COVID and lockdowns are having an affect on some maintenance and repairs.
So far, maintenance workers are still allowed to enter the common parts of buildings, and even individual flats — no matter which tier you are in.
However, there may be longer delays than usual in getting repairs done, because workers at every stage of the process may be off sick or having to quarantine. For the same reason, landlords may be prioritising urgent work above other maintenance.
If you are isolating, you may also have concerns about letting workers into your home.
Check these sources for the most up-to-date information:
Contact your landlord to report the issue. You can also ask them for any guidance about waiting times.
Even in the strictest lockdown areas, maintenance workers can still attend emergencies such as leaks, heating failures and dangerous faults.
When indoors, workers must wear masks and stick to social distancing rules.
As well as attending emergencies, your landlord can, and should, still conduct routine but legally required tasks such as fire risk assessments.
If you are concerned about a safety issue, you should let your landlord know. You can also contact some of the bodies we mention in our Tools You Can Use section, such as a Law Centre, Environmental Health or the Housing Ombudsman.
Visit the website of whichever body you want to contact to see how COVID has affected their service.
Many tenants are struggling to pay rent because of job cuts caused by lockdown, or inability to work because of illness. The Coronavirus Act 2020 changed the law from 29 August 2020 so that landlords have to give more notice of eviction while the pandemic continues.
You landlord may also have systems in place to help you manage your rent payments during this exceptional time.
Check these sources for the most up-to-date advice:
Guide
Tools you can use
Reference
Tools you can use
Tools you can use
Reference, Story