Independent · not part of Durham County Council
Environmental Health in County Durham: reporting a housing problem
Who Durham County Council’s housing standards service helps, how to contact it, and what to do instead if you rent from a housing association.
By Ben Miller, housing disrepair specialistChecked 12 October 2026 · How we checkSource: durham.gov.uk
Who is your landlord?
A housing associationReported it and still not fixed? Check if you can claim A private landlordContact the council’s housing standards serviceFree to check · About 2 minutes
Who it helps
Who Environmental Health in County Durham helps
Durham County Council deals with poor conditions in rented homes through its housing standards service. Its pages are for private tenants and don’t cover housing association homes.
Tell your landlord first, then contact the council. How.
Durham County Council’s pages are written for private tenants and don’t mention housing association homes. What to do.
From durham.gov.uk, checked 12 October 2026.
Private tenants
Contacting the council’s housing standards service
- 01Tell your landlord first. Durham County Council says: tell your landlord as soon as possible and give them a reasonable amount of time to do the repair.
- 02If it isn’t fixed, contact the council. The council’s housing standards service’s details are below.
The council can visit the property and liaise with your landlord about outstanding repairs.
From durham.gov.uk/article/2888/Who-is-responsible-for-repairs…, checked 12 October 2026.
Housing association tenants
If you rent from a housing association in County Durham
Durham County Council’s pages are written for private tenants and don’t mention housing association homes. Start with your housing association’s repairs and complaints process.
Housing associations in County Durham
39 housing associations own 49,663 social homes in County Durham. The largest:
- believe housing repairs18,117 homes
- Karbon Homes repairs11,635 homes
- Livin repairs8,762 homes
- Home Group repairs3,170 homes
- Bernicia repairs1,694 homes
- Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association repairs1,320 homes
- North Star Housing Group repairs949 homes
- Accent Housing repairs690 homes
From the Regulator of Social Housing’s statistical data return: social homes each housing association owned in County Durham on 31 March 2025.
Housing associations in the North of England: repair contacts
Reported it and still not fixed? You could claim compensation.
Check if you can claimYour options
Your options in County Durham
In County Durham, Environmental Health is for private tenants. It can make a landlord do repairs, but it doesn’t get you compensation. Housing association tenants can complain and then go to the Housing Ombudsman, or make a disrepair claim. Compare the options.
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
Questions
Environmental Health in County Durham: questions
What is the County Durham environmental health number for housing problems?
The council’s housing standards service at Durham County Council: email privaterentedhousing@durham.gov.uk. You can also use report problems with house repairs involving a private landlord (online form) at doitonline.durham.gov.uk. Its pages are for private tenants and don’t cover housing association homes.
Can housing association tenants in County Durham contact environmental health?
Durham County Council’s pages are written for private tenants and don’t mention housing association homes.
Do I have to tell my landlord before contacting environmental health in County Durham?
Yes. Durham County Council says: tell your landlord as soon as possible and give them a reasonable amount of time to do the repair.
Which housing associations own homes in County Durham?
39 housing associations own 49,663 social homes in County Durham, according to the Regulator of Social Housing (March 2025). The largest are believe housing (18,117), Karbon Homes (11,635), Livin (8,762), Home Group (3,170), Bernicia (1,694).
Is Report Repair part of Durham County Council?
No. Report Repair is independent and not part of Durham County Council. The contact details here are from Durham County Council’s own website.
Not in County Durham?
Environmental Health in the North of England
- Environmental Health in CumberlandCumberland Council
- Environmental Health in DarlingtonDarlington Borough Council
- Environmental Health in DoncasterCity of Doncaster Council
- Environmental Health in LiverpoolLiverpool City Council
- Environmental Health in ManchesterManchester City Council
- Environmental Health in SunderlandSunderland City Council
- Environmental Health in the East Riding of YorkshireEast Riding of Yorkshire Council
- Environmental Health in WakefieldWakefield Council
Council or housing association repair still not fixed?
About 2 minutes. No documents. Free to check.