Home Problems

A tap that drips constantly, wasting water and causing staining around the sink or basin.

Water comes out slowly from taps or the shower, making everyday tasks frustrating.

Water continuously runs into the toilet bowl after flushing, often with a hissing or trickling sound.

Hot water taps run cold or lukewarm despite the boiler or immersion heater being switched on.

Water drains slowly or not at all from a sink, bath, or shower, often with an unpleasant smell.

A visible drip or pool of water under the kitchen or bathroom sink, often noticed by damp in the cupboard below.

One or more radiators stay cold or only warm up partially while others in the house work normally.

A discoloured, wet, or bubbling patch on the ceiling, often brown or yellow, that may grow over time.

Lights flicker, dim, or flash intermittently, sometimes across multiple rooms.

A circuit breaker in the consumer unit keeps tripping, cutting power to part or all of the house.

One or more plug sockets have no power, even though the rest of the room works fine.

A smell of burning plastic or scorching coming from a socket, sometimes with visible discolouration.

An audible buzzing or humming noise coming from a light switch when the light is on.

All lights and sockets in a single room or area have stopped working while the rest of the house has power.

The electric shower runs but the water stays cold or barely warm, even on the highest setting.

An exterior light or security light has stopped working or comes on intermittently.

A visible crack running through the outside wall of your property, which may be widening over time.

An exterior or interior wall that bulges or leans outward, visible when looking along its length.

Diagonal cracks appearing around windows and doors, doors sticking, