Our team need to know if your repair is an emergency, essential or non-essential repair.

If you report a repair as an emergency and it isn’t, our repairs staff will not complete your job and you will have to book an appointment.

Emergency repairs

Emergency repairs are when there is an immediate threat to your (or other residents’) health, safety, security or to your home. We will attend emergency repairs within 24 hours.

Sometimes a temporary repair will be carried out to make the home safe and secure, and the full repair will be completed later. Emergency repairs include:

• Suspected gas or carbon monoxide leak
• Forced entry if locked out or in
• No drinking water
• No heating and hot water (1st October to 31st May)
• Total loss of electrical power
• Sparking power sockets or electrical fittings
• Uncontainable water leaks or burst pipes
• The only toilet is blocked
• Dirty water coming up through plug hole, toilet or any drains
• Unsafe external doors, fire doors, or windows
• Making all fire doors safe (Front doors and kitchen doors that are damaged)
• Badly damaged ceilings, boundary walls or roofing
• Blocked rubbish chute
• Fixing stair lifts
• Freeing anyone stuck in a lift
• Windows that cannot be locked and are on the ground floor, or accessible by landing.

Essential repairs

Day to day repairs are when there is a risk to you, your home or your neighbours' homes if the problem is not fixed. We will attend day to day repairs within 35 working days.

Sometimes another visit is required to complete the repair if special parts are needed. Essential repairs include:

• Leaks that can be contained
• Damaged front or back doorframes
• Replacing glass in windows or doors after a break in (with ref. number from police / payment)
• Partial loss of electricity
• Flush on toilet
• Immersion heater unless property has a boiler
• Low water pressure
• Plastering, patch work after a serious leak
• Cracked sockets
• Bannister and handrails
• Roofing
• If glass is broken or cracked - please call us immediately
• Inside doorframes - please call us if it is your front or kitchen door 
• Defective window locks above ground level are not accessible 

Non Essential repairs

Problems which need fixing but aren't causing serious discomfort or inconvenience.

• Plastering – unless patchwork after severe leak
• Dripping tap and minor repairs to taps such as replacement washers
• Noisy pipes
• Defective double glazing window
• Extractor fans, where your bathroom/kitchen already has an alternative method to ventilate, such as a window
• Tiling

Useful to know

• Blockages at home
• Think before you flush
• Do I have a leak?
• Understanding water pressure
• Need extra support during a power cut?

We are legally required to ensure that gas safety requirements are met. 

Tenants are responsible for the maintenance for their own appliances such as cookers.  The Council is responsible for carrying out annual inspections on internal heating systems and a 5 year gas carcass test on communal heating systems.

I think I can smell gas

Report it on  0207 974 4444

Do not:

• turn any electrical switches on or off
• smoke or vape
• use any naked flames

Do:

• open doors and windows to vent the gas from the property
• turn off the gas supply at the Emergency Control Valve (usually next to the gas meter) if it is safe to do so.

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If in doubt, it is safer to leave the property.

Find out about carbon monoxide poisoning and what to do if you think someone is suffering from it.

Further information videos

I think I can smell gas
Safety at home

Over the winter, the housing repairs service receives a really high number of calls reporting faulty heating.  

There could be many reasons for issues with your heating, but most problems don't need a repairs callout at all and are simple issues you can fix yourself.

Avoid waiting on the phone or for an appointment you don’t need. See our Heating in the Winter leaflet and if you have a problem with your heating, always make sure that you complete this checklist before requesting a repair:

Requesting heating repairs checklist

1. Is your room thermostat on? If you have one it should be set at around 22 degrees.
2. Do you have a timer? If you have one it should be set to 'heating on'.
3. Are your radiator valves open? Open up your radiator valves to full on every radiator in your home by turning them anticlockwise. Thermostatic valves or older wheel-head valves can be turned quite easily by hand.

