Repairs if you're a protected tenant

If you have an older, protected tenancy (usually one that began before 15 January 1989), the repair rules can work a little differently from newer tenancies. The simplest step never changes, though: if anything in your home needs attention, please tell us.

Why it can be different

What we repair depends on the law that applies to your tenancy and on your tenancy agreement. Older agreements vary a lot.

• Tenancies that began on or after 24 October 1961. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (section 11) makes the landlord responsible for keeping the structure and outside of the home in repair, and the installations for water, gas, electricity, sanitation, heating and hot water in repair and working order. If your original agreement has come to an end, the Rent Act 1977 carries its terms on into your tenancy (section 3).
• Tenancies that began earlier. Section 11 only applies to tenancies granted on or after that date (section 13), so for an older tenancy, what your agreement says matters more.

Safety checks and access

The gas safety rules expressly cover Rent Act tenancies. Gas appliances and flues we provide are checked at least every 12 months, and you get a copy of the record within 28 days of each check. Government guidance says the electrical safety and alarm rules cover privately rented homes generally, too.

The Rent Act 1977 makes it a condition of a protected or statutory tenancy that you give the landlord access, and reasonable facilities, to carry out repairs the landlord is entitled to do (sections 3 and 148). Just let us know which times suit you.

Tell us, and we'll explain

Please tell us about any problem, big or small. We'll look at it with you and explain who is responsible for putting it right.

Email admin@rlancaster.co.uk, or phone, text or WhatsApp 07398 042 999. We reply in normal business hours. In an emergency, call 999. If you smell gas or think there's carbon monoxide, call 0800 111 999.

Whatever kind of tenancy you have, your council can also inspect a rented home for serious hazards, and it must take action on the most serious ones (Housing Act 2004, sections 4 and 5).

Find out more

• Regulated tenancies (Shelter England)
• Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, section 13 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Rent Act 1977, section 3 (legislation.gov.uk)
• Landlords' responsibility for gas safety (Health and Safety Executive)
• Find your local council (GOV.UK)