Legislation

The landlord and tenant act states that where the landlord has granted a tenancy the landlord will normally be responsible:

• To keep in repair, the structure and exterior of the home, including drains, gutters and external pipes,
• To keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the home for the supply of water, gas, electricity and for sanitation (including basins, sinks, baths and sanitary conveniences) but not other fixtures, fittings and appliances for making use of the supply of water, gas or electricity, and
• To keep in repair and proper working order the installation in the home for space heating and heating water.

‘keep in repair’ means that the landlord must keep up the standard of repair from the start of the tenancy. The landlord must also ensure that the premises are put into repair even if they were not in good repair at the start of the tenancy. ‘repair’ does not include any duty to carry out improvements. A claim by a tenant to a landlord as a result of an attack of black mould in a property was rejected by the courts as the damage was as a result of condensation and did not directly result through any disrepair.

Now and then you will need repairs carried out. Some we will do and some are your responsibility.

You have to repair damage caused by yourself, your family or visitors.

The following table is a list of some common repairs that are your responsibility and those that are ebony’s. The list is not intended to be exhaustive. If you have any questions on the responsibility of a repair please contact us.

Your responsibility

Outside your home

• Door bells
• Glazing (unless caused by a crime and you have obtained a specific crime number)
• Pests, such as mice, wasps and cockroaches.
• Sheds and outhouses
• Garden fencing front and rear
• Locks
• Letter boxes

Inside your home

• Blocked toilets, baths, basins, toilet seats, shower heads and hoses, tap washers
• Internal decorating including floor coverings, doors and locks
• Light bulbs, including fluorescent strips
• Batteries in smoke detectors 

Landlord’s responsibility outside the home

• Door entry systems
• Windows and frames (but not glazing)
• Roofs, gutters and down pipes
• Boundary fencing

Inside your home

• Annual gas service
• 5-year annual electrical inspection
• Bathroom renewal
• Kitchen renewal
• Smoke detectors and fire alarms in communal areas 

Responsibility for repairs in shared housing

In addition to the above, for shared houses, your landlord is responsible for any repairs to communal areas of your home.