If things go wrong

Get in touch with your landlord or property manager ASAP if anything breaks down in the property. In most cases the landlord will be happy to arrange to have the problem fixed immediately.

Your landlord should provide the contact details of someone who can be reached outside of normal business hours (such as evenings and weekends) in case of an emergency. If you can't get in touch with someone and the problem is causing serious problems (i.e. is likely to cause damage to people or property),arrange to have the problem fixed, then tell your landlord what was done. You may need to pay for the repairs yourself, so confirm with your landlord in advance that you will be reimbursed in this situation.

Keep in mind that you are responsible for the cost of repairing any damage you've caused to the property. If things aren't fixed when you move out, the cost of repairs can be taken out of your bond payment.

Dispute resolution
If a conflict arises between you and your landlord (or between flatmates), ask everyone involved to sit down and talk about the problem. Come prepared with a list of issues that need addressing, and take notes to keep a record of what was discussed.

If you can't resolve the problem yourselves, contact Tenancy Services for further assistance with mediation. They will be able to give you advice on the possible avenues available to you - including the Tenancy Tribunal if necessary.

Noisy Neighbours
If your neighbours are being excessively noisy, your first step is to let them know that their activities are disturbing you.

If you're uncomfortable speaking to them directly, or if the noise continues, you can report the problem to your local district or city council. You can find more information about problems with noisy neighbours on the Citizen's Advice Bureau site.