Independent · not part of South Derbyshire District Council
South Derbyshire District Council repairs: how to report a repair, phone numbers and timescales
How to report a repair to South Derbyshire District 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 20 days.
By Ben Miller, housing disrepair specialistChecked 9 October 2026 · How we checkSource: southderbyshire.gov.uk
Has South Derbyshire District Council been told about the repair?
Yes, reported and still not fixedCheck if you can claim No, reporting it for the first timeGet South Derbyshire’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, South Derbyshire’s emergency line is here.
How to report
Reporting a repair to South Derbyshire District 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 South Derbyshire misses its own target, complain. You may also be able to claim.
Emergency repairs
When to call South Derbyshire straight away
Phone South Derbyshire straight away if anything puts someone in danger or leaves your home unsafe. Emergency repairs outside office hours. The number is in South Derbyshire’s repair contacts.
- 01Home not secure, or you can’t get in (you may be charged)
- 02Dangerous floors or stairs, or a severely damaged or dangerous roof
- 03No water at all, or a leak you can’t control
- 04Blocked toilet or soil pipe (if it’s the only one), or a drain backing up
- 05Missing drain inspection cover
- 06Electrics sparking or smoking, bare wires, or no power at all
- 07Blocked chimney to an open fire
What counts as an emergency, from southderbyshire.gov.uk.
Smell gas? Leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 first, then tell South Derbyshire.
Timescales
How long South Derbyshire District Council has to fix it
South Derbyshire’s own targets, next to the legal limits under Awaab’s Law.
| Type of repair | South Derbyshire’s target | Legal limit (Awaab’s Law) |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent | 24 hours | No fixed legal limit unless it’s a hazard |
| Priority | 3 days | No fixed legal limit unless it’s a hazard |
| Routine | 20 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 southderbyshire.gov.uk, checked 9 October 2026. Legal limits from GOV.UK guidance on Awaab’s Law.
Reported a routine repair more than 20 days ago? That’s past South Derbyshire’s own target. You could claim compensation.
Start your claimYour options
If South Derbyshire District Council doesn’t fix it: your options
Claim compensation
Make a disrepair claim
A law firm on our panel takes it up with South Derbyshire 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 complain to South DerbyshireYou 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 (the Code’s limits).
- Stage 2
Ask for a review
If you’re not happy, a reply within 20 working days (the Code’s limit).
- Then
Housing Ombudsman
Independent. It can order the council to put things right.
South Derbyshire’s record
How South Derbyshire District Council performs on repairs
Aug 2024: After the council referred itself, the regulator found serious failings: fewer than half of homes needing a fire risk assessment had one, missing electrical safety checks, no up-to-date stock condition survey since 2018, and weak tenant engagement.
of South Derbyshire tenants were satisfied with the repairs service in 2024/25.
of the Ombudsman’s findings about South Derbyshire in 2024/25 were maladministration.
Recent Housing Ombudsman decisions about South Derbyshire District Council
- How it handled reports of leaks and the associated repairs.Maladministration
Sources: Regulator of Social Housing judgement, 9 August 2024; South Derbyshire tenant satisfaction measures 2024/25; Housing Ombudsman landlord performance data 2024/25; Housing Ombudsman decisions.
Contacts
South Derbyshire District Council’s repair contacts
Reported it and still waiting? You could claim compensation.
Start your claimQuestions
South Derbyshire District Council repairs: questions
What is South Derbyshire District Council’s repairs number?
01283 595795 (Repairs line (contact centre)) or 01332 912642 (Out of hours). Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8.45am to 5pm, Wednesday 9.30am to 5pm, Friday 8.45am to 4.30pm.
What is South Derbyshire District Council’s emergency or out of hours repairs number?
01332 912642 (Out of hours · emergencies). Emergency repairs outside office hours.
Can I report a repair to South Derbyshire District Council online?
Yes, at southderbyshire.gov.uk repair form. Online form for non-urgent repairs to council homes.
How long does South Derbyshire District Council have to fix a repair?
Its own targets run from 24 hours (urgent) to 20 days (routine). Awaab’s Law sets legal limits for emergency hazards and serious damp and mould.
What does Awaab’s Law mean for South Derbyshire District 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 South Derbyshire District Council?
Complain to the council first, online or by email (customer.experience@southderbyshire.gov.uk). It should acknowledge your complaint within 5 working days and reply within 10 working days of that. If you’re still unhappy after its final reply, you can take it to the Housing Ombudsman for free.
Can I claim compensation from South Derbyshire District 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 South Derbyshire District Council for you. It’s free to check.
Start your claimIs Report Repair part of South Derbyshire District Council?
No. Report Repair is independent and not part of South Derbyshire District Council or any council or housing association. We show South Derbyshire’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 South Derbyshire District Council and still waiting?
About 2 minutes. No documents. Free to check.