How to complain about your private landlord

Write to your landlord to make a complaint about them. If you’re not happy with their response, you can contact the council or apply to a tribunal.

When to complain

Make a complaint if your landlord has done something wrong, such as:

not doing repairs or safety checks
not protecting your deposit
accessing your home without permission or without giving enough notice
increasing the rent without giving you the right notice
trying to evict you without following the right process

The specific rules your landlord must follow depends on what kind of tenancy you have. Check our guidance on your rights if you rent your home.

If you rent from a letting agency, they have to follow extra rules. Check our guidance on complaining to a letting agency.

Step 1: contact your landlord informally

Talk to your landlord if you can. Explain what the problem is and tell them what effect it’s having on you.

Your issue could be fixed if you ask them to put the problem right.

Get any agreements in writing so there are no misunderstandings.

Step 2: write to your landlord

Write a letter or email:

explaining what the problem is and how you want it to be fixed
asking them to confirm a timeframe to solve the problem
telling them that you’ll take further action if your problem is not fixed

Keep proof of any letters or emails you send.

Your landlord’s address should be in your tenancy agreement and on the Scottish Landlord Register.

If they're not on the register, you can report them to the council. It’s against the law to be an unregistered landlord and they could be fined. Find out what to do if your landlord is not registered.

Complaining about repair problems

Use our letter templates to complain about repairs. Copy and paste the sample text and personalise it with your details. Delete any parts that do not apply to you.

Attach any evidence you have, such as copies of previous letters you've sent or photos of the repair problems.

Letter template: complain about repairs to your landlord or letting agent

Subject: Repairs not done at <your address>

To <your landlord's name>

I contacted you on <date> to ask for repair work at <your address>.

The repairs needed are <describe the repairs>. These repairs have still not been done.

I have checked my rights on the Shelter Scotland website. You have a duty to make sure my home meets the repairing standard in section 13 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006. Currently my home does not meet this standard, and you must do the repairs within a reasonable time.

I believe it's reasonable for the repair work to be done within <number of days> because of the effect it's having on me.

<Give details, for example: it's causing damage to my home / affecting my health / making my home unsafe>

Please contact me within 2 working days to confirm when the repairs will be done.

If you do not arrange for the repairs to be done, I will apply to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) for an enforcement order.

Thank you,

You can also send the letter as an email attachment or through the post:

Letter template: complain about repair work done badly

Subject: Repairs not done properly at <your address>

To <your landlord's name>

I am writing to report a problem with the repair work that was carried out on <date repairs were done> at <your address>.

When the repairs were carried out <example: the work was not finished / the problem was not fixed / the work caused damage to my belongings>.

I have checked my rights on Shelter Scotland’s website, and you are responsible for making sure repairs are done properly.

I ask that you <example: arrange for the repairs to be completed / redo the work / compensate me for the damage to my belongings>.

Please contact me within 2 working days to confirm how the problem will be resolved.

Thank you,

You can also send the letter as an email attachment or through the post:

Word template: report repairs done badly (docx ,16 kb)
OpenDocument template: report repairs done badly (odt, 8 kb)

Step 3: if you’re unhappy with your landlord’s response

Write to the council to explain the issue and how you’ve tried to solve it. Send a copy to your landlord.

The council can order your landlord to put any issues right.

Find your council's website on mygov.scot

If the problem is still not solved, or if you want to apply for compensation, you can apply to the First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber).

Applying to the tribunal

It’s free to apply to the tribunal. It’s less formal than a court and generally you do not need a solicitor.

The tribunal could help if:

The tribunal can order your landlord to solve the problem, and you could get compensation.

Follow our guidance on taking your landlord to the tribunal.

If you're worried about being evicted

It’s illegal for your landlord to evict you for complaining.

If you have a short assured tenancy you can be evicted without a reason, but a strict legal process still has to be followed.

If you’re threatened with eviction for acting on your rights, get advice from Shelter Scotland.

Call the police on 101 if your landlord is harassing you or trying to force you out.

Last updated: 25 July 2024