Repairs to a rented home

YOUR landlord is responsible for most major repairs to your home if you rent privately. This includes: the structure of the property, for example walls, roof, windows and doors sinks, baths, toilets pipes and wiring heating and hot water, for example the boiler

the safety of gas and electrical appliances

You’ll be responsible for minor repairs, for example changing fuses and light bulbs. You’ll also have to fix anything you’ve damaged.

Damp is a very common problem which many tenants experience when renting accommodation. If your home is damp, your landlord might not be responsible. It depends on what type of damp it is - and what caused it. It can be difficult to find the exact cause of damp without the help of a surveyor, unless, it’s obvious, such as a leaking roof.

There are several types of dampness:

Rising damp, which happens when moisture travels up from the ground through the masonry to the height of about one metre. Mostly, your landlord is responsible for dealing with rising damp

Penetrating damp, which happens when water penetrates into the fabric of a building from outside to inside, for example, because of a leaking downpipe. Again, mostly your landlord is responsible for dealing with this.

Construction damp, where dampness is caused by a problem in how the property was designed. If the problem causes disrepair, for example, it damages wall or ceiling plaster, then your landlord would be responsible for repairing the problem.

Condensation dampness, which generally happens when a property can’t deal with normal levels of water vapour because of a lack of insulation, ventilation or heating, or a combination of all of these things.

This is the most common form of damp in rented properties. There are things both you and your landlord can do about this, so it’s best to talk to your landlord. Your landlord doesn’t have to make improvements to a property, for example putting in double glazing.

They might have to make reasonable adjustments – for example, if you have a disability and need a handrail to help you get upstairs. You won’t be responsible for repairs caused by other people, for example vandalism.

Your tenancy agreement or statement of terms might give you extra rights, so it’s a good idea to check your paperwork.

You can get help, information and advice from your local

Citizens Advice or visit www. citizensadvicewokingham.org.uk or contact Citizens Advice Wokingham at Second Floor, Waterford House, Erftstadt Court, Wokingham RG40 2YF. Tel: 0300 330 1189. email: public@citizensadvicewokingham. org.uk