Your landlord has a responsibility to reply and carry out works within a reasonable timeframe.
If you do not get a reply from your landlord, you should contact the Temporary Accommodation Team on 020 7926 1000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 999.
Responsibility for repairs
Responsibility for repairs in temporary accommodation depends on the type of accommodation you are in.
You can find this out by looking at the agreement you signed when you moved into your home.
If you are in Nightly Paid (NP) or Private Sector Leased (PSL) accommodation
Any repairs should be raised directly with your landlord or agent. You will find their details in your offer letter.
They are responsible for arranging for repairs to be carried out within the following timeframes.
Emergency repairs – within 24 hours:
- Secure property e.g., following forced entry including glazing and/or boarding if security risk
- Burst or leaking pipes
- Gas leak
- Serious electrical fault, no lighting and/or power
- No drinking water
- Blocked drains or toilets
- In cases where the nature of the repair is such that there is either a risk to the occupants or other individuals
Urgent repairs – within 48 hours:
- Defective heating and or hot water
- Check and repair electrical installations
- Blocked wash hand basin, sinks and bath
- Entry phone issues
- Roof leaks
Minor repairs – within 20 working days:
- Minor external repairs to windows, doors, glazing, ironmongery, and roofs
- Replacement of sanitary fittings (except WC pans)
- Minor internal repairs to doors, windows, cupboards etc.
- Minor internal decorations
Major repairs – within 2 months:
- Replacement of doors, windows, and frames
- Major re-plastering and redecoration
- Extensive roof repairs
If you have repairs that are not being resolved in the right timeframe stated, contact us on 020 7926 1000. That way we can escalate the repair with your landlord or agent.
If you are in Temporary Licensed Tenant Agreement (TLTA) accommodation
This is accommodation owned by Lambeth Council that is currently being used as temporary accommodation.
To find out about response times, read the Lambeth Repairs Manual (PDF 1.2MB)
To raise a repair request call 020 7926 6000 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm or Saturday, 8am to 1pm).
To report an emergency outside of these hours, call 020 7926 6666.
If you are in a Lambeth Hostel
If you are living in one of our temporary accommodation hostels and have a repair to report or any concerns with the standard of cleaning, contact us by:
- email at technicalservicesteam-hostels@lambeth.gov.uk
- phone on 020 7926 6812
To report a repair outside of these hours, call 020 7926 6666.
Tell us if your circumstances change
A change in circumstances may mean that your temporary accommodation is no longer suitable for your needs.
The best way to tell us this is by calling the Temporary Accommodation Team on 020 7926 1000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
You might want to tell us about a change:
- in the people living in the property, e.g., because someone has moved in our out, or a baby has been born
- to an occupant’s employment status or education
- to the health needs of an occupant
- to the property long-term such as a major disrepair
If the change means that your property is no longer suitable for you in the long-term, then we may need to find you a different property that better meets your needs. We will contact you with an offer when we have found a property.
You will only be made one offer of suitable temporary accommodation. If you refuse this offer then no further offer will be made and your homelessness application will be closed.
You should also update your application on the Housing Register.
Asked to leave your accommodation by your landlord or agent
If the landlord or agent of your temporary accommodation has requested the property back, issued you with a Section 21 notice or asked you to leave, you must call the Temporary Accommodation Team on 020 7926 1000.
We will try to work with your landlord so that you can remain in your current accommodation. If that is not possible, we may need to find somewhere else for you to stay.
You will only be made one offer of suitable temporary accommodation. If you refuse this offer then no further offer will be made and your homelessness application will be closed.
Request a review of a homelessness decision
You have a right to request a review of temporary accommodation offered under Section 193. This relates to the main homelessness duty. A review can be requested for the following decisions:
- a Section 193 Offer of Accommodation
- a Section 193 Discharge of Duty decision
Read ask for a review of a homeless decision on the Shelter website.
A review must be requested within 21 days of a decision being made. It can be requested:
- by email at Reviewrequests@lambeth.gov.uk, with the subject ‘Review request’
- in writing to S193 Review Request, London Borough of Lambeth, PO Box 80771, London, SW2 9QQ
Alternatively, you can request a review verbally or by email directly to a member of the Temporary Accommodation Team.
If you feel your issue has not been resolved, you may decide to make a complaint via our corporate complaints process.