Repairs for private tenants and homeowners

Repairs help for private tenants and homeowners

This topic is about repairs for those in a private tenancy and homeowners. If you are a council tenant please go to our council repairs page.

1. Private tenants

1.1 Tenant's responsibilities

Private tenants must look after the property and take care to avoid damage. You must carry out minor maintenance, such as:

  • checking smoke alarm batteries
  • keeping your home reasonably clean
  • heating your home so pipes do not freeze and burst

You are responsible for reporting repairs as soon as possible.

1.2. Landlord responsibilities

Your tenancy should meet a certain level of repair to rent out and private landlords must meet two standards known as the repair standard and tolerable standard. Please visit landlord obligations for information on these standards. Your home should meet these standards at the start of your tenancy and throughout the tenancy term.

If you rent through a letting agency it is still your landlord's responsibility to meet the repairing and tolerable standards.

Letting agents have separate repair duties. They must follow a letting agent code of practice. They should either:

  • carry out the repairs themselves
  • tell the landlord so the landlord can do the repairs

1.3. Landlord not completing repairs

If you think your landlord has failed to meet his/her repair duty, please visit landlord not doing repairs for a helpful guide on steps you can take.  

1.4. Property not fit to live in

The Council's Environmental Protection Team will give advice, and inspect homes to identify properties which are not fit to live in, or do not meet the legal standard. They will decide whether the home meets the criteria, and the best course of action to take. Do not give up your tenancy voluntarily before seeking advice from the Environmental Protection Team at: John Muir House, Haddington, EH41 3HA. Call 01620 827365 or email ehts@eastlothian.gov.uk.

1.5. Adaptations

This linked page will help if you are a tenant looking to have adaptations made to my home.

1.6. Care and Repair

There is a scheme for private tenants to get assistance with repairs called Care and Repair East Lothian.

2. Homeowners

The responsibility to carry out and pay for repairs, maintenance and improvements lies with the owners of a property.

To keep your building in a good state of repair it is important that you carry out regular inspections and maintenance.

2.1 Information on repair issues

Leaflets on specific repair issues or building elements are currently available on the following subjects:

2.2 Communal repair

Depending on your property type, you may have a responsibility for communal repairs. Please visit repairs in communal areas for more information.

2.3 Care and Repair

There is also a scheme for home owners and private tenants to get assistance with repairs called Care and Repair East Lothian.