What To Do When Things Go Wrong in Your Student House

Every student house has that moment where something stops working at the worst possible time – the boiler goes cold, a leak appears out of nowhere, or an alarm starts beeping like it’s got a personal vendetta. 

It can feel stressful, especially if it’s your first time renting, but most issues are routine and fixable. The key is knowing what to do first, who to contact, and how to describe the problem clearly so it gets sorted quickly.

Make It Safe Before You Make the Call

Before you message anyone, deal with the immediate risk. If there’s water spreading, move anything valuable out of the way, mop up what you can, and try to stop the flow if it’s safe to do so. 

If the leak is near plugs, sockets, or appliances, don’t touch electrics and keep people away from the area. If you can locate the stopcock and it’s clearly an emergency leak, turning it off can prevent major damage, but don’t put yourself in danger trying to play hero.

If you smell gas, treat it seriously rather than hoping it “goes away.” Open windows and doors, avoid using light switches, and leave the property. 

In the United Kingdom, you should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 immediately. If there’s smoke or fire, get out and call 999. Your first responsibility is always safety – repairs come second.

Who to Contact and Why the Route Matters

Most student properties have a clear reporting route, and using it properly usually speeds everything up. 

Your tenancy agreement or welcome pack should tell you whether you report repairs through a maintenance portal, the letting agent, the landlord directly, or an out-of-hours emergency number. 

If there is a portal, it’s often the best option because it time-stamps your report, stores photos, and keeps a paper trail.

Even if you ring someone first, it’s smart to follow up in writing. A quick message confirming what happened, when it started, and what was agreed protects you and avoids the classic “we didn’t know about that” situation later. 

It also helps reduce deposit disputes because you can show you reported issues promptly rather than letting them worsen.

How to Tell What’s Urgent vs What Can Wait

A simple way to judge urgency is to ask two questions: is anyone at risk, and will serious damage happen if nothing changes within the next few hours? 

If the answer is yes, it’s urgent. If it’s inconvenient but safe and stable, it’s usually non-urgent. Urgent problems tend to be things like major leaks, unsafe electrics, no heating in cold weather, security risks like broken external doors, or alarms that suggest danger.

Non-urgent issues are still worth reporting quickly, but they don’t normally need an emergency call. Examples include dripping taps, minor mould that isn’t linked to an active leak, small cracks, or appliances that have stopped working when you have alternatives. 

The main thing is not to ignore non-urgent problems until they become urgent – that’s when stress, damage, and disputes begin.

Boiler Breakdowns and No Heating or Hot Water

A boiler breakdown feels like a crisis because it affects your whole day, but there are a few checks worth doing before you report it.

Look at the thermostat, make sure the boiler has power, and if there’s an error code, take a photo of it. Some systems also drop pressure, and if you know how to check the gauge safely, that information can be useful for the engineer.

When you report a boiler issue, explain whether you have no heating, no hot water, or both, and whether it affects the entire house. In colder months, a full loss of heating or hot water is often treated as urgent because it impacts basic living conditions. 

The clearer you are, the easier it is for the agent or landlord to triage and get the right person out quickly.

Lost Keys, Lockouts, and Security Problems

Losing keys is more common than people admit, and it’s usually a problem you can solve faster by going through the correct channels. 

Start by checking whether a housemate has a spare or whether your property uses a lockbox or key safe. If you’re locked out, contact your letting agent or landlord before calling a locksmith, because unauthorised lock changes can create security issues and you may be charged for replacing locks.

If you’re locked out late at night and you feel unsafe, that becomes a different situation. In that case, using the out-of-hours number is reasonable because it’s no longer just an inconvenience – it’s a personal safety risk. 

The main point is to avoid making costly decisions in a panic when there’s an agreed process that can usually sort it.

Damp, Mould, and Condensation That Keeps Coming Back

Damp can feel like a “normal student house thing,” but it shouldn’t be brushed off. It can affect health, damage belongings, and become a bigger repair if left unchecked. 

Condensation on windows is common, especially in winter, but recurring mould patches, musty smells, bubbling paint, or damp patches on ceilings and walls should always be reported.

When reporting damp, be specific about where it is and how long it’s been there, and include photos. It also helps to mention what you’re doing day-to-day, like opening windows briefly, using extractor fans, and keeping furniture slightly away from external walls. 

That detail makes it easier to get the right fix and reduces the chance of the issue being unfairly blamed on you.

Leaks and Water Damage: Act Early, Even If It Looks Small

Leaks are one of the biggest “wish we’d reported it sooner” issues in rented houses. If water is actively dripping, spreading, or coming through a ceiling, treat it as urgent because it can escalate quickly and cause serious damage. 

If possible, contain the water with towels and buckets and move items out of the way, then report it immediately with photos or a short video.

If it’s a small drip, like a tap that won’t fully stop or a tiny stain that isn’t growing, it’s usually non-urgent – but still report it. Small leaks often become bigger leaks, and reporting early shows you acted responsibly. 

Remember, that matters if damage worsens later, because you can prove you didn’t ignore it.

Alarms, Electrics, and the Mystery Beeping Noise

A single repetitive beep often means a smoke alarm battery is low, but you shouldn’t assume every alarm is harmless. 

If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, take it seriously, ventilate the area, leave the property, and report it urgently. Carbon monoxide is dangerous precisely because you can’t reliably smell or see it, and alarms are designed to warn early.

Electrical issues like frequent tripping, sockets that spark, burning smells, or power loss affecting key areas should be treated as urgent. Avoid DIY fixes and don’t keep resetting a trip switch if it immediately trips again – that can be a sign of a fault that needs attention. 

Reporting quickly and clearly is the safest option.

How to Report Repairs So They Get Fixed Faster

The fastest repairs usually come from the clearest reports. Explain what the issue is, exactly where it is, when it started, and what the impact is on daily living. 

Photos and short videos make a huge difference because they help whoever is triaging the job understand whether it’s a quick fix or something that needs a contractor.

If your accommodation provider has a “report maintenance” or “contact repairs” form, use it rather than relying on informal messages. It creates a time-stamped record and makes it easier to track progress. 

It also gives you a reliable trail of evidence if you ever need to escalate, chase an update, or show that you reported the problem promptly.

The Bottom Line: Reporting Issues Is Part of Renting

When things go wrong in a student house, it’s easy to worry you’re being a nuisance. You’re not. Reporting problems quickly is responsible, it protects the property, and it protects you. 

If something is unsafe, prioritise safety and report it urgently. If it’s inconvenient but stable, log it properly and keep a written record. Either way, you’ll reduce stress, avoid bigger problems later, and make sure you can get back to the important stuff – uni, work, and actually enjoying where you live.