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We aim to help private renters have sustainable and safe accommodation.

Repairs

If you need a repair to your rental property contact your landlord in writing and keep a record of this.  If the landlord refuses to carry out the work, please contact us. We have a number of powers to ensure that works are carried out to the minimum statutory housing standard.

If you are a Housing Association tenant you must, in the first instance, make a formal complaint to your housing association and exhaust their full complaints procedure. This gives them the chance to put things right.  If you are unhappy with their response you must then contact the Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS) who regulate Housing Associations.

The HOS looks at complaints about housing associations registered with them. They only have the power to investigate a complaint after you have taken it all the way through the landlord's own formal complaints procedure.

However, the HOS only have the power to investigate a complaint after you have taken it all the way through the landlord's own formal complaints procedure.

This gives the landlord the chance to respond and try to put things right first. It is up to you to take your complaint through the landlord’s complaint procedure.

Harassment and illegal eviction

If you are living in privately rented accommodation the law protects you against harassment and illegal eviction. Both of these acts are criminal offences and victims are able to claim damages, through the civil court. Find out more about harassment and illegal eviction.

Tenancy Deposit Protection

Within 30 days of receiving a deposit, landlords have to secure the deposit and provide tenants with the details of which scheme is protecting the tenancy deposit. Further information you should contact Shelter or the Citizen Advice Bureau.

Further information