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How to Complain About Landlord

How to Complain About Your Landlord UK – Council, Ombudsman & Compensation Routes (2026 Guide)

Knowing how to complain about landlord problems is the difference between months of ignored repair requests and real action. Bronwen, a council tenant in Salford, reported black mould on her bedroom wall in January. The repairs team promised a visit “soon”. By April the room was unusable and nobody had been — until she escalated through her landlord’s formal complaint process and then to the Housing Ombudsman, who can order compensation and force action. It is a textbook example of how to complain about landlord problems and win.

This guide explains how to complain about landlord issues in the UK in 2026: which route fits your situation, the two-stage social-housing complaint process, how to get your council’s Environmental Health team to act, Rent Repayment Orders, the First-tier Tribunal, and the new enforcement powers in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 — plus how the rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Together they cover how to complain about landlord problems from first letter to final remedy.

Quick answer: Complain to your landlord in writing first and give them a reasonable chance to fix it. Social tenants then use the two-stage complaint process (10 and 20 working-day deadlines) and can escalate to the Housing Ombudsman, who can order repairs, apologies and compensation. Private tenants with dangerous or unhealthy homes should contact their council’s Environmental Health team, which can force repairs through enforcement notices. Serious landlord offences can lead to Rent Repayment Orders of up to 24 months’ rent — and since 1 May 2026, councils can fine landlords up to £7,000 per breach (£40,000 for serious or repeated breaches) under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.

Rules for how to complain about landlord problems differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and several changed in 2026. This guide reflects the position as of October 2026 and is general information, not legal advice. Wherever you live, the basics of how to complain about landlord issues stay the same.

How to Complain About Landlord Problems: Which Route Fits Your Situation?

Use this table to find your route — it matches how to complain about landlord problems to the body that can act.

Your situationWhere to complain
You rent from a council or housing association in EnglandLandlord’s 2-stage complaint process, then the Housing Ombudsman
You are a private tenant and your home is unhealthy or unsafeCouncil Environmental Health / Private Sector Housing
Your landlord committed a serious offence (unlicensed HMO, illegal eviction, ignored an improvement notice)The First-tier Tribunal — apply for a Rent Repayment Order
You were charged a banned fee or too much rent in advanceThe council (enforcement) and/or the First-tier Tribunal to recover the money
You want to challenge a rent increase or service chargesThe First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)
You are not a tenant (e.g. a housing applicant) with concerns about council housing managementCouncil complaints process, then the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
You live in Scotland, Wales or Northern IrelandUK-wide comparison table below — different bodies apply

Before starting any route, remember that how to complain about landlord problems effectively starts with reporting the problem to your landlord in writing and keeping copies — every route works better when you can show you gave them a fair chance first. That written record is the foundation of how to complain about landlord problems successfully.

How to Complain About Landlord Issues: the Social Landlord Two-Stage Process

If you rent from a council or housing association in England, the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code sets strict rules your landlord must follow. Statutory since 1 April 2024, it is actively monitored — landlords that ignore it can receive Complaint Handling Failure Orders. For social tenants, this Code defines how to complain about landlord failures fairly.

A repair request is not a complaint. Reporting a leak is a service request. Complaining that the landlord took four months to fix that leak, did a poor job, or ignored you entirely — that is a complaint, and it must go through the formal process below.

StageWhat happensDeadline
LoggingLandlord acknowledges your complaint in writingWithin 5 working days of receiving it
Stage 1Landlord investigates and sends a written decisionWithin 10 working days of acknowledgement
Stage 2 (escalation)A more senior person reviews everything and sends a final decisionWithin 20 working days of the escalation request being acknowledged

Three rules tenants miss. First, no extra stages — a process longer than two stages is not acceptable, as it delays Ombudsman access. Second, a missed deadline needs an extension agreed with you and confirmed in writing. Third, put everything in writing and keep every message. If a private contractor does the repairs, still complain to your landlord — Shelter England is clear the landlord is responsible. Our landlord repairs guide explains who must fix what.

