Private renting - repairs and maintenance

Both landlords and contract-holders (tenants) have a responsibility for keeping a property well maintained.

Contract-holders should inform their landlord about any repairs that are needed to the property.  Once reported, landlords should inspect and carry out any necessary repairs, within a reasonable timeframe.  We recommend communicating issues of disrepair to your landlord in writing or email.

Torfaen County Borough Council is responsible for the regulation of safety and standards in the private renting sector within Torfaen. 

Responsibilities include:

• Carrying out assessments of private rented housing under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System to ensure that any residential premises provides a safe and healthy environment for any potential occupier or visitor
• Provide advice for landlords and private sector contract-holders
• Deal with public nuisances such as dirty premises, noxious premises, accumulations of rubbish in gardens, smell nuisances and nuisances from animals kept on premises
• Deal with empty properties
• Deal with damp and deterioration and where the poor condition of one property is affecting another
• Deal with defective private drains and sewers
• Deal with landlord harassment or unlawful eviction

The service is available to all private sector contract-holders and owner occupiers.  For further information or advice, contact the Housing Safety and Environmental Protection Team on public.health@torfaen.gov.uk.

We may be able to offer help and advice if a landlord ignores a contract-holder’s request or refuses to carry out necessary repairs.

Enforcement procedures are available when informal action is unsuccessful or inappropriate. 

For more information, download the Public Protection Enforcement Policy.

If we must visit a property we will use the Housing Health and Safety System (HHSRS) to make an assessment.

Where there are unacceptable hazards at the property, we will contact the landlord to discuss the condition and the options available.

Report a problem

To report problems you may be experiencing with your rental property, please complete the relevant form below.

Report a problem with a private rented property

Report a problem with a housing association property

Report a problem with harassment or being threatened with illegal eviction by your landlord

Report a concern about the condition of an owner-occupied property