Help for private tenants

We may help if your landlord is not carrying out repairs or if conditions in your home could affect your health or safety. We work to make sure landlords meet their legal responsibilities and address serious hazards in privately rented homes.     

Before reporting a repair problem

You should:

1. report the problem to your landlord in writing; you can use Shelter's repair request letter template
2. allow a reasonable time for a response, usually around 14 days
3. contact your landlord again if they do not respond
4. keep copies of emails, letters and messages
5. if your landlord still does not respond or carry out the repairs, you can contact the Private Rented Housing team.

What happens next

When you contact us:

• we will review your report
• we may request photographs or copies of correspondence
• we will contact you first to discuss your concerns before contacting your landlord or agent
• we will ask both parties to keep us updated
• an inspection may be considered where repairs have not been completed or there is evidence that the property does not meet the required standards
• enforcement action may be considered where serious hazards are identified

We cannot:

• provide reports for civil claims
• support rehousing applications
• influence your position on the housing register

Your landlord must make sure:

• there is at least one smoke alarm on every floor
• smoke alarms are tested at the start of your tenancy
• gas and electrical safety certificates are provided when required
• gas appliances are checked every year by a Gas Safe engineer
• supplied furniture meets fire safety regulations
• there is a carbon monoxide alarm in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers)

No gas safety certificate? Report it.

If you are concerned about safety in your home, contact the Private Rented Housing team.

Damp and mould are often caused by condensation where there is not enough heating or ventilation.

Before contacting us:

• try to identify the cause
• read Shelter's guide to damp and mould in rented homes

If you rent your home from a private landlord and damp or mould is not being resolved, you can contact the Private Rented Housing team.  We may be able to help where damp and mould are linked to repair issues, such as leaks, defective gutters or damp-proofing problems. 

Rent repayment orders

If you pay your own rent (excluding housing benefit and Universal Credit), you may be able to apply for a Rent Repayment Order (RRO) if your landlord has committed certain housing offences, including:   

• illegal eviction
• harassment
• managing an unlicensed property
• breaching housing enforcement notices
• breaching a banning order

More information can be found on the Shelter website.       

Apply for a rent repayment order (RRO)

The landlord does not necessarily need to have been convicted to apply, but you must provide evidence to the tribunal that can prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that they committed that offence. Find out how to apply for a rent repayment order. 

If you need advice about whether an RRO may be appropriate, contact the Private Rented Housing team.

Deposits

The council cannot help with deposit disputes.

If you have a dispute, contact the tenancy deposit scheme that protects your deposit. You can also check whether your deposit has been protected through Shelter's advice service. Check if your tenancy deposit is protected.    

If your landlord or agent wants to evict you from your home, they must follow the correct legal process. Find out the eviction rules landlords must follow.

Contact Leeds Housing Options   

If you have received an eviction notice or are worried about losing your home, contact the Leeds Housing Options team at housing.options@leeds.gov.uk or call 0113 222 4412.    

Find out more about the support available and how we can help you avoid homelessness. 

It is against the law for a landlord to harass a tenant.

Examples of harassment can include:   

• stopping services such as electricity or water
• withholding keys
• refusing to carry out necessary repairs
• interfering with your belongings
• opening your post
• threats or violence

If you think you are being harassed, talk to the Leeds Housing Options team on 0113 222 4412 or email housing.options@leeds.gov.uk.       

More help for harassment

You can also seek independent advice from Citizens Advice or Shelter. If you are in immediate danger, or someone is being violent or threatening, call 999 and ask for the police.     

A landlord or agent must not make it harder for you to rent a property because you:

• have children
• receive benefits

Examples of unfair treatment include:

• refusing property viewings
• withholding information about available properties
• refusing to let you rent the property

There are some exceptions. For example, a landlord may be able to refuse a tenancy if they can show there is a valid reason, such as the property not being suitable for children because of its size or living arrangements. 

If you believe you have experienced rental discrimination, contact the Private Rented Housing team.

Discrimination under the Equality Act 2010

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 does not cover discrimination based on protected characteristics, such as: age, disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation.

If you believe you have been treated unfairly because of a protected characteristic, you can get independent advice from the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), who can be contacted on 0808 800 0082.

Landlords and letting agents must advertise a clear rent amount and cannot encourage or accept offers above the advertised rent.

You can report:

• properties advertised without a clear rental amount
• requests to bid above the advertised rent
• agents encouraging tenants to increase offers

If you think a landlord or letting agent has not followed these rules, you can report it to the Private Rented Housing team.

If your landlord is a member of:

• Leeds Rental Standard
• Unipol

You can make a complaint directly to those organisations, who may investigate concerns about your landlord or property. 

Property managers and letting agents who manage rental properties on behalf of landlords must belong to a government approved redress scheme.

You can complain through:

• Property Redress Scheme
• The Property Ombudsman

If you believe an agent is not a member of a redress scheme, contact the Private Rented Housing team.