How long does a landlord have to fix repairs?

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, landlords are legally required to keep a rented property in good repair. While the law does not prescribe a specific number of days for every type of repair, the general standard is that repairs must be completed within a reasonable time depending on their urgency. Emergency repairs that create an immediate risk to health or safety — such as a broken boiler in winter, a serious gas or water leak, or structural damage — should typically be addressed within 24 to 48 hours. Urgent but less critical repairs, such as a broken lock or faulty hot water, should be addressed within a few days to a week. Routine non-urgent repairs may reasonably take a few weeks. To protect your position, always report repairs in writing (email or text) and keep copies. If your landlord repeatedly fails to carry out repairs, you can report the matter to your local authority's environmental health department, who can serve an improvement notice or take enforcement action under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. You may also apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) or, in some cases, to the County Court for a damages claim. Withholding rent is rarely advisable and can put you at risk of eviction.