The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 is changing the private rented sector in England. Most of the headlines have focused on tenancy rules, but landlords also need to think carefully about property condition, repairs and maintenance.
For heating and plumbing, this means landlords need to be more organised, more responsive and less reliant on last-minute repairs.
Rental properties need reliable heating, hot water and safe plumbing. If these systems are not properly maintained, issues can quickly become more than an inconvenience for tenants. It can affect the safety, comfort and condition of the property.
Why the Act matters for heating and plumbing
The Act does not replace existing landlord responsibilities. Landlords still need to keep heating and hot water systems in good working order. Gas appliances must still be checked every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and tenants must be given a valid Gas Safety Certificate.
What the Act does is raise the stakes around poor property condition and slow repairs. Tenants will have stronger rights and, over time, clearer ways to raise complaints when problems are not dealt with properly.
Heating and plumbing issues are often the kind of problems tenants report quickly. A broken boiler, a leak, no hot water or damp caused by poor ventilation can all affect day-to-day living.
For landlords, the best approach is to deal with these issues early rather than waiting until they become urgent.
Common issues landlords should not ignore
Small heating and plumbing problems can become bigger if they are left too long.
Landlords should pay attention to:
- Boiler breakdowns
- Loss of heating or hot water
- Leaks from pipework, taps or toilets
- Low water pressure
- Radiators not heating properly
- Repeated boiler pressure loss
- Noisy pipework or radiators
- Blocked drains
- Damp and mould linked to heating, leaks or ventilation
- Outdated heating controls
- Old or corroded pipework
A one-off fault can happen in any property but repeated faults are different. They can suggest that the wider system needs checking, especially if the boiler is older or the property has had several plumbing issues in a short space of time.
Awaab’s Law and faster action on hazards
Awaab’s Law is being extended to the private rented sector. It is intended to set clearer expectations for how quickly landlords must deal with serious hazards.
The full details for private landlords are still being introduced through further regulations, but the direction is clear. Serious problems in rental homes will need prompt attention.
For heating and plumbing, this could include situations such as no heating in cold weather, no hot water, serious leaks, unsafe gas appliances or damp and mould linked to faults in the property.
Landlords should not wait for these issues to become disputes. If a tenant reports a problem that affects health, safety or basic living conditions, it should be logged, assessed and dealt with as soon as possible.
The Decent Homes Standard
The Decent Homes Standard is also being extended to the private rented sector. This is designed to set a clearer minimum standard for rented homes.
Heating and plumbing will be a key part of that. A property with an unreliable boiler, poor heating, ongoing leaks or damp caused by defects may fall short of the standard expected.
Landlords do not need to wait until every part of the Act is fully in force before acting. It is sensible to review properties now, especially older homes or properties where repairs have been dealt with reactively for years.
What landlords should check now
A practical review of each rental property can help reduce risk and avoid emergency callouts.
A good checklist for landlords includes:
- When the boiler was last serviced
- Is the Gas Safety Certificate is up to date
- Have tenants reported heating or hot water issues
- Do radiators heat evenly
- Are there are signs of leaks
- Are all the taps, toilets and showers working properly
- Is there any signs of damp, mould or poor ventilation
- Do the heating controls work and are they easy to use
- Could the boiler be becoming expensive to repair
- Are any pipework, valves or radiators are visibly worn
This does not always mean major work is needed. Sometimes a service, repair, new valve, system clean or control upgrade can make a noticeable difference. In other cases, an old or unreliable boiler may need replacing.
Keep clear records
Good records matter. If a tenant reports a problem, landlords should keep a note of when it was reported, what action was taken and when the issue was resolved.
This is useful for day-to-day management, but it can also help if a complaint is raised later.
Records should include:
- Boiler service dates
- Gas Safety Certificates
- Repair reports
- Invoices
- Photos where relevant
- Tenant messages about repair issues
- Dates of visits and completed work
Clear records show that the landlord has taken the issue seriously and acted within a reasonable timeframe.
Planned maintenance is better than emergency repair
Many heating and plumbing issues are easier and cheaper to deal with when they are caught early.
Annual boiler servicing, heating system checks and prompt plumbing repairs can reduce the risk of tenants being left without heating or hot water. This is especially important before winter, when boilers are under more pressure and engineers are often busier.
A planned approach also helps landlords budget more effectively. Emergency repairs, water damage and full boiler failures are usually more disruptive and more expensive than regular maintenance.
How C.S. Plumbing and Heating Services can help
C.S. Plumbing and Heating Services supports landlords across Southampton and the surrounding areas with heating, plumbing and boiler services.
Our team can help with annual boiler servicing, gas safety checks, boiler repairs, new boiler installation, heating system checks, plumbing repairs, leak investigation and landlord maintenance work.
With the Renters’ Rights Act placing more focus on property condition and repair standards, now is a good time for landlords to review their heating and plumbing systems.
If you need boiler servicing, plumbing repairs or support with a rental property, contact C.S. Plumbing and Heating Services today for a FREE QUOTE by calling 0800 015 61 71 or completing our online contact form.