Right to repair scheme
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland
This section explains how the right to repair scheme for council tenants works. If the repairs will cost less than £250, they are covered by the right to repair scheme, which means they should be carried out within a set amount of time.
If you have problems getting work done under this scheme, an adviser in your area may be able to help you. Use our directory to find one.
What is the right to repair scheme?
The right to repair scheme is designed to ensure that council tenants can get certain repairs completed quickly and easily. It sets time limits for certain types of repair, which councils must stick to. If the contractors the council uses don't do the work in that time, you can ask them to hire someone else. If the repairs still aren't done, you can claim compensation.
What repairs are covered?
It only covers certain repairs, known as 'qualifying repairs', which cost less than £250 to carry out. They include repairs to:
- unsafe power, or lighting sockets, or electrical fittings
- blocked flues to fires or boilers
- leaking roofs
- toilets that won't flush
- blocked sinks, baths or basins
- leaking or flooding from pipes, tanks or cisterns
- loose or broken banisters or handrails.
Your landlord may need to come and look at the problem before they can tell you whether it is a qualifying repair. Ask the council for a full list of repairs that come under the scheme.
What should the landlord do?
When you report a qualifying repair, your landlord should:
- tell you how long it should take to fix the problem
- explain your rights under the right to repair scheme
- give you the contact details of the contractor who they usually get to do this type of repair, and at least one other approved contractor
- arrange for you to be at home to let the contractor in.
How long do repairs take under the scheme?
How long a repair will take will depend on the urgency of the repair, but times are set by law - not by the council. All work has to be carried out within one, three or seven working days.
Repairs should be carried out within one working day if:
- you have no water or electricity
- you have no gas, or the supply is reduced
- windows or doors are not secure (eg following a burglary)
- there is a leak from a pipe, tank or cistern
- the flue to an open fire or boiler is blocked
- the heating or hot water are not working between 31 October and 1 May
- the sewage drain or soil stack are blocked (or you only have one toilet and it can't be flushed)
- electrical lighting or other fittings are unsafe.
- there is a partial loss of water or electricity
- the heating or hot water are not working between 1 May and 31 October
- a sink bath or basin is blocked
- a tap cannot be turned
- you have a loose banister or handrail, or rotten wood on the floor or stair treads.
Repairs should be carried out within seven working days if:
- the roof is leaking
- a door entry phone is not working
- an extractor fan is broken.
What if I'm not there when the contractor arrives?
If you're not home at the arranged time to let in the contractor, the repair work will be cancelled and you'll need to start the procedure again.
What if the repairs aren't done in time?
If the contractor doesn't turn up to do the work by the last day of the time limit set, call the council again. They should call the other contractor on their list, to arrange for them to do the work.
You can't use a contractor who isn't on your landlord's list.
How much compensation can I claim?
If the second contractor doesn't do the repairs by the time limit, you are normally entitled to £10 in compensation. For every extra day you wait, you will get another £2, up to a maximum of £50.
If you have rent arrears, the amount will be deducted from your arrears rather than being paid to you directly.
What if a repair isn't covered?
The right to repair scheme does not cover repairs that cost more than £250 to carry out. Your landlord should have a procedure for dealing with these kinds of repairs, which should be explained in your tenants' handbook. When you report the repair, your landlord should let you know how long it will take to get the work done. There is no legal time limit, but the work should be done within a reasonable time.
