What to Do When Your SW11 Tenant Calls About a Leak

It’s never ideal to get a call about a leak, but as a landlord, it’s your responsibility to act quickly and keep your property safe. By responding promptly to maintenance issues, you can show your tenants that you’re responsive and responsible. Plus, it helps you avoid potential legal issues that may arise later.

Here’s how to handle a leak report effectively—from your initial response to resolving the issue and documenting your actions.

Know your legal obligations as a landlord

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, you’re obligated to maintain the structure of the property and keep essential services like gas and water working properly. You’re also required to deal with anything that could make the home unsafe or unfit to live in. So if your tenant reports a leak, especially one that poses a risk to health or safety, you’ll need to act quickly.

Respond to emergency repairs quickly

Leaks can range from minor drips to serious water damage. If there’s a major issue that could cause harm or extensive damage, such as a burst pipe, treat it as an emergency.

In these situations, you must:

• Contact emergency services if necessary.
• Call a qualified plumber from WPJ Heating to visit right away.
• Make sure vulnerable tenants (such as seniors and young children) aren’t put at further risk.

Get the leak fixed right away

While the law doesn’t give exact deadlines, you’re expected to carry out urgent repairs as soon as possible. If dealing with a burst pipe, be sure to get it fixed within 24 hours to avoid further inconvenience and property damage. Less urgent issues — like a slow drip from a tap — can be addressed within a reasonable timeframe.

Things to do when your tenant reports a leak

Assess the situation

• Decide how urgent the issue is. If the leak is affecting the water supply or creating a safety hazard, immediate attention is needed.
• In many cases, it’s best to see the issue firsthand before calling a plumber.
• Document what you find. Take photos or videos and note any key details. This will help when speaking with our plumber or if there’s any disagreement with the tenant later on.

Develop and communicate a plan of action

• Decide how best to resolve the issue based on the results of the inspection. This might mean calling in a plumber.
• Let your tenant know what the next steps are, including when they can expect the repair to be completed. Make sure they’re okay with any work to be carried out, especially if it requires our plumber’s access to their home.
• If the leak can’t be repaired immediately, make arrangements to keep the tenant safe and comfortable. This could include providing alternative accommodation if there’s severe water damage and flooding.

Carry out the repairs

It’s best to bring in a professional from WPJ Heating. This will ensure the repair will be carried out properly.

• Communicate with our plumber so you can monitor repair timelines.
• Ask for confirmation from the tenant to ensure everything’s in good order.

Maintain a record of the repair

• Keep a record of all inspection findings and receipts. These will be useful if the issue comes up again or if there’s a disagreement later on.
• After the work is done, follow up to confirm they’re satisfied and that no new problems have come up.
• Sign up for regular servicing here at WPJ Heating. We’ll make sure your plumbing is in top condition to reduce the chances of the same problem happening again.

Leave any leak repair to us!

Our professional team at WPJ Heating is ready to help. You can count on us for reliable plumbing services across London with quick response times and fair pricing, whether it’s routine maintenance or urgent repairs. Save our number 020 7350 2511 so you know who to call when your tenant calls you about a leak!