Your guide to student housing repairs

It's normal for some issues to occur during the course of your tenancy when you're renting student accommodation - or any property for that matter. This could be anything from a blown lightbulb to a burst pipe. To help you resolve problems as quickly as possible, we're outlining exactly whose responsibility it is to carry out student housing repairs. 

Who is responsible for repairs in your student home?

When you're renting, your property manager or landlord will be responsible for the majority of repairs - but you do still have some duties as a tenant. Before calling your property manager for everything that goes wrong, quickly check if the issue falls under one of your responsibilities.

What student housing repairs are students responsible for?

You are responsible for looking after your home in a 'tenant-like manner'. This means that you should keep the property reasonably clean, carry out safety checks on any electrical appliances you own (to avoid the risk of fires), keep your home well-ventilated to avoid condensation and damp, and maintain the garden or outdoor areas. You are also responsible for minor repairs, including changing lightbulbs and replacing batteries in your smoke alarms.

It's important that you report any maintenance issues to your property manager in a timely manner and allow them (or their contractors) access to the property to carry out any necessary repairs.

What student housing repairs are property managers responsible for?

Property managers are responsible for most of the maintenance of your student property. This includes carrying out repairs to:

• Boilers and gas pipes
• Electrical wiring 
• Heating and hot water
• Chimneys and ventilation
• Toilets, sinks, baths, pipes, and drains 
• The structure and exterior of your property (including walls, stairs, roofs, doors, and windows)

In addition, property managers are responsible for providing you with a safe environment to live in, which includes taking steps to deal with damp and mould problems and combat pests. This can mean they might have to carry out repairs to prevent pests such as mice and rats from re-entering your home. They must also conduct gas safety checks every year, install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and ensure that wiring, plug sockets, and any electrical appliances they supply are safe.

How to report maintenance issues 

You should always maintain a written record of maintenance issues. When a problem occurs, start by emailing your property manager. You can then follow up with phone calls if you need to discuss the problem further or can't reach them via email. It's a good idea to send an email following any phone call to summarise what was spoken about, so both parties have a record to refer to. 

If you live in purpose-built student accommodation, your property manager might provide you with a tenant app which you can use to log issues. If your property manager uses Concurrent by StuRents, you can raise maintenance tickets quickly and easily and maintain a clear channel of communication about the status of repairs. 

How long does your property manager have to carry out student housing repairs?

Your property manager must carry out repairs and maintenance within a reasonable time period. This is not always defined, and will depend on how severe the issue is. For instance, if you have an emergency like your boiler breaking or losing access to hot water, your property manager should resolve this within twenty four hours. 

Bear in mind that your property manager should also provide you with twenty four hours' notice of any visit to your home or potential inspection. If they arrive unannounced, you are within your rights to turn them away. 

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