Awaab’s Law: Strict Repair Deadlines for Social Landlords

Awaab’s Law gave tenants one of the sharpest tools for how to complain about landlord disrepair: since 27 October 2025, social landlords in England have faced legally enforceable timescales for serious hazards under the law — named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died in 2020 after prolonged exposure to mould. For tenants, it turned how to complain about landlord disrepair into a deadline-driven process.

If your complaint is about damp, mould or an emergency hazard, knowing how to complain about landlord problems starts with these deadlines — they give real teeth to how to complain about landlord hazards:

  • Emergency hazards (gas leaks, burst pipes, dangerous electrics, no heating in winter): the landlord must investigate and act within 24 hours.
  • Significant damp and mould hazards: investigate within 10 working days, give you a written summary of the findings within 3 working days of the investigation, and make your home safe within 5 working days if a significant risk is confirmed.
  • Follow-up work to stop the problem returning must start within 12 weeks, and the full repair completed within a reasonable time.
  • If the landlord cannot meet these deadlines, they must offer suitable alternative accommodation at their own expense until your home is safe.

Phase 2 is expected from 30 November 2026, extending similar duties to excess cold and heat, fire and electrical risks, structural defects and falls; phase 3 in 2027 covers the rest. Quote these deadlines in your complaint — knowing how to complain about landlord problems means citing the exact deadline your landlord missed. Each phase makes how to complain about landlord hazards a stronger, clearer process.

The Housing Ombudsman: What It Can Order

If your landlord’s stage 2 response does not resolve things — or never arrives — take your complaint to the Housing Ombudsman. It is free, independent and impartial, and you must usually refer your complaint within 12 months of the stage 2 response. Where it finds service failure, maladministration or severe maladministration, it can order repairs, a written apology, compensation, and changes to the landlord’s procedures.

FindingTypical compensation range
Service failure (minor, short-lived)£50–£100
Maladministration (adversely affected you, no permanent impact)£100–£600
Maladministration or severe maladministration (significant impact)£600–£1,000
Severe maladministration (serious, long-term failings)£1,000+

For loss of use of rooms, the Ombudsman also uses percentages of weekly rent: a bedroom or living room at 20%, a kitchen at 30%, a bathroom at 30% for each week unusable.

Illustrative example — Bronwen, Salford (FICTIONAL): Bronwen pays £140 a week; damp made her bedroom unusable for 14 weeks. Room-based method: 20% of £140 = £28/week × 14 = £392 for the room. Months of ignored complaints could add a further award in the £100–£600 maladministration band — total realistically £700–£900, plus an order to fix the damp.

You cannot usually use the Ombudsman if you have already taken the same issue to court, so choose carefully when deciding how to complain about landlord problems. It covers social landlords only — private tenants use the council and tribunal routes below (until the PRS Landlord Ombudsman arrives). So the first decision in how to complain about landlord problems is choosing the right forum.

Not a Tenant? The LGSCO Can Now Hear You

From 1 May 2026, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) can investigate complaints about how councils manage social housing from people who are not tenants — housing applicants, affected neighbours, or family members raising concerns — under changes to the Local Government Act 1974. Previously neither the LGSCO nor the Housing Ombudsman could look at such complaints. The LGSCO called it a “significant and long-overdue change”.

Complete the council’s own complaints procedure first, then refer it to the LGSCO — free and independent. The boundary matters: if you are a tenant complaining about your council as your landlord, you still go to the Housing Ombudsman.

How to Complain About Landlord Disrepair to Your Council

If you rent privately in England and your home is unhealthy, unsafe or in serious disrepair, your most powerful complaint route is your local council — usually its Environmental Health or Private Sector Housing team.

Step 1: report to your landlord in writing — the essential first move in how to complain about landlord problems. The council will usually expect this first. Keep copies of everything. How to complain about landlord problems always begins with that dated, written record.

Step 2: contact the council. Find the private rented housing or Environmental Health team on your council’s website; explain the problem, its health impact, and what your landlord has done. Flag priority factors: children, elderly occupants, medical conditions, no heating, damp and mould.

