Notice to the landlord to repair a defect

Published byDocMuse

Repairs made necessary by ordinary use are the landlord's — but only if the landlord has been told. This document makes the telling written and dated: what has broken, when it was noticed, and within what period its repair is requested. The tenant keeps a copy, and it does its work in a later argument about the deposit.

Preview

This document is produced for you. Your answers are typed into it and the finished PDF is yours to keep.

Common questions

Can I repair it myself and deduct the cost from the rent?

Only if the landlord has been told, has not acted within a reasonable period, and this was agreed or the matter is urgent. Deducting unilaterally without warning is treated as unpaid rent, which is a ground for termination.

How long should I allow for the repair?

According to the nature of the defect: a leak or a loss of heating is a matter of days, a cosmetic problem can wait weeks. That is why the form has a separate field for urgency — it explains why the period you gave is the one you gave.

What if the landlord says I caused it?

Then what decides it is the handover record from when you moved in. If the defect is not in it and arises from ordinary use, the burden falls on the landlord. So give notice in writing at once, not months later.

Why write when I can just phone?

Because the landlord's obligation to put it right runs from when they knew, and a phone call cannot be proved. A copy of the request is also what protects your deposit if the defect gets worse in the meantime.