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Birmingham City Council repairs: how to report a repair, phone numbers and timescales
How to report a repair to Birmingham City Council: the repairs phone number and emergency line, reporting a repair online, and how long the council has to fix it.
By Ben Miller, housing disrepair specialistChecked 14 October 2026 · How we checkSource: birmingham.gov.uk
Has Birmingham City Council been told about the repair?
Yes, reported and still not fixedCheck if you can claim No, reporting it for the first timeGet Birmingham’s repair contactsFree to check · About 2 minutes
Emergency? If you smell gas, leave and call 0800 111 999 now. For a flood, fire or loss of power, Birmingham’s emergency line is here.
How to report
Reporting a repair to Birmingham City Council
- 01Phone or report online. You’ll need an account to report online. Emergencies are by phone only.
- 02Say what’s wrong and where. Mention damp, mould or anything dangerous straight away, and how long it’s been a problem.
- 03Get a reference number. Write it down with the date, and keep photos of the problem.
- 04Chase it if it’s late. If Birmingham misses its own target, complain. You may also be able to claim.
- Online form'Report a repair that was not done properly' form for problems with completed work
Emergency repairs
When to call Birmingham straight away
Phone Birmingham straight away if anything puts someone in danger or leaves your home unsafe. Weekdays 9am to 5pm for any repair. Open 24 hours for emergencies and hazards. The number is in Birmingham’s repair contacts.
Smell gas? Leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 first, then tell Birmingham.
Timescales
How long Birmingham City Council has to fix it
Birmingham’s own targets, next to the legal limits under Awaab’s Law.
| Type of repair | Birmingham’s target | Legal limit (Awaab’s Law) |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency hazard | 24 hoursvisit the home and diagnose the issue within 24 hours of a hazard report | Emergency hazards: investigate and make safe within 24 hours |
| Damp and mould that’s a significant risk | An operative will visit within 30 days of a damp or mould report | Investigate within 10 working days; written summary within 3 working days; safety work within 5 working days |
Targets from birmingham.gov.uk and Birmingham’s damp and mould page, checked 14 October 2026. Legal limits from GOV.UK guidance on Awaab’s Law.
Reported a repair and it still isn’t fixed? You could claim compensation.
Start your claimYour options
If Birmingham City Council doesn’t fix it: your options
Claim compensation
Make a disrepair claim
A law firm on our panel takes it up with Birmingham for you. It asks for the repairs to be done and claims compensation, usually worked out as a share of the rent you paid while the problem wasn’t fixed.
Start your claim 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 feesComplain
Complain to the council
This can get the council to look at the repair again. If you’re still unhappy, the Housing Ombudsman can order the council to put things right. In its recent decisions about Birmingham, it ordered between £430 and £1,700 in compensation.
How to complain to BirminghamYou can do both: a complaint can carry on while a law firm makes your claim.
Complaining to the council
Every social landlord has to follow the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code.
- Stage 1
Complain to the council
Acknowledged within 5 working days, with a decision within 10 working days.
- Stage 2
Ask for a review
A review request is assessed within 5 working days, with a final response within 20 working days of that.
- Then
Housing Ombudsman
Independent. It can order the council to put things right.
Birmingham’s record
How Birmingham City Council performs on repairs
of Birmingham tenants were satisfied with the repairs service in 2024/25.
of the Ombudsman’s findings about Birmingham in 2024/25 were maladministration.
Recent Housing Ombudsman decisions about Birmingham City Council
- How it handled damp and mould.Maladministration
£1,700 ordered - How it handled reports of damp and mould.Maladministration
£430 ordered
Sources: Birmingham tenant satisfaction measures 2024/25; Housing Ombudsman landlord performance data 2024/25; Housing Ombudsman decisions.
Contacts
Birmingham City Council’s repair contacts
Reported it and still waiting? You could claim compensation.
Start your claimQuestions
Birmingham City Council repairs: questions
What is Birmingham City Council’s repairs number?
0121 216 3330. Weekdays 9am to 5pm for any repair. Open 24 hours for emergencies and hazards.
What is Birmingham City Council’s emergency or out of hours repairs number?
0121 216 3330 (Repairs line). Weekdays 9am to 5pm for any repair. Open 24 hours for emergencies and hazards.
Can I report a repair to Birmingham City Council online?
Yes, at birmingham.gov.uk (BRUM account). New non-emergency repairs. You need to sign in to, or create, a BRUM account.
How long does Birmingham City Council have to fix a repair?
Its own targets run from 24 hours (emergency hazard) to 24 hours (emergency hazard). Awaab’s Law sets legal limits for emergency hazards and serious damp and mould.
What does Awaab’s Law mean for Birmingham City Council tenants?
Since 27 October 2025, the council must investigate emergency hazards and make them safe within 24 hours, and investigate significant damp and mould hazards within 10 working days. From 30 November 2026 the law covers more hazards, including excess cold, electrical hazards, falls and fire. Birmingham’s own damp and mould commitment: An operative will visit within 30 days of a damp or mould report
How do I complain about a repair to Birmingham City Council?
Complain to the council first, online or by phone on 0121 464 9995. Acknowledged within 5 working days, with a decision within 10 working days. If you’re still unhappy after its final reply, you can take it to the Housing Ombudsman for free.
Can I claim compensation from Birmingham City Council?
You could, if you reported a repair and it wasn’t fixed in a reasonable time. A law firm on our panel can take it up with Birmingham City Council for you. It’s free to check.
Start your claimIs Report Repair part of Birmingham City Council?
No. Report Repair is independent and not part of Birmingham City Council or any council or housing association. We show Birmingham’s own repair contacts, and if a repair you’ve reported hasn’t been fixed, we can introduce your claim to a law firm on our panel.
Repair problems
What the council has to fix, by problem
Not Birmingham?
Other landlords in the Midlands
- Black Country Housing Group repairsHousing association
- Bolsover District Council repairsCouncil
- Bournville Village Trust repairsHousing association
- Broxtowe Borough Council repairsCouncil
- City of Wolverhampton Council repairsCouncil
- Dudley Council repairsCouncil
- Nottingham City Council repairsCouncil
- Sandwell Council repairsCouncil
Reported a repair to Birmingham City Council and still waiting?
About 2 minutes. No documents. Free to check.