Can council tenants report the council to Environmental Health?

Why Environmental Health can’t help council tenants

Environmental Health is part of the council. When the council is also your landlord, it can’t take formal action against itself, so the usual route for private tenants, an inspection followed by an improvement notice, isn’t open to you.

From Citizens Advice.

What to do instead

Report the repair and keep a record. Get a reference number, note the date and keep dated photos. Find your council’s repair contacts.
Complain. Councils follow the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code: a stage 1 complaint should be acknowledged within 5 working days, with a reply within 10 working days of that; a stage 2 review within 20 working days.
Go to the Housing Ombudsman. It’s independent and free, and it can order the council to put things right and pay compensation for how it handled your complaint. What it awards.

Awaab’s Law deadlines

Since 27 October 2025, social landlords, including councils, must make emergency hazards safe within 24 hours and investigate significant damp and mould hazards within 10 working days. If the council misses these, say so in your complaint.

Taking the council to court

There are two ways to take the council to court over disrepair.

A disrepair claim. A claim for the repairs and compensation for the time you lived with the problem, usually worked out as a share of your rent. A solicitor can take it on for you. Free to check, and we don’t charge you. If a solicitor takes your claim on, they work on a no win, no fee basis and must explain their fee in writing before you agree to anything. See fees
A statutory nuisance case. If the problem makes your home a statutory nuisance, you can take the council to the magistrates’ court yourself. You must give the council at least 21 days’ written notice first. The court can order the work to be done and may order compensation. If you lose, you could have to pay the council’s costs, so Shelter advises getting specialist advice first.

From Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 82 and Shelter.

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Council landlords we cover

Each page has the council’s Environmental Health contacts for private tenants, and its repair and complaint routes for its own tenants.

Questions

Can I report the council to environmental health?

No. Environmental Health is part of the council, so it can’t take formal action against the council as your landlord. Report the repair, complain to the council, then go to the Housing Ombudsman. You could also make a disrepair claim.

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Who do council tenants complain to about repairs?

Complain to the council first. It should acknowledge a stage 1 complaint within 5 working days and reply within 10 working days of that. If you’re still unhappy after stage 2, you can go to the Housing Ombudsman for free.

Can I take the council to court over disrepair?

Yes. You can make a disrepair claim, which a solicitor can take on for you. You can also bring a statutory nuisance case in the magistrates’ court yourself, after giving the council at least 21 days’ written notice, but Shelter advises getting specialist advice first because of the costs risk.

How long does the council have to fix damp and mould?

Under Awaab’s Law, since 27 October 2025 social landlords must investigate significant damp and mould hazards within 10 working days and make emergency hazards safe within 24 hours.

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