Step 3: the inspection. An officer will usually visit and assess your home under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) — the official method for rating 29 types of housing hazard, graded Category 1 (most serious) or Category 2 (less serious).

Step 4: the council acts. For a Category 1 hazard the council has a legal duty to act; for Category 2 it has discretion. When working out how to complain about landlord problems through the council, keep up the pressure — councils can be slow, so ask for timescales, the officer’s name, and written confirmation of next steps. Persistence is part of how to complain about landlord problems through any council.

Since 1 May 2026, when the Renters’ Rights Act abolished Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, a landlord cannot end your tenancy for complaining — they must prove a legal ground in court. This removed the biggest fear tenants had about how to complain about landlord problems. Threats or harassment for reporting disrepair should go to the council and the police. That change alone makes how to complain about landlord problems far less daunting.

What Council Enforcement Notices Do

After an inspection, the council has several formal tools — the point in how to complain about landlord problems where enforcement gets serious:

Notice or orderWhat it does
Hazard awareness noticeWarns your landlord about a hazard; orders no works, but creates a paper trail.
Improvement noticeOrders specified works by a set deadline. Breaching it is an offence and grounds for a Rent Repayment Order.
Prohibition orderRestricts or bans use of part or all of the property until made safe.
Emergency remedial actionCouncil does urgent work itself where there is imminent risk, then bills your landlord.
Demolition orderProperty must be demolished — the most extreme cases.

For the worst offenders, councils can apply for a banning order — banning a person from letting or managing property for at least 12 months — and add them to the non-public database of rogue landlords. Breaching a banning order can bring a civil penalty of up to £40,000 or prosecution, and it supports a Rent Repayment Order.

Rent Repayment Orders: Claiming Rent Back

If you want to know how to complain about landlord offences and get real money back, a Rent Repayment Order (RRO) is the route to learn: a First-tier Tribunal order making your landlord repay rent collected while committing certain housing offences. No lawyer needed, no need to have moved out, no conviction needed — the Tribunal just needs to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt.

OffenceLegislation
Violence or threats to secure entryCriminal Law Act 1977, s.6
Illegal eviction or harassmentProtection from Eviction Act 1977, s.1
Breach of an improvement noticeHousing Act 2004, s.30
Breach of a prohibition orderHousing Act 2004, s.32
Breach of a banning orderHousing and Planning Act 2016, s.21
Controlling or managing an unlicensed HMOHousing Act 2004, s.72
Controlling or managing an unlicensed house (e.g. in a selective licensing area)Housing Act 2004, s.95
Misusing a possession ground, re-letting during a restricted period, or breaching tenancy-reform rulesRenters’ Rights Act 2025 (new from 1 May 2026)

The unlicensed-HMO offence is the most common basis for claims. If you live in a shared house, check whether your council requires an HMO licence — our HMO tenant rights guide explains the rules.

How much you can get back changed on 1 May 2026 — one more reason to learn how to complain about landlord offences promptly:

Offences before 1 May 2026Offences on/after 1 May 2026
Maximum repayment12 months’ rent24 months’ rent
Deadline to applyWithin 12 months of the offenceWithin 2 years of the offence
Who can be ordered to payYour immediate landlordYour landlord plus superior landlords and company directors

The Tribunal — the decisive forum in how to complain about landlord offences — weighs both sides’ conduct, the offence’s seriousness, and the landlord’s finances, and must order the maximum where the landlord has been convicted.

Illustrative example — Gideon, Bristol (FICTIONAL): Gideon rents a room in a five-person shared house for £575 a month and discovers it never had the required HMO licence — with the offence continuing after 1 May 2026. Twelve months’ rent is £575 × 12 = £6,900; under the new rules the Tribunal could order up to 24 months: £575 × 24 = £13,800. Checking your landlord’s licence is always worth ten minutes.