If you’ve completed the checklist

…and you have heating, but not to every room

If you’ve completed the checklist and you have heating but one or more of your radiators aren’t working properly, report it online at camden.gov.uk/camdenaccount

…and you still have no heating at all

If you’ve completed the checklist and you still have no heat to your home, between 1 October and 1 April, this is an emergency. Call us on 020 7974 4444 option 3 then 1 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Outside of these hours, call 020 7974 4444. We will be with you in between six and 24 hours.

If you’re an enhanced tenant

If you’re registered as an enhanced tenant (you are 65 or over, you live in sheltered housing, you or someone in your household is in receipt of a care package) and you have any problems with your heating, call us right away.

Call 020 7974 4444 option 3 then 1 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and 020 7974 4444 outside of these hours.

Heating rebates

Claim a heating rebate

This claim form is only for Camden tenants who are on communal boilers. Leaseholders on communal boilers can claim compensation through leaseholder services.

Tenants can claim if they have had no heating, hot water or bulk gas  for more than 3 days. The maximum claim is for 6 months.  It takes approximately 20 working days for the request to be processed.

The different types of heating, hot water and gas supply systems

There are various types of communal systems supplying heating, hot water or cooking gas or combinations of these. 
Some systems run over 52 weeks of the year whilst some operate over a heating season, which is generally from October to May inclusive. In addition, some systems are on for 24 hours each day whilst others operate a night set back or night shutdown. 

Some communal systems provide heating and hot water and some just supply gas for cooking.

The type of heating supplied varies and can be:

• Full heating – heating provided in all rooms of the property.
• Partial heating – heating provided in some rooms of the property.
• Background heating – electrical oil fill radiators/fan heaters/storage heaters providing warmth but where additional appliances     may be required at the resident’s expense on cooler days/nights.

We are not responsible for any damage to or loss of fixtures and fittings including:

• furniture
• carpets
• clothing
• other household items such as the contents of  your fridge or freezer

This is usually the case even if it is linked to a repair that we are responsible for. Therefore we strongly recommend that you take out home contents insurance.  To help you, we run a home contents insurance scheme. 

Contact your ward housing team.

As a Camden tenant there are some repairs which are your responsibility, and some which are Camden's responsibility. Check page 90 of your tenants' guide for more information about repairs responsibilities.

Improvements

If you do any improvement works to your home, then you will be responsible for maintating and repairing those improvements.This might include adding extra electrical sockets, installing aerial sockets, and fitting mixer taps.

Responsibility for repairs - doors & windows

Camden is responsible for:

• Front door and frame.
• Front and back door locks.
• Internal fire doors.
• Repairs following criminal damage (remember to report this to the police and to obtain a crime reference number).
• Door entry systems.
• Window frames.
• Boarding up broken glass in external windows and doors.

You are responsible for:

• Replacing lost or damaged keys.
• Additional security locks.
• Reporting criminal damage to the police to obtain a crime reference number.
• Getting back into your home if you have lost or damaged your keys.
• Internal doors, locks, hinges, and handles (except fire doors).
• Letter boxes, door numbers and security chains.
• Window catches and stays, security locks or replacement keys.
• Replacing broken glass or glazing if you cannot provide a related police crime reference number.
• Installing secondary glazing, and repairs to secondary glazing not installed by Camden.

Responsibility for repairs - walls & floors

Camden is responsible for:

• Internal walls, skirting boards, and plasterwork.
• Replacing internal wall tiles, floor boards and panels, and plasterwork that has not been damaged through misuse.
• Replacing or repairing bath panels if damaged during the course of repairs.

You are responsible for:

• Surface cracks to wall and ceiling plaster.
• Ceramic tiles on splash backs around sinks, worktops, basins and baths.
• Sealant around baths.
• Replacing or repairing damaged kitchen units, including cupboard doors, shelves, handles, drawers, and work tops.
• Floor coverings, such as carpets.
• Internal decoration.

Responsibility for repairs - outside

Camden is responsible for:

• Clearing guttering when a blockage is causing damage.
• Roof repairs.
• Repairing brickwork.
• Damp-proof work.
• Repairs and maintenance for Camden installed Integrated Reception System (IRS).
• Repairs and maintenance of gullies and drains.

