To meet the Repairing Standard:

• The property must be wind and watertight
• The property must be fit for to live in, meeting the ‘tolerable standard’
• The structure and exterior of the property (for example, the walls and roof) must be in a reasonable condition
• The installations for the supply of water, gas, electricity, and for sanitation, space heating and heating water must be in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order (these include external installations, such as drains)
• Any fixtures, fittings or appliances provided by the landlord (such as carpets, light fittings, white goods and household equipment) must be in a reasonable state of repair and in proper working order
• Any furnishings provided by the landlord must be capable of being used safely for the purpose for which they are designed
• The property must have suitable fire detectors – there should be at least one detector on each floor of the property, and if the alarms are installed after September 2007, they should be mains powered rather than battery powered.

If the property doesn’t reach the Repairing Standard and the landlord refuses to carry out the necessary work, then a landlord can be reported to the Private Rented Housing Panel.