A working toilet and somewhere to wash are essentials. The law names basins, sinks, baths and sanitary conveniences specifically as things your landlord must keep in repair and working order.
If your only toilet is out of use, that is urgent. If repairs drag on for weeks, you can claim for the time you have gone without proper facilities.
Signs your landlord should be dealing with
- A toilet that will not flush, leaks or is cracked
- A bath, shower or basin that leaks or cannot be used
- Taps that are seized, dripping constantly or have no supply
- Rotten flooring around the toilet or bath
- Broken seals and tiles letting water into the walls
Why it happens and who is responsible
Cisterns, valves and seals wear out. Wastes leak, sealant fails and water gets into floors and walls, causing rot and damage to the room below.
Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 requires the landlord to keep in repair and proper working order the installations for sanitation, including basins, sinks, baths and toilets, and the pipes that serve them. Under the fitness for habitation rules, a home without adequate washing and toilet facilities is unlikely to be fit to live in. Where a household has only one toilet, a reasonable time to repair it is very short. If you need adaptations because of a disability, that is a separate process, but ordinary repairs cannot be held up by it.
How it affects you
Loss of a toilet or washing facilities affects dignity, hygiene and health, and is especially hard for families with young children, older people and disabled tenants. Leaks cause damp, mould and damage below.
Evidence that helps your claim
- Photos and video of the broken fittings and any leaks
- A diary of the days facilities were out of use
- Reports to the landlord and appointment records
- Costs of using alternatives, such as a gym or launderette
- Photos of damage to floors, ceilings and belongings
You can send photos and documents to us through the secure evidence upload page.
What you can claim
A successful claim for broken toilets and bathrooms usually has two parts. First, an agreement or court order that the landlord carries out the repairs by a fixed date. Second, compensation for the period you lived with the problem after the landlord knew about it, worked out as a share of your rent, plus the cost of damaged belongings and any extra expenses. If your health has suffered, that is assessed separately. Our compensation calculator gives an illustration.
What to do next
- Report it in writing to your landlord if you have not already, and keep a copy.
- Keep recording the problem with dated photos.
- Use the complaints process if you rent from Haringey Council or a housing association. You do not have to finish it before getting legal advice.
- Ask us for a free assessment. If you have a claim, it can be run on a no win no fee basis.
Not sure whether you have a claim? It takes two minutes to find out and costs nothing.
Questions tenants ask
My only toilet is broken. How fast must the landlord act?
Very quickly. A household without a working toilet should be treated as an emergency, and most landlords' own policies promise attendance within 24 hours. Report it by phone and follow up in writing.
The bathroom is old and tired. Can I claim for a new one?
Disrepair is about things that are broken or not working, not about how dated a room looks. But fittings that leak, are cracked or cannot be kept clean because of their condition should be repaired or replaced.
The leak from my bath is damaging the flat below. Am I liable?
If the leak comes from a defect the landlord should have repaired and you reported it, responsibility lies with the landlord. Report leaks as soon as you notice them.