You are responsible for:

• Keeping drainage outlets and gullies clear.
• Remember not to dispose of fat and oil down drains.
• Please do not use chemicals to clear drains, but when requesting a repair, please notify the repairs team if chemicals have been used.
• Removing minor drain blockages.
• Maintaining private gardens.
• Clearing rubbish from gardens or balconies.
• Keeping shared space and walkways clear.

Responsibility for repairs - communal & shared areas

Camden is responsible for:

• Estate roads and paths.
• Estate lighting.
• Communal hallways and staircases.
• Boundary walls and fences.
• Rubbish chutes and bin chambers.
• Communal lifts.

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining access routes for emergency services – remember to keep corridors and shared areas clear for emergency services and repairs staff that may need access.

Responsibility for repairs - heating, hot water, electrical, and plumbing

Camden is responsible for:

• Annual gas safety checks, maintenance and repair of appliances we have installed to provide heating and hot water.
• The gas supply from the gas meter to the appliances it supplies.
• The electricity supply between the meter and the electrical sockets in your home.
• The water supply from the meter or stopcock outside your home, to fittings that use water inside your home.
• Hot and cold water pipework.
• Maintenance of heat metering equipment.
• Unblocking main drains and soil pipes connected with your home.
• Unblocking communal waste pipes.
• Maintenance of cold water tanks and hot water cylinders.

You are responsible for:

• Call 020 7974 4444 immediately if you suspect you smell gas – this is an emergency.
• Changing light bulbs and fluorescent tubes or starters.
• ‘Pay as you go’ payment methods such as electricity/gas keys.
• Electrical plugs, including fuses.
• Failure of gas or electricity suppliers to provide the agreed services or maintain their equipment.
• Faults or connections on domestic appliances such as fridges, cookers, resident installed equipment such as light fittings.
• Plugs and chains to baths, sinks and wash hand basins, shower heads, and toilet seats.
• Cleaning stains on sinks, wash hand basins, baths, showers and toilets.
• Unblocking kitchen sinks, wash hand basins and bath waste pipes.
• Please do not use chemicals to attempt to unblock sinks, but when requesting a repair notify the repairs team if chemicals have been used.
• Boxing in pipe-work.
• Damage to plumbing installation such as toilets sinks or showers, which is a result of misuse or accidents.

​​​​​​Recharges

When you are responsible for a repair, you can find and pay your own contractor to do the work, or we might be able to do the repair for you for a charge.

These are some of the tenant-responsibility repairs which we can do for you, and the charges.

Camden is responsible for maintaining the structure of the building  leaseholders live in and for communal areas around the estate.  Any non-communal repair inside your home is your responsibility. 

Please refer to this guide on page 16 for a list of repairs responsibilities.

Camden's responsibilities

• Maintain, repair and renew the estate/building and provide services including a district heating system where relevant.
• Maintain the structure of dwellings including the roof, damp proof courses and window frames.  
• Maintain the common parts of buildings.  This may include a caretaking service where a leaseholder pays for this in their service charge

Leaseholder’s responsibilities

Maintain the property including:

• All fixtures and fittings within their property (kitchen cupboards, baths, sinks, showers, toilets, taps etc.)
• Glass in windows (including the putty or seal), front/back door and frame and window and door furniture such as handles and locks.  However note we are currently replacing leaseholders front doors for free when doing FRA works (30 min fire door set)
• Tanks and pipe work that relates solely to the property such as a leaking waste pipe, trap etc.
• Unblocking of toilets/wash hand basins/baths/kitchen sinks/waste pipes/traps inside in leaseholders property
• The heating system within their property if not connected to a communal heating/hot water system.
• Floors, stairs, ceilings, doors, woodwork, partitions inside the property.
• All internal decorations to their property.

Lockdown and damp and mould

If you have damp or mould, please get in touch with us as soon as possible so that we can help you.

Report damp in your home

What is damp?

