A UK Landlord's Guide to the 5 Most Common Tenant Maintenance Requests

As a landlord, you know that 80% of your maintenance calls come from 20% of the problems. Understanding how to safely handle these common issues by phone can reduce unnecessary engineer call-outs.

1. "My Heating/Hot Water Is Off" (Low Boiler Pressure)

The Problem: The pressure gauge on the boiler has dropped below 1 bar, and the boiler has locked out for safety.

The Fix: Re-pressurising the system using the filling loop typically resolves this.

Triage Questions: "What is the make and model of your boiler?" / "Is there an error code on the display?" / "What does the pressure gauge (the little dial) show?"

Risk: Guiding tenants through filling loop procedures requires caution and clear instructions.

2. "My Sockets Aren't Working" (Tripped Switch)

The Problem: A tenant has plugged in a faulty appliance (like a kettle or toaster) which has tripped a switch in the fuse box.

The Fix: Identify the faulty appliance and reset the switch.

Triage Questions: "Have you checked the fuse box?" / "Is one of the switches pointing down?" / "If it trips again, unplug all appliances in that room and try again."

Risk: Always warn tenants: "If the box looks damaged or you smell burning, don't touch it and call me immediately."

3. "The WiFi Is Down"

The Problem: The router has frozen and needs rebooting.

The Fix: The standard restart procedure.

Triage Questions: "What colour are the lights on the router?" / "Have you tried unplugging the main power cable, waiting 30 seconds?"

4. "My Sink is Blocked"

The Problem: Simple food or hair accumulation.

The Fix: Boiling water, a plunger, or drain unblocker.

Triage Questions: "Is it completely blocked or just slow-draining?" / "Have you tried using a standard sink plunger?"

5. "There's a Mould Patch"

The Problem: This is more serious. It's either a leak (penetrating damp) or a ventilation issue (condensation).

The Fix: Requires investigation.

Triage Questions: "Is the patch wet, or just dark?" / "Is it near a window, or on an external wall?" / "Are you regularly opening windows or using extractor fans?"

This almost always requires escalation to professionals.