How to report a repair for your rented property

Report a repair to your landlord

If there is an issue with your home that needs repairing, you need to report the problem to your landlord first and ask for the work to be carried out. 

Make sure you report the problem in writing to your landlord and keep copies of all your communications. It is not enough to only report the issues verbally.

There is advice about how to report a repair to your landlord at Shelter England: How to report repairs to a private landlord or agent.

Your landlord is responsible for repairs to your property from the point they are made aware of the problem, so you need to make sure you report your complaint to your landlord as soon as possible.

Writing to your landlord is important, as in some circumstances, this may protect you from eviction for up to 6 months.

For information on revenge or retaliatory eviction, see if you're afraid to make a complaint (revenge eviction).  Please read this information before making a complaint, so that you are aware of what protection from eviction you have.

It is important that your landlord is aware of your concerns and has had a reasonable amount of time to respond.  

For more information on what your landlord is responsible for, see What a landlord is responsible for. 

Report a repair to the Council

The Council may be able to help you in some cases where your housing conditions are a serious risk to your health and safety.

If you have written to your landlord and a reasonable amount of time has passed (usually between 7-10 days) but they do not respond to your request, you can contact us so we can look at your complaint in more detail.

Wherever possible please collect evidence such as:

  • Photographs
  • Copies of any letters sent to or received from the landlord
  • Receipts from any professionals who have looked at the problem
  • A note from note from a GP, or other health professional, if the problem is affecting someone's health

Contact the Private Sector Housing Team by:

What happens after you report a repair to the Council

Once we have received your complaint it will be assessed and we will contact you to discuss your complaint further, offer advice and agree the next steps as appropriate.

It may be necessary for us, with your permission, to contact your landlord where problems appear serious, as we may need to carry out an inspection of your home to make an assessment of the risks under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) or using other appropriate powers.

Once an inspection has been carried out, we will determine the most appropriate course of action. This may be:

  • advice and guidance
  • informal action
  • formal housing enforcement action
  • other enforcement options, for example an abatement notice

For more information on HHSRS, see the Citizens Advice website.

If a property is not safe to live in

If your property is not safe to live in, there is an immediate danger or a serious threat to health and you have not had an immediate response from your landlord, or your landlord is uncontactable, please contact us:

  • Email Private Sector Housing Team at Environmental.Healthmailbox@southtyneside.gov.uk
  • Write to us at: Private Sector Housing, Environmental Health, Regeneration & Environment, Town Hall, Westoe Road, South Shields, NE33 2RL
  • Telephone us on: 0191 4277000

If you're afraid to make a complaint (revenge eviction)

If you think there is disrepair in your rented property but are afraid to report it because you think your landlord will ask you to leave the property, there are some laws to protect you from this.

Landlords who ask tenants to leave their property because they have reported disrepair to them may be guilty of 'retaliatory eviction'.

Landlords and agents must follow a proper legal eviction process if they want to take back possession of their property. For more information, see Shelter England: Revenge eviction if you ask for repairs.

The law around this applies to all assured shorthold tenancies that started after 1st October 2015. Please see Shelter tenancy checker online tool if you are unsure about what type of tenancy you have, see Shelter England: Tenancy Rights Checker.