There are three main types of damp – condensation, rising damp and penetrating damp. Condensation is the most common type of damp. Rising damp and penetrating damp are rarer and caused by structural problems, particularly in some of our older buildings. Rising or penetrating damp always needs to be resolved by our repairs team.

Contact us to report the following signs:

• Flaking plaster
• Peeling paint and wallpaper
• Damaged skirting boards
• Flooring lifting up
• Crumbling bricks
• A musty smell
• Damp patches on ceilings or walls
• Damp patches that darken when it rains.

What is condensation?

Condensation is moisture that forms water droplets on cold surfaces: on windows, in bathrooms, kitchens or in corners of rooms, or behind cupboards and wardrobes. Cooking, baths, showers and drying clothes inside can add extra moisture to the air, making more condensation.

There are ways that you can manage or improve condensation in your home – and small changes can make a big difference:

Ventilate your home

• Open your windows at least once a day to let fresh air in and let warm moisture out.
• Close kitchen and bathroom doors when cooking and using the bath or shower, even if you’ve got an extractor fan.
• Open windows when using a tumble dryer or make sure the hose goes outside.
• Clear and clean your vents and extractor fans. Make sure your vents are not blocked by furniture and regularly dust vents and extractor fans. 
• If you have trickle vents on your window frames, make sure they’re in the open position.

Minimise moisture 

• Use the thermostat to control your heating – it will help you to heat your home more evenly, using low level heating all day, rather than quick blasts. This should also reduce your heating bills.
• Cover your pans when cooking to stop steam from escaping and switch on your extractor fan
• Dry washing outside or put it in the bathroom, open the window or turn on the extractor fan and close the door
• Wipe condensation off in the bathroom or kitchen with a towel, cloth or a squeegee every day to help prevent mould from growing.
• Move furniture away from walls and radiators.

Find out more

There is more information in the 'keeping your home free from damp and condensation' leaflet below. If you’re concerned about damp in your council home, contact us as soon as possible so we can help.

Download leaflet 

Complaints

A complaint is when someone tells us they are unhappy with a service we provide, something we have done, or something we have not done. This could be about Camden, our staff, or anyone acting on our behalf.

You can read our full complaints policy and report a complaint to us on our complaints page.

The Housing Ombudsman

The Housing Ombudsman Service is set up by law to look at disputes involving the tenants and leaseholders of social landlords (housing associations and local authorities) and our voluntary members. The Ombudsman service is free, independent, and impartial.

If you have exhausted Camden’s complaints procedure and you are not happy with the outcome, you can ask the Ombudsman to assess your case.

You can also contact the Ombudsman for free impartial advice at any point including before making a complaint or while Camden are investigating a complaint you have made.

Find out more and contact the service at Housing Ombudsman service.

The Complaint Handling Code

The Housing Ombudsman Complaint Handling Code sets out good practice that allows landlords to respond to complaints effectively and fairly.

We use the code to make sure it’s easy for residents to tell us if something has gone wrong, and to ensure that we listen, understand, and take action to put things right.

Every year we complete an internal assessment to check that we are complying with the code. You can see the results of the latest assessment on our complaints page.

Find out more about the complaint handling code at Housing Ombudsman Complaint Handling Code.

Complaints performance

When something goes wrong, we will acknowledge the problem and take action to put things right.

We also record all complaints and use this information to improve our policies and services, so that the same problem doesn’t happen again. This data is a crucial way for us to know what we can do better in future.

It’s important to us to be open and transparent, so we publish a breakdown below of the types of complaints we have received recently, as well as our handling performance for complaints received over the previous year.

Case management performance last month

Case management performance previous year

In this section we will share data relating to housing repairs service and improvements works.

As a borough we are constantly looking to improve how we use data and information.  Our aim is to be more open and transparent and use the information to make better decisions as well as offer a more personalised customer experience through all our channels. 

Access Camden's planned works and improvements data.

Open Data Camden is the place for the public, researchers and developers to access, analyse and share information about the borough.

Housing Repairs Monthly Telephony Performance