Independent · not part of Exeter City Council
Exeter City Council repairs: how to report a repair, phone numbers and timescales
How to report a repair to Exeter City Council: the repairs phone number and emergency line, reporting a repair online, and how long the council has to fix it. The council’s own target for routine repairs is 28 working days.
By Ben Miller, housing disrepair specialistChecked 9 October 2026 · How we checkSource: exeter.gov.uk
Has Exeter City Council been told about the repair?
Yes, reported and still not fixedCheck if you can claim No, reporting it for the first timeGet Exeter’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, Exeter’s emergency line is here.
How to report
Reporting a repair to Exeter City Council
- 01Phone or 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 Exeter misses its own target, complain. You may also be able to claim.
- Emailhousing.repairs@exeter.gov.uk (non-emergency repairs only)
- Tenant PortalSign in to the Tenant Portal (my.exeter.gov.uk) to report a non-emergency repair.
- In personCustomer First, Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter EX1 1JN
Emergency repairs
When to call Exeter straight away
Phone Exeter straight away if anything puts someone in danger or leaves your home unsafe. For all emergency and out-of-hours repairs, and for non-emergency repairs; select the relevant option. The number is in Exeter’s repair contacts.
- 01Major leaks or burst pipes
- 02Blocked toilets or overflowing drains
- 03No heating between 31 October and 1 May
- 04No hot water
- 05No power
- 06Dangerous electrical fittings
- 07Faulty outside door locks leaving the home insecure
What counts as an emergency, from exeter.gov.uk.
Smell gas? Leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 first, then tell Exeter.
Timescales
How long Exeter City Council has to fix it
Exeter’s own targets, next to the legal limits under Awaab’s Law.
| Type of repair | Exeter’s target | Legal limit (Awaab’s Law) |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | 4 hoursMade safe within four hours; any follow-up work prioritised and done within 28 working days. | Emergency hazards: investigate and make safe within 24 hours |
| Routine | 28 working daysNon-emergency work is prioritised by urgency. | No fixed legal limit unless it’s a hazard |
| Damp and mould that’s a significant risk | Possible damp and mould hazards are investigated within 10 working days, or within 24 hours in an emergency, with a written summary within 3 working days. Significant hazards are made safe within 5 working days of the investigation, and any further work starts within 12 weeks. | Investigate within 10 working days; written summary within 3 working days; safety work within 5 working days |
Targets from exeter.gov.uk and Exeter’s damp and mould page, checked 9 October 2026. Legal limits from GOV.UK guidance on Awaab’s Law.
Reported a routine repair more than 28 working days ago? That’s past Exeter’s own target. You could claim compensation.
Start your claimYour options
If Exeter City Council doesn’t fix it: your options
Claim compensation
Make a disrepair claim
A law firm on our panel takes it up with Exeter 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.
How to complainYou 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 reply within 10 working days of that (can be extended by 10 working days if complex).
- Stage 2
Ask for a review
Acknowledged within 5 working days, with a final reply within 20 working days of that (can be extended by 20 working days if complex).
- Then
Housing Ombudsman
Independent. It can order the council to put things right.
Exeter’s record
How Exeter City Council performs on repairs
of Exeter tenants were satisfied with the repairs service in 2024/25.
Contacts
Exeter City Council’s repair contacts
Reported it and still waiting? You could claim compensation.
Start your claimQuestions
Exeter City Council repairs: questions
What is Exeter City Council’s repairs number?
01392 265031. For all emergency and out-of-hours repairs, and for non-emergency repairs; select the relevant option.
What is Exeter City Council’s emergency or out of hours repairs number?
01392 265031 (Repairs and emergencies). For all emergency and out-of-hours repairs, and for non-emergency repairs; select the relevant option.
Can I report a repair to Exeter City Council online?
Yes, at exeter.gov.uk · report a repair. Online form for non-emergency repairs. You can also sign in to the Tenant Portal to report a repair. Phone for emergencies.
How long does Exeter City Council have to fix a repair?
Its own targets run from 4 hours (emergency) to 28 working days (routine). Awaab’s Law sets legal limits for emergency hazards and serious damp and mould.
What does Awaab’s Law mean for Exeter 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. Exeter’s own damp and mould commitment: Possible damp and mould hazards are investigated within 10 working days, or within 24 hours in an emergency, with a written summary within 3 working days. Significant hazards are made safe within 5 working days of the investigation, and any further work starts within 12 weeks.
How do I complain about a repair to Exeter City Council?
Complain to the council first, online, by email (housing.complaints@exeter.gov.uk) or by phone on 01392 265759. Acknowledged within 5 working days, with a reply within 10 working days of that (can be extended by 10 working days if complex). If you’re still unhappy after its final reply, you can take it to the Housing Ombudsman for free.
Can I claim compensation from Exeter 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 Exeter City Council for you. It’s free to check.
Start your claimIs Report Repair part of Exeter City Council?
No. Report Repair is independent and not part of Exeter City Council or any council or housing association. We show Exeter’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 Exeter?
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Reported a repair to Exeter City Council and still waiting?
About 2 minutes. No documents. Free to check.