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber): Rents, Service Charges and Appeals

The First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) is the specialist forum for several of the routes in how to complain about landlord problems in England and Wales:

  • Rent increases. If your assured periodic tenancy’s rent is increased under Section 13 and you think it is above market rent, refer it before the new rent takes effect — the Tribunal sets the rent it considers the property would reasonably fetch.
  • Service charges. Leaseholders can challenge whether charges are reasonable, properly demanded and properly accounted for.
  • HMO licensing appeals. Council decisions to refuse, revoke, vary or condition an HMO licence can be appealed.
  • Banned payments. Under Section 15 of the Tenant Fees Act 2019, you can recover prohibited payments (banned fees, or holding-deposit money wrongly kept) — actual loss only, and not if the council has already started proceedings or ordered repayment for the same breach.
  • Rent Repayment Orders, covered above.

Decisions can generally be appealed to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) within 28 days. The Tribunal is less formal than a court and designed for use without a lawyer — but get advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice first, especially on deadlines.

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025: Bigger Fines, a New Ombudsman and a New Database

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025; its main tenancy reforms took effect on 1 May 2026 in England. Three changes matter most for tenants working out how to complain about landlord problems.

Bigger council fines. Councils have a statutory duty to enforce landlord legislation, with investigatory powers (demanding information, inspecting premises, applying for warrants) in force from 27 December 2025. Civil penalties run to £7,000 per breach and up to £40,000 for serious or repeated offences — or prosecution with unlimited fines for the worst cases. GOV.UK’s statutory guidance sets starting points (around £4,000 for attempting a fixed-term let; £6,000 for a post-abolition Section 21).

A PRS Landlord Ombudsman and database are coming. A mandatory private-sector ombudsman — the free, independent complaint route social tenants already have — will be able to order landlords to act, apologise or pay compensation. Membership will be compulsory for all private landlords in England, but the service is not expected until 2028; until then, use the council, tribunal and court routes here. From late 2026, a national PRS database will require landlords to register properties and pay an annual fee — letting or advertising unregistered risks up to £7,000 (up to £40,000 for repeat or serious breaches) and blocks possession orders.

The Act also bans rental discrimination against applicants with children or on benefits — complain to the council where the property is (GOV.UK says fines can reach £7,000) — and closed the rent-in-advance loophole (see below).

Too Much Rent in Advance? How to Complain

The Act also closed the last big loophole in the Tenant Fees Act 2019. From 1 May 2026 in England, a landlord must not ask for, encourage or accept rent before the tenancy agreement is signed, and cannot demand more than one month’s rent in advance afterwards (28 days’ rent for shorter rent periods). Clauses demanding more are unenforceable. A tenant voluntarily paying extra mid-tenancy is still lawful — the ban targets what landlords demand.

If your landlord demands more, report them to your council — it enforces the Tenant Fees Act and can impose financial penalties (up to £5,000 for a first breach, rising sharply for repeats). You can also apply to the First-tier Tribunal under Section 15 of the Tenant Fees Act to recover the prohibited payment.

Illustrative example — Anya, London (FICTIONAL): Anya agrees a flat at £1,350 a month. Before signing, the agent demands three months’ rent in advance: £1,350 × 3 = £4,050. The lawful maximum is one month’s rent: £1,350. The extra £4,050 − £1,350 = £2,700 is a prohibited payment. Anya can apply to the First-tier Tribunal to recover the £2,700 — and report the agent to the council, which can fine them.

Before paying anything at the start of a tenancy, check what is lawful — our letting agent fees guide lists every permitted and banned payment, and our tenancy deposit protection guide explains the 30-day protection rule and deposit caps.

Taking Your Landlord to Court

Court is the last resort — slower and more stressful than the routes above — but sometimes the right one for serious disrepair claims or enforcing a Tribunal order your landlord ignored. As the final step in how to complain about landlord problems, it carries the most weight — and the most cost.

For money claims in England and Wales, use Money Claims Online (MCOL) at moneyclaims.service.gov.uk (claims up to £100,000). First send a formal letter before claim giving 14 days to respond — courts expect attempted settlement, and a pre-action protocol covers housing-conditions claims.

