Independent · not part of Havering Council
Havering Council repairs: how to report a repair, phone numbers and timescales
How to report a repair to Havering Council: the repairs phone numbers 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 5 October 2026 · How we checkSource: havering.gov.uk
Has Havering Council been told about the repair?
Yes, reported and still not fixedCheck if you can claim No, reporting it for the first timeGet Havering’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, Havering’s emergency line is here.
How to report
Reporting a repair to Havering 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 Havering misses its own target, complain. You may also be able to claim.
- Damp and mouldReport damp and mould through your online housing account or by phone on the repairs line.
Emergency repairs
When to call Havering straight away
Phone Havering straight away if anything puts someone in danger or leaves your home unsafe. Emergencies only, 5pm to 9am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays. The number is in Havering’s repair contacts.
- 01Anything that would put your health in danger
- 02Anything that is a risk to your safety
- 03Anything that could cause serious damage to the property
What counts as an emergency, from havering.gov.uk.
Smell gas? Leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 first, then tell Havering.
Timescales
How long Havering Council has to fix it
Havering’s own targets, next to the legal limits under Awaab’s Law.
| Type of repair | Havering’s target | Legal limit (Awaab’s Law) |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | 4 hours | Emergency hazards: investigate and make safe within 24 hours |
| Urgent | 3 working days | No fixed legal limit unless it’s a hazard |
| Routine | 28 working days | 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 havering.gov.uk, checked 5 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 Havering’s own target. You could claim compensation.
Start your claimYour options
If Havering Council doesn’t fix it: your options
Claim compensation
Make a disrepair claim
A law firm on our panel takes it up with Havering 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 Havering, it ordered between £150 and £750 in compensation.
How to complain to HaveringYou 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
Contacted within 5 working days, with a full written reply within 10 working days.
- Stage 2
Ask for a review
A further investigation, with a full response within 20 working days.
- Then
Housing Ombudsman
Independent. It can order the council to put things right.
Havering’s record
How Havering Council performs on repairs
of Havering tenants were satisfied with the repairs service in 2024/25.
of the Ombudsman’s findings about Havering in 2024/25 were maladministration.
Recent Housing Ombudsman decisions about Havering Council
- How it handled reports of a leak and associated damp and mould.Maladministration
£750 ordered - How it handled damp and mould reports.Service failure
£150 ordered
Sources: Havering tenant satisfaction measures 2024/25; Housing Ombudsman landlord performance data 2024/25; Housing Ombudsman decisions.
Contacts
Havering Council’s repair contacts
Reported it and still waiting? You could claim compensation.
Start your claimQuestions
Havering Council repairs: questions
What is Havering Council’s repairs number?
01708 434000 (Repairs line) or 01708 756699 (Out of hours). Weekdays 9am to 5pm, for non-emergency repairs.
What is Havering Council’s emergency or out of hours repairs number?
01708 756699 (Out of hours · emergencies). Emergencies only, 5pm to 9am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays.
Can I report a repair to Havering Council online?
Yes, at portal.havering.gov.uk. Report a repair through your online housing account. You need to register for an account first.
How long does Havering 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 Havering 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 Havering Council?
Complain to the council first, online. Contacted within 5 working days, with a full written reply 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 Havering 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 Havering Council for you. It’s free to check.
Start your claimIs Report Repair part of Havering Council?
No. Report Repair is independent and not part of Havering Council or any council or housing association. We show Havering’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
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Reported a repair to Havering Council and still waiting?
About 2 minutes. No documents. Free to check.