private-rented rulebook
FAQ
The agent booked a visit in three weeks for a failed boiler in January.
No heating or hot water in cold weather is usually urgent. Write, say why it cannot wait, and if nothing moves, contact the council and look at Shelter’s guidance.
They say parts are on order.
Ask, in writing, what was ordered, when it is due, and what temporary help they can offer (a heater, a plumber’s visit). Keep that reply.
Can I get my own contractor and deduct the bill?
Sometimes people do this, but it can go wrong if you have not followed a proper process. Get official or specialist advice before you spend money you expect to recover.
DIY guide and shopping list
For small, safe jobs that are yours to do, these beginner guides will walk you through it. Do not use them for gas work, the electrical installation, or a leak that is the landlord’s to fix.
Useful starting points: Unblock a sink, Fill cracks in walls, Reseal a bath, and Hang a curtain pole.
Prices below are typical UK ranges, shown so the page can convert them for your country. Always check the live product page before you buy.
| Item | Why you need it | Typical UK price | Shop link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plunger or sink unblocking tool | Clears a simple blockage you have caused. | Typically £5–£12 | |
| Ready-mixed filler and a filling knife | Fills picture-hook holes and small dents. | Typically £5–£10 | |
| Sandpaper or a sanding block | Smooths dried filler so a touch-up will sit flat. | Typically £4–£8 | |
| Kitchen-and-bathroom silicone | For a failing bead you are allowed to renew, if the agreement says you can. | Typically £6–£12 |
Shop this list:
Would rather not DIY? Find a local tradesperson
If the job is yours but you would rather not do it, a local handyman or plumber can often deal with a small fix. If the job is the landlord’s, report it to them first — they may already have someone they use.
We may earn from shop links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure
General guidance only. Check our disclaimer.