Independent · not part of Westmorland and Furness Council
Westmorland and Furness Council repairs: how to report a repair, phone numbers and timescales
How to report a repair to Westmorland and Furness Council: the repairs phone numbers and emergency line, and how long the council has to fix it.
Other names: Barrow Borough Council
By Ben Miller, housing disrepair specialistChecked 9 October 2026 · How we checkSource: barrowbc.gov.uk
Has Westmorland and Furness Council been told about the repair?
Yes, reported and still not fixedCheck if you can claim No, reporting it for the first timeGet Westmorland and Furness’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, Westmorland and Furness’s emergency line is here.
How to report
Reporting a repair to Westmorland and Furness 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 Westmorland and Furness misses its own target, complain. You may also be able to claim.
- Gas and heating repairs (office hours)0800 023 6277 or 01524 734350, for no heating, no hot water, or boiler and radiator problems
- Emailhousing@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
- Eden area housing officer01768 212216 (Tuesday to Thursday)
Emergency repairs
When to call Westmorland and Furness straight away
Phone Westmorland and Furness straight away if anything puts someone in danger or leaves your home unsafe. All emergency repairs outside office hours in Barrow and Furness, and gas emergencies out of hours in the Eden area. The number is in Westmorland and Furness’s repair contacts.
- 01Severe flooding
- 02Total power failure
- 03Home left insecure, or a window or door lock that won’t secure
- 04Unsafe power or lighting socket
- 05No water supply at all
- 06No heating or hot water at all (up to May)
- 07Only toilet not working
- 08Major leak from the heating or water system
What counts as an emergency, from barrowbc.gov.uk.
Smell gas? Leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 first, then tell Westmorland and Furness.
Timescales
How long Westmorland and Furness Council has to fix it
Westmorland and Furness’s own targets, next to the legal limits under Awaab’s Law.
| Type of repair | Westmorland and Furness’s target | Legal limit (Awaab’s Law) |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency (most serious) | 2 hoursSuch as severe flooding, total power failure or an insecure home. | Emergency hazards: investigate and make safe within 24 hours |
| Emergency | 24 hoursSuch as unsafe sockets, no water, no heating or hot water, or the only toilet not working. | Emergency hazards: investigate and make safe within 24 hours |
| Damp and mould that’s a significant risk | The council says it is fully committed to meeting Awaab’s Law, under which hazards posing an immediate risk must be fixed within 24 hours and tenants are kept informed, including written summaries of further work. | Investigate within 10 working days; written summary within 3 working days; safety work within 5 working days |
Targets from barrowbc.gov.uk, checked 9 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 Westmorland and Furness Council doesn’t fix it: your options
Claim compensation
Make a disrepair claim
A law firm on our panel takes it up with Westmorland and Furness 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 full reply within 10 working days of that (up to 10 more if complex).
- Stage 2
Ask for a review
Acknowledged within 5 working days, with a full and final reply within 20 working days of that (up to 20 more if complex).
- Then
Housing Ombudsman
Independent. It can order the council to put things right.
Westmorland and Furness’s record
How Westmorland and Furness Council performs on repairs
Feb 2026: The regulator found the council understands the condition of its homes, but needs to improve how it understands tenants’ diverse needs and how tenants can scrutinise its services.
of Westmorland and Furness tenants were satisfied with the repairs service in 2024/25.
Sources: Regulator of Social Housing judgement, 25 February 2026; Westmorland and Furness tenant satisfaction measures 2024/25.
Contacts
Westmorland and Furness Council’s repair contacts
Reported it and still waiting? You could claim compensation.
Start your claimQuestions
Westmorland and Furness Council repairs: questions
What is Westmorland and Furness Council’s repairs number?
01229 876578 (Repairs line) or 01229 833311 (Out of hours) or 0300 373 3300 (Repairs line). Non-gas repairs during office hours, for homes in the Barrow and Furness area.
What is Westmorland and Furness Council’s emergency or out of hours repairs number?
01229 833311 (Out of hours · emergencies). All emergency repairs outside office hours in Barrow and Furness, and gas emergencies out of hours in the Eden area.
How long does Westmorland and Furness Council have to fix a repair?
Its own targets run from 2 hours (emergency (most serious)) to 24 hours (emergency). Awaab’s Law sets legal limits for emergency hazards and serious damp and mould.
What does Awaab’s Law mean for Westmorland and Furness 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. Westmorland and Furness’s own damp and mould commitment: The council says it is fully committed to meeting Awaab’s Law, under which hazards posing an immediate risk must be fixed within 24 hours and tenants are kept informed, including written summaries of further work.
How do I complain about a repair to Westmorland and Furness Council?
Complain to the council first, online, by email (complaints@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk) or by phone on 01539 637437. Acknowledged within 5 working days, with a full reply within 10 working days of that (up to 10 more 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 Westmorland and Furness 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 Westmorland and Furness Council for you. It’s free to check.
Start your claimIs Report Repair part of Westmorland and Furness Council?
No. Report Repair is independent and not part of Westmorland and Furness Council or any council or housing association. We show Westmorland and Furness’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 Westmorland and Furness Council and still waiting?
About 2 minutes. No documents. Free to check.