How long does a landlord have to do repairs?Beta*

For private renters in England, the law says repairs must be done within a "reasonable time" after the landlord is told about them. What counts as reasonable depends on how serious the problem is. No heating or hot water in winter, a gas leak or a dangerous electrical fault should be dealt with within a day or so. A dripping tap can wait longer. Fixed deadlines for damp and mould (Awaab's Law) already apply to council and housing association homes, and will be extended to private renting, but no start date had been set as of October 2026. Always report repairs in writing and keep a copy. If nothing happens, ask the council's environmental health team to inspect.

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Sources: Shelter: repairs in private rented homesShelter: complain to environmental health