Amount claimedMCOL issue fee
Up to £300£35
£300.01–£500£50
£500.01–£1,000£70
£1,000.01–£1,500£80
£1,500.01–£3,000£115
£3,000.01–£5,000£205
£5,000.01–£10,000£455

Win and the court can order the landlord to reimburse your fee. On a low income or certain benefits, apply for help with fees (form EX160) — you may pay nothing. Disrepair awards depend on how long the problem lasted, how badly it affected you, and financial losses such as damaged belongings or extra heating. Get advice before filing.

Free Help: Shelter, Citizens Advice and Legal Aid

You do not have to work out how to complain about landlord issues alone — these services deal with landlord complaints every day:

  • Shelter England — free helpline, webchat, online guides and a specialist legal team. Best for disrepair, eviction threats and complex cases.
  • Citizens Advice — free advice online, by phone and in person, with template letters for councils and landlords. Best for step-by-step help drafting complaints.
  • Law Centres — free legal advice and sometimes representation. Best for court claims and discrimination cases.
  • Legal Aid — government-funded help; check eligibility with the GOV.UK legal aid checker. Best for serious disrepair affecting health or eviction defence.

A Citizens Advice template letter to your council is a strong, low-effort first step. If your landlord is also threatening eviction, tell every adviser — it changes the urgency. Our rent arrears guide and fair wear and tear guide cover two common flashpoints where tenants need backup.

How to Complain About Landlord Issues Across the UK

Housing law is devolved, so how to complain about landlord problems changes across borders. The routes above are England-focused; here is how the other nations differ.

EnglandScotlandWalesNorthern Ireland
Social landlord complaintsLandlord’s 2-stage process → Housing OmbudsmanCouncil/HA complaints process → Scottish Public Services OmbudsmanLandlord’s process → Public Services Ombudsman for WalesHousing Executive’s 2-stage internal process → NI Public Services Ombudsman
Private landlord disrepairCouncil Environmental Health / Private Sector Housing, HHSRS enforcementCouncil Environmental Health; the Repairing StandardCouncil Environmental Health; Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 fitness standardsDistrict council Environmental Health — fitness inspections, notices of unfitness or disrepair
Rent increasesFirst-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) for s.13 referralsRent Service Scotland — refer to a rent officer within 21 days of the increase noticeResidential Property Tribunal Wales (rent assessment)Limited statutory rent control; district council or Housing Rights advice
Landlord licensingHMO/selective licensing via councils; national PRS database from late 2026Landlord registration with the local council is mandatoryRent Smart Wales — landlords must register and be licensedLandlord registration is mandatory and publicly checkable
Key lawRenters’ Rights Act 2025 (from 1 May 2026)Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016Private Tenancies (NI) Order 2006

In Scotland, note the rent-adjudication deadline: just 21 days from receiving a rent-increase notice to ask Rent Service Scotland’s rent officer to rule on it — miss it and the increase stands. In Northern Ireland, contact your district council’s Environmental Health department (0300 0300 900), which can inspect, serve notices and prosecute landlords who fail to register, protect deposits or meet fitness standards.

Build Your Evidence File

Whichever approach you take to how to complain about landlord problems, every route — landlord, council, Ombudsman, Tribunal, court — is decided on evidence. Start a simple file (a folder on your phone plus a notebook) from day one.

EvidenceWhy it mattersHow to capture it
Dated photos and videosShow severity and how it worsenedPhotograph with date on; re-shoot monthly; video leaks in action
Timeline of eventsProves how long the landlord knew and did nothingOne line per event: date, what happened, who you spoke to
All correspondenceProves you reported it and what was promisedKeep every email, text and letter; screenshot messages; log calls with date, time and name
Medical evidenceLinks the housing problem to health effectsGP letters, prescriptions, hospital visits — especially for damp, mould and cold
Receipts and costsSupports compensation claimsDamaged belongings, extra heating, dehumidifiers, temporary accommodation
Inspection reportsIndependent proof of conditionsCouncil HHSRS reports, surveyor reports, safety certificates
WitnessesCorroborate your accountNeighbours, visitors or support workers who saw the conditions

Golden rules: never delete originals, back everything up, and never stop paying rent as a protest — it weakens your case and can give your landlord grounds against you. For anti-social behaviour, our noisy neighbours guide follows the same evidence-first approach.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to complain about landlord problems works best as an escalation: report in writing, use the formal complaint process, bring in the council or Ombudsman, and keep the Tribunal and court in reserve. The law in 2026 is more tenant-friendly than ever — Awaab’s Law deadlines, Rent Repayment Orders of up to 24 months’ rent, and council fines of up to £40,000 give landlords strong reasons to take your complaint seriously.

