|
|
<p>All landlords must by law carry out repairs in a reasonable timeframe.</p><p>We have given local authorities strong powers to require urgent repairs if landlords in the private sector do not carry these out. If landlords do not comply, or if the risk is high enough, then local authorities can do remedial works themselves and recover the costs.</p><p>For social landlords, the Regulator of Social Housing sets standards that they are required to meet under the Home Standard. This includes all applicable requirements that provide for the health and safety for the occupants of their homes and a cost-effective repairs and maintenance service. If failure to meet the Home Standard has caused, or could have caused, serious detriment to tenants, the Regulator may intervene.</p><p>The repair obligations of all landlords, private and social, have not changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government recognises that restrictions imposed by current measures, to minimise the infection risks from COVID-19, may make this more difficult. Guidance has been issued to local authorities advising they take a common-sense, pragmatic and risk-based approach to enforcement.</p><p>It is a matter for private landlords to decide on how they best engage with their tenants and organise their repairs to meet their obligations. This does not mean that we do not take this matter seriously.</p><p>In July this year the Housing Ombudsman, which provides redress for social housing residents, published a new Complaint Handling Code which sets out good practice for landlords on how to respond to complaints effectively, fairly and in a timely way.</p><p>My officials are in regular contact with stakeholders across both the private and social sectors, discussing not just health and safety obligations, repairs and inspections but all aspects of both sectors.</p> |