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Brighton & Hove City Council repairs: how to report a repair, phone numbers and timescales
How to report a repair to Brighton & Hove City Council: the repairs phone number and emergency line, and how long the council has to fix it. The council’s own target for routine repairs is 20 working days.
By Ben Miller, housing disrepair specialistChecked 5 October 2026 · How we checkSource: brighton-hove.gov.uk
Has Brighton & Hove City Council been told about the repair?
Yes, reported and still not fixedCheck if you can claim No, reporting it for the first timeGet Brighton & Hove’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, Brighton & Hove’s emergency line is here.
How to report
Reporting a repair to Brighton & Hove City Council
- 01Phone the repairs line. 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 Brighton & Hove misses its own target, complain. You may also be able to claim.
- Housing online accountLog in to Housing online to request a repair (not the same as MyAccount; register with your party or payment reference). Always phone for emergencies.
- EmailRepairsCustomerServices@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Emergency repairs
When to call Brighton & Hove straight away
Phone Brighton & Hove straight away if anything puts someone in danger or leaves your home unsafe. Weekdays 8am to 5pm. Call the same number out of hours for emergencies. The number is in Brighton & Hove’s repair contacts.
- 01Serious water leak
- 02No power in the home
- 03No heating or hot water from the boiler (November to April)
- 04Overflowing drains
- 05Collapsed ceiling or roof
- 06Ground floor window that won’t close
- 07Lift breakdown
- 08Blocked toilet, if it’s the only one you can use
What counts as an emergency, from brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Smell gas? Leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 first, then tell Brighton & Hove.
Timescales
How long Brighton & Hove City Council has to fix it
Brighton & Hove’s own targets, next to the legal limits under Awaab’s Law.
| Type of repair | Brighton & Hove’s target | Legal limit (Awaab’s Law) |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | 24 hours | Emergency hazards: investigate and make safe within 24 hours |
| Routine | 20 working daysLarger repairs can take longer | No fixed legal limit unless it’s a hazard |
| Damp and mould that’s a significant risk | Not published | Investigate within 10 working days; written summary within 3 working days; safety work within 5 working days |
Targets from brighton-hove.gov.uk, checked 5 October 2026. Legal limits from GOV.UK guidance on Awaab’s Law.
Reported a routine repair more than 20 working days ago? That’s past Brighton & Hove’s own target. You could claim compensation.
Start your claimYour options
If Brighton & Hove City Council doesn’t fix it: your options
Claim compensation
Make a disrepair claim
A law firm on our panel takes it up with Brighton & Hove 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 Brighton & Hove, it ordered between £150 and £800 in compensation.
How to complain to Brighton & HoveYou 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
A reply aimed for within 10 working days.
- Stage 2
Ask for a review
A reply aimed for within 20 working days.
- Then
Housing Ombudsman
Independent. It can order the council to put things right.
Brighton & Hove’s record
How Brighton & Hove City Council performs on repairs
Aug 2024: The regulator found serious failings, including thousands of homes without a current electrical report, missing water and fire safety work, no evidence of meeting smoke alarm rules, and a backlog of around 8,000 low-priority repairs.
of Brighton & Hove tenants were satisfied with the repairs service in 2024/25.
of the Ombudsman’s findings about Brighton & Hove in 2024/25 were maladministration.
Recent Housing Ombudsman decisions about Brighton & Hove City Council
- How it handled reports of a leak.Maladministration
£800 ordered - How it handled a report of an infestation of bedbugs in the property.Maladministration
£250 ordered - How it handled reports concerning damp and mould.Service failure
£150 ordered
Sources: Regulator of Social Housing judgement, 9 August 2024; Brighton & Hove tenant satisfaction measures 2024/25; Housing Ombudsman landlord performance data 2024/25; Housing Ombudsman decisions.
Contacts
Brighton & Hove City Council’s repair contacts
Reported it and still waiting? You could claim compensation.
Start your claimQuestions
Brighton & Hove City Council repairs: questions
What is Brighton & Hove City Council’s repairs number?
01273 294409. Weekdays 8am to 5pm. Call the same number out of hours for emergencies.
What is Brighton & Hove City Council’s emergency or out of hours repairs number?
01273 294409 (Repairs helpdesk). Weekdays 8am to 5pm. Call the same number out of hours for emergencies.
How long does Brighton & Hove City Council have to fix a repair?
Its own targets run from 24 hours (emergency) to 20 working days (routine). Awaab’s Law sets legal limits for emergency hazards and serious damp and mould.
What does Awaab’s Law mean for Brighton & Hove 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.
How do I complain about a repair to Brighton & Hove City Council?
Complain to the council first, by email (customerfeedback@brighton-hove.gov.uk) or by phone on 01273 291229. A reply aimed for 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 Brighton & Hove 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 Brighton & Hove City Council for you. It’s free to check.
Start your claimIs Report Repair part of Brighton & Hove City Council?
No. Report Repair is independent and not part of Brighton & Hove City Council or any council or housing association. We show Brighton & Hove’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 Brighton & Hove?
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Reported a repair to Brighton & Hove City Council and still waiting?
About 2 minutes. No documents. Free to check.