How to Make a Complaint Against Your Landlord

Renting a property comes with its advantages, one being primarily that you are not liable for any major repairs. However, in some cases, unfortunately, it will be necessary to make a complaint against your landlord if they are not taking up their maintenance responsibilities. In worse cases, you may feel that you are being discriminated against, harassed, or threatened. Whatever the situation, if you are dissatisfied with the service provided by the landlord, there are complaints procedures in place to help smooth things over. Many tenants are too afraid to make their voices heard for fear of eviction, but there is no need to put up with bad service (or a bad attitude) with the law on your side.

Speak to The Landlord First

You are, of course, free to log a formal complaint first if you do not want to speak to your landlord. But oftentimes, the problem can be resolved with a polite and frank discussion. Landlords make mistakes, sometimes unknowingly. The discussion will allow them to put things right before it escalates. Both you and the landlord will likely still have to work together for the duration of the tenancy, so it will benefit everyone involved to find a solution you both agree on.

Before addressing the issues with the landlord, it is advisable to jot down a few notes to stay on point. You can also contact your nearest Citizen's Advice Bureau if you are in any doubt about your tenancy rights.

If your attempts to sort the issue out directly with the landlord are met with resistance, there is unfortunately no other option but to continue with a formal complaint against them. We will have a look at how to lay a formal complaint to the relevant designated council.

Draft a Formal Complaint

You can put your complaint in writing to your landlord. The complaint should stipulate your issue and rights clearly, and provide evidence where possible.

The complaint should follow a certain format, and include;

• Details of the complaint
• A suggested course of action to remedy the situation
• Dates and times when the issue occurred
• Details of any conversations or letters between you and the landlord
• Photographs of any major repairs that need attention
• Receipts of expenses you incurred as a result of the problem
• A doctor's note, in case the incident affected your health

A detailed example of a formal complaint letter can be found on housing-ombudsman.org.uk

You need to give the landlord a fair amount of time to respond

Complain to a Local Authority

If the landlord is still ignoring your complaint after providing them time for consideration, you will need to escalate matters to the local council. The landlord may also be a member of a professional body – The National Landlord's Association, or The Residential Landlord's Association, in which case, you can report the problem to one of these bodies directly.

Local councils can only assist up to a point, and provide assistance with;

Repairs not being done that poses a health and safety risk

The council can inspect the property, and order the landlord to do major repairs.

Illegal Eviction and Harassment

The council can investigate the complaint further, and order the landlord to cease and desist. In severe cases of harassment, you should report it to the police.

Dishonest and Unfair Trading

The Trading Standards team at the local council specialises in complaints of this nature. The landlord can be issued with either a warning or a fine if they have acted dishonestly, say, not telling you about structural damages or hidden charges.

If all avenues have been exhausted, and the landlord is still playing hardball, you will have to pursue count action as a last resort. Legal action is expensive, but you may be able to recoup the costs from the landlord. Your local council will be able to guide you on the next course of action to take.