Under the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 a landlord of residential premises has various repair obligations.  They may also have additional repair obligations under the terms of the tenancy agreement.

Not all repairs are the duty of the landlord, far from it.  For example, there is no statutory requirement for a landlord to maintain a garden save for ensuring safe access.

The repairing obligations of a landlord will usually include:

• Maintaining the exterior and structure of the property
• Maintaining gas and water supplies
• Maintaining space heating

The landlord is required to carry out repairs that are his responsibility within a reasonable time and to a reasonable standard.  If he does not, a tenant may have grounds for a disrepair claim which can include compensation and a court order to undertake the necessary repairs.

Common matters for which landlords have been sued for disrepair include:

• A faulty/unsafe boiler
• Structural defects
• Roof issues
• Gas and water leaks
• Damp and mould
• Wet and dry rot
• Dangerous wiring
• Faulty white goods
• Defective central heating
• Defective fire/carbon monoxide alarms

A landlord’s liability to repair can also give rise to a potential liability, under the Defective Premises Act 1972, for health issues suffered by the tenant resulting from the landlord’s failure to meet his repairing obligations.  These can include:

• Aggravation of Asthma conditions
• Pneumonia
• Respiratory issues
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Electrocution
• Trips/falls caused by unsafe stairways
• Anxiety and depression

Our solicitors act on behalf of both landlords and tenant in relation to disrepair claims and can offer clear legal advice in relation to a landlord’s potential liability for disrepair and practical advice as to how best to resolve the issue.  If necessary our lawyers can bring and defend claims issued in the courts, always with reference to specific protocols that relate to such claims.

Please contact us today for a free no obligation telephone discussion by calling us on one of the telephone numbers referred to at the top of this page, or by email: disputeresolution@curzongreen.co.uk