Giving your landlord access for repairs
You are responsible for looking after your home if you rent.
Your landlord also has a duty to keep your home in good repair. You'll need to give them access to your home to do this. They must give you notice and get your permission first.
You may be able to get help if you’re having problems maintaining your home.
Looking after your home
Your tenancy explains what you need to do to look after your home. It will tell you that you must:
take care of the property and keep it clean and secure
report repair problems and allow reasonable access for repairs
tell your landlord if you’ll be away from home for more than a certain number of days
Your tenancy agreement might also say that you must keep your garden tidy or clean up after a pet if you have one.
These things help you to:
keep your home safe
avoid repair problems getting worse
avoid preventable damage to your home
Giving access to your home
Your landlord must keep your home safe and in good repair.
You should let your landlord into your home to inspect and do repairs and maintenance.
They must tell you why they need access. For example, to do a gas safety check or to fix a problem.
They must give you notice. They cannot use their keys unless:
they have your permission
they have an order from the tribunal or court, called an access order
it's an emergency, like a gas leak
They should give you at least 48 hours’ notice if you have a private residential tenancy.
They should give you at least 24 hours’ notice if you have:
an assured or short assured tenancy
a Scottish secure tenancy
If you live in a shared home
If you live with other people, your rights depend on your tenancy type. Check what type of tenancy you have if you're not sure.
If you have a joint tenancy, your landlord must give notice and get your permission to enter your home.
Your rights could be different if you have your own tenancy agreement for a room in a shared home. The landlord must give notice and get your permission to enter the rooms that only you can use. They may not need your permission to enter shared parts of the home.
Negotiating with your landlord about access
You do not have to let your landlord into your home at an unreasonable time. If the time they've arranged does not suit you, ask them to come at a different time.
Your landlord should try to help make access suitable for you. For example, by giving you extra time to arrange for a friend or family member to be with you during the visit.
They do not have to agree to every type of request. For example, your landlord or their contractors may not agree to being filmed or recorded.
Your landlord cannot enter your home without permission
Unless it's an emergency, like a possible gas leak, your landlord cannot enter your home.
If you do not give permission, your landlord can only enter your home if they get an access order.
Access orders are only given for some reasons, like an overdue gas safety check.
The court or tribunal will decide whether it's reasonable to grant the order.
Keeping your home safe
If you have a lot of belongings or if you find it difficult to keep your home clean and tidy, your home could be unsafe. This could be because:
you and your neighbours are at a higher risk of a fire starting
you and your neighbours cannot exit the building safely if there is a fire
you cannot get essential safety checks done, such as a gas safety check
there’s a higher risk of pest problems in your home, your neighbours’ homes and shared areas
people visiting your building could get injured moving around in cluttered shared spaces
Get help if these issues are causing problems with your neighbours. Check our advice on what to do if you’re accused of antisocial behaviour.
If you’re being threatened with eviction
Try to find a solution with your landlord so that you can keep your home. Keep records of any communication you have with your landlord about the problem.
If your landlord wants to evict you, they must follow a strict legal process. You can challenge the eviction.
The court or tribunal will decide if it's reasonable to evict you. They should consider:
your health needs
any evidence that shows you tried to negotiate with your landlord
Get advice on stopping eviction if:
If you need support
You could get help if you have a health condition or disability which makes it hard for you to look after your home.
This could support you to stay in your own home, or find out if supported accommodation is an option for you.
You could find help through:
a community links worker at your GP
the council’s social work team or housing department
You have rights if you have a disability or protected characteristic. Contact the Equality Advisory Service for specific advice.
Getting help with hoarding
You could get help if you find it very difficult to clear out your belongings or throw away rubbish from your home. This is sometimes called hoarding.
If you need help with hoarding, get advice from Hoarding UK.
Your landlord’s responsibilities
Your landlord must make sure your home meets a legal standard of repair. This is called the tolerable standard.
If you rent privately, your landlord must also make sure your home meets an extra standard. This is called the repairing standard.
If your home has repair problems, your landlord should fix them. Check our advice on your landlord's responsibilities if:
Last updated: 19 December 2025
Housing laws differ between Scotland and England.
This content applies to Scotland only.