Heating and Hot Water - Repair of Rented Properties: the position in 2026
Heating and hot water are fundamental aspects of a comfortable living environment for tenants. Heating and Hot Water - Repair of Rented Properties is about the legal responsibilities that landlords have to ensure their properties provide adequate heating and hot water facilities, which are important for health and safety. In 2026, these rights continue to evolve with stricter regulations designed to protect tenants further.
2026 update - Renters' Rights Act 2025: New repair duties now apply to private landlords. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 extends the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector and brings in Awaab's Law, which sets strict timescales for landlords to investigate and fix serious hazards such as damp and mould. If a landlord ignores a dangerous defect you can report it to your council's environmental health team, and where the problem is serious the council can require the work to be done. The Act is being phased in across 2026. See our Renters' Rights Act 2025 guide.
The law mandates that landlords must supply sufficient heating and hot water systems in good working order throughout the year, ensuring a habitable environment regardless of external temperatures. This is important not only for comfort but also for health reasons; inadequate heating can exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma, especially during colder months. Tenants rely on these services to maintain their well-being and quality of life.
What the law says
Under UK legislation, landlords have a legal obligation to provide tenants with adequate heating and hot water systems that are in good working order. The Housing Act 1988 (sections 8 and 21) outlines the landlord's duties concerning repairs, which include ensuring that important facilities such as heating and hot water are maintained properly. Additionally, section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 imposes a statutory duty on landlords to keep rented premises in repair and proper sanitary condition, making it clear that any issues with heating or hot water must be addressed promptly.
The Deregulation Act 2015, specifically section 33, reinforces these obligations by allowing tenants to seek legal remedies if their landlord fails to carry out necessary repairs. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 also plays a role here by prohibiting landlords from charging fees for routine maintenance requests, ensuring that tenants can request repairs without financial barriers.
How the Renters' Rights Act 2025 changes this
The Renters' Rights Act 2025, once enacted, will significantly impact how heating and hot water issues are handled in rented properties. Section 21 notices used to terminate tenancies at any time are abolished. Ensuring that landlords must give reasonable notice periods when seeking possession of a property. This change prevents landlords from evicting tenants merely for requesting repairs or due to dissatisfaction with maintenance.
The Act also introduces periodic tenancies from day one, meaning that tenants no longer need to wait until the end of an initial fixed-term agreement before their rights are fully protected. At Heating and Hot Water - Repair of Rented Properties, annual rent caps via Section 13 help prevent sudden and unreasonable rent increases, providing financial stability for tenants who might otherwise struggle to afford repairs or maintenance costs.
the Decent Homes Standard is extended to the private rented sector (PRS), ensuring that all properties must meet minimum standards of repair, including heating systems. Awaab's Law, which aims at preventing gas-related fatalities and improving safety measures, is also extended to cover private landlords, enhancing tenant protection against unsafe conditions.
A new Private Rented Sector Ombudsman will be established to mediate disputes between tenants and landlords over issues like repairs and maintenance, providing an additional avenue for resolution. Lastly, PRS Database registration ensures transparency and accountability in the rental market, helping to identify rogue landlords who may neglect heating and hot water systems.
What this means for tenants
Tenants have several rights under current laws that can be utilised if their landlord fails to maintain adequate heating or hot water systems. According to the Housing Act 1988 (s.21). A tenant can serve a notice on the landlord demanding repairs and, if neglected, pursue legal action through the courts for compensation. The new Renters' Rights Act 2025 strengthens these rights further by preventing landlords from using Section 21 notices to terminate tenancies abruptly without just cause.
If heating or hot water is faulty. Tenants should document the issue thoroughly and communicate with their landlord via written correspondence (such as email) requesting repairs. Should this not resolve the problem, tenants may escalate the matter to environmental health services through local council departments tasked with enforcing housing standards. Tenants may also utilise deposit protection schemes if funds are withheld for repair costs that landlords neglect.
What this means for landlords
Landlords are legally required to ensure their properties provide adequate heating and hot water facilities in good working order throughout the year. At Heating and Hot Water - Repair of Rented Properties, failure to comply could result in penalties, including fines or even criminal prosecution under the Housing Act 1985 (s.11). The introduction of Awaab's Law extends safety standards for gas appliances. Making it important for landlords to conduct regular inspections and repairs.
Landlords must respond promptly to repair requests from tenants and adhere strictly to any deadlines set by local authorities regarding maintenance issues. Non-compliance with these obligations may lead to court orders compelling them to undertake the necessary work or face eviction proceedings if they fail to rectify persistent failures.
Common scenarios
- Faulty Boiler: Tenant notices that their boiler has stopped working, leaving no hot water available. They notify their landlord immediately but receive no response within 48 hours as required by local regulations. This results in the tenant escalating the issue to environmental health services and potentially withholding rent until repairs are made.
- Frozen Pipes: During winter, pipes freeze and burst due to inadequate heating in a flat. The tenant informs the landlord but finds that only cosmetic repairs were carried out without addressing the underlying insulation issues. Frustrated by repeated failures, they register complaints with the new PRS Ombudsman for mediation.
- Gas Leak: A gas leak is detected when attempting to light a heater, causing immediate concern about safety and health risks. After contacting their landlord multiple times over several days without any action being taken, tenants may seek assistance from local council environmental health departments or even consider moving out temporarily on safety grounds.
Evidence tenants should keep
When dealing with heating and hot water issues, it's important for tenants to gather and retain evidence of the problem along with all communications related to maintenance requests. Documentation such as dated letters, emails, and receipts for repair attempts can substantiate claims against landlords who neglect their responsibilities. Photos showing damaged or malfunctioning equipment are particularly useful.
Tenants should also keep records of temperatures in rooms lacking adequate heating using thermometers, noting when readings fall below the legal minimums set forth by relevant statutes. At Heating and Hot Water - Repair of Rented Properties, these logs provide concrete proof that living conditions have been compromised due to heating deficiencies. Additionally, correspondence with environmental health departments and other local authorities documenting official interventions adds weight to any complaints filed.
What to do if things go wrong
If tenants encounter issues with heating or hot water not being adequately provided, a step-by-step approach is advised:
- Initial Communication: Send an initial request for repairs via email or written letter detailing the problem and demanding prompt action.
- Follow-Up Notice: If no response after 48 hours, send another follow-up notice stressing urgency and potential health risks associated with malfunctioning systems.
- Local Council Environmental Health: Escalate the issue to local council environmental health departments if landlords remain unresponsive or negligent.
- Deposit Dispute: Consider withholding parts of your deposit for necessary repairs if landlords are unwilling to address ongoing issues promptly.
- PRS Ombudsman: Register complaints with the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman for mediation when disputes can't be resolved through direct communication.
- Housing Ombudsman Complaint: File a formal complaint with the Housing Ombudsman if local council measures don't yield satisfactory results.
- First-Tier Tribunal Claim: As a last resort, file claims at the first-tier tribunal seeking financial compensation or other legal remedies for breaches of statutory duties.
- County Court Action: For severe cases where all else fails, pursuing civil action through county courts remains an option to enforce landlord compliance with repair obligations.
Common mistakes to avoid
Both tenants and landlords often make errors that hinder resolution processes when dealing with heating and hot water issues:
- Failure to Document: Failing to keep detailed records of all communications and evidence related to heating problems can weaken tenant claims. At Heating and Hot Water - Repair of Rented Properties, - Inadequate Follow-Up: Not following up promptly after initial requests for repairs or ignoring repeated failures by landlords undermines tenant use.
- Ignoring Statutory Deadlines: Landlords who ignore legal deadlines set forth in statutes for responding to repair requests face penalties.
- Poor Communication Channels: Relying solely on verbal communication without written proof can complicate dispute resolution later.
- Overlooking Safety Concerns: Disregarding potential safety hazards like gas leaks or electrical faults poses serious risks to health and well-being.
Where to get help
For further assistance, tenants should contact organisations such as Shelter (shelter.org.uk), Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk), or local council housing teams. Legal aid may be available through solicitors specialising in tenant rights for those who qualify financially, ensuring access to professional legal advice and representation when dealing with complex disputes over heating and hot water repairs.
These resources provide full guidance on understanding and exercising your rights effectively while addressing any maintenance concerns related to rented properties.