Two next steps. First, start your evidence file today. Second, check your move-in costs were lawful: the Rental Deposit Calculator and Rent Upfront Cost Calculator show what a landlord can legally ask for (ask your publisher to link these to the site’s calculator widgets). If the numbers do not add up, the Tenant Fees Act routes above can get your money back.

FAQs

How do I complain about my landlord in the UK?

Complain to your landlord in writing first. Social tenants in England then use the landlord’s two-stage complaint process and can escalate to the Housing Ombudsman. Private tenants with unsafe homes should contact their council’s Environmental Health team. Serious offences can go to the First-tier Tribunal for a Rent Repayment Order.

Can I complain to the council about a private landlord?

Yes. Your council’s Environmental Health or Private Sector Housing team must investigate serious Category 1 hazards and can serve improvement notices, prohibition orders or carry out emergency works and bill your landlord. Report the problem to your landlord in writing first.

What can the Housing Ombudsman do about my landlord?

It investigates complaints about social landlords in England and can order repairs, apologies, compensation (typically £50 to £1,000+) and procedure changes. Free to use; refer your complaint within 12 months of your landlord’s final stage 2 response.

How long does a landlord have to respond to a complaint?

Acknowledge within 5 working days; stage 1 response within 10 working days of acknowledgement; stage 2 within 20 working days. Awaab’s Law adds stricter repair deadlines: 24 hours for emergencies, 10 working days to investigate significant damp and mould.

What is a Rent Repayment Order and how much can I claim?

A First-tier Tribunal order requiring a landlord to repay rent collected while committing certain offences — unlicensed HMO, illegal eviction, ignored improvement notices. For offences on or after 1 May 2026: up to 24 months’ rent, apply within 2 years. Earlier offences: 12 months’ rent, 12-month window.

My landlord is demanding 6 months’ rent in advance. Is that legal?

No — not in England since 1 May 2026. Landlords must not ask for rent before the tenancy agreement is signed, and cannot demand more than one month’s rent in advance afterwards. The excess is a prohibited payment: report the landlord to your council and apply to the First-tier Tribunal to recover it.

Can I get compensation for damp and mould?

Yes. Social landlords can award compensation through complaints; the Ombudsman typically orders £100–£600 for maladministration and £1,000+ for severe maladministration, plus room-based awards (20% of weekly rent for an unusable bedroom). Private tenants can claim through the county court.

What if my landlord ignores the council’s improvement notice?

Breaching an improvement notice is a criminal offence. The council can prosecute, do the work itself and recover the cost — and you can apply for a Rent Repayment Order of up to 24 months’ rent (for breaches on or after 1 May 2026). Tell the council immediately if the deadline passes with no action.

How do I check if my HMO landlord has a licence?

Ask your local council’s HMO licensing or Private Sector Housing team — most publish a public register. If your shared house needed a licence and never had one, you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal for a Rent Repayment Order: one of the most common and successful tenant claims.

When will the new PRS Landlord Ombudsman start?

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 creates a mandatory Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman for England, but it is not expected to be operational until 2028. Until then, private tenants should use council, Tribunal and court routes.

I’m not a tenant — can I still complain about social housing?

Yes, since 1 May 2026. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman can now investigate complaints about council social housing management from non-tenants, such as housing applicants. Complete the council’s own complaints process first. Tenants complaining about their own landlord still go to the Housing Ombudsman.

Will complaining about my landlord get me evicted?

In England, the risk is far lower than it used to be. Since Section 21 “no-fault” evictions were abolished on 1 May 2026, your landlord must prove a specific legal ground in court — they cannot simply end your tenancy for complaining. Threats or harassment for reporting disrepair should be reported to the council and the police.

Further Reading

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