Letter to complain to the council if your landlord hasn’t done repairs
Use this letter to complain to your local council if you told your landlord that your home needs repairs and they haven’t done anything.
You should give your landlord time to do the repairs before you complain. The amount of time depends on how serious the problem is and how it affects you. For example, they should fix a broken boiler more quickly than a leaking tap.
You can send the letter to your council by post or copy the text into an email. Find your local council on GOV.UK.
If you’re renting from the council
You can still use this letter to complain about repairs.
Councils can’t take legal action against themselves, but they can make recommendations. If they agree that your home needs repairs, this might make it easier to get the repairs done.
There are also other things you can do to try to get your landlord to do the repairs. For example you can:
- use the right to repair scheme - you can apply for help if your home needs urgent, minor repairs and your landlord hasn’t done anything about them
- complain to a local councillor or the Housing Ombudsman
- take your landlord to court
Example letter
Sam Hoolin
8 Park Avenue
Arlton
AL1 4CA
sam123@mail.com
01632 960001
17 January 2024
Environmental Health Department
Giltham County Council
24 Station Road
Giltham
GT16 3LP
To whom it may concern,
I am a tenant of the above address. My landlord is Bob James.
I contacted my landlord on 22 October 2023 about repair work that is needed in my home: The gas central heating does not work and a leaking roof is causing damage to one of the bedroom ceilings near the electrical fitting.
My landlord has not done anything in response to my requests. I am concerned about this because:
1) I'm worried that the water around the light could be dangerous.
2) My mother is in her late eighties and not having central heating is particularly bad for her health.
I would be grateful if you could please come and inspect the conditions in my home to determine if you can take any action under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 or the Housing Act 2004. Please contact me using my details at the top of this letter to arrange a suitable time to visit.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Sam Hoolin