Tenant Reasonable Repair Request
Residential landlords are responsible for ensuring that the Let property is safe and fit for use. Their duties include, but aren’t limited to:
Maintaining the plumbing
Ensuring the heating works
Fixing faulty appliances
Maintaining the interior and exterior of the property
Under the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 section 11 it says that landlords are required to maintain the exterior as well as the interior framework of a rental property, that also includes gutters, pipes, and drains.
Additionally, a landlord is responsible for repairs under the tenancy too.
Providing a safe source of gas, electric and water is a primary responsibility of the landlord. There ought to be regular safety inspections to ensure electrical equipment and gas is fit for use. An annual gas safety inspection is compulsory, and the landlord must get a gas safety certificate each year.
Nevertheless, the tv, washing machine along with other non-essential devices are not covered by that law. However, they mustn’t present a danger to tenants, but landlords can’t be made to fix and/or change them unless it’s especially provided in the tenancy understanding.
A tenant is within their right to ask you to do maintenance and repairs to the property.
While it might be unreasonable for the tenant to request you to put in new expensive devices that you would like. The tenant is entitled to have reasonable repairs done to their home.
The tenant needs to provide the landlord with adequate time to conduct the maintenance. It is helpful for tenants to attempt to help the landlord with planning the job for instance by obtaining quotes from various businesses or even arranging inspections.
When something goes wrong in the property, like damage, leaks, faulty items, blockages or faulty appliances it’s crucial to identify who’s responsible for fixing the issue.
Landlords are required to cover the cost of faulty or broken (owned and provided by the landlord) appliances due to daily natural use – the gradual deterioration of things. Tenants are not liable for repairs or replacement of any appliances or furniture supplied by the landlord. A good example of use and tear is an Electric hob element which gradually deteriorates from regular cooking.
Nevertheless, the tenant is liable for any intentional and careless damage. In case the stove component was being used to heat the kitchen area and failed after working for extended periods. This is improper exploitation and tenants is liable for its replacing.
The tenant must check ad observe every component of the home is in good working condition. In case issues are arising, they’re more quickly and
inexpensively resolved when preventative work is carried out before a real disaster occurs.
For instance, in case the power system is arbitrarily shutting off multiple times one day. This may be due to a vulnerable wire or
connection which in turn could result in damaging the installation, gadgets or appliances. It is a tenant’s responsibility to speedily report any problem to the landlord. This must be done promptly.
Reporting it instantly will permit the landlord to instruct an electrician to the property before a disaster occurs.
In certain instances, the landlord delegates their tenants the process of locating a handyman and planning the maintenance, while the landlord covers the cost. This typically will save time and it is a lot handier for the tenants as they get to decide on who enters the property.
The tenant must give access to the property for maintenance and repairs. A landlord can’t show up to visit unannounced or perhaps without prior consent from the tenant unless it is an emergency. Although using that right inappropriately is going to cause more problems in the future.
Any damage or loss brought on by the tenant maybe as the consequence of the action of theirs (or perhaps inaction) the tenant will be responsible for any losses or damage caused.
Landlords should seek a peaceful resolution to any issue with their tenant and litigation is not desirable and is the last resort.
Besides dissatisfied tenants, landlords that disregard their repair duties might experience significant consequences.
Landlords need to be mindful of the retaliatory eviction legislation and should discharge their obligations to carry out repairs. Avoid the Council environmental health officer putting you on notice of repairs that must be done.
British Landlords Association
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9th of February 2023
This post is provided as a general guide only. The information hereinabove should be used for research purposes and not to be used for taking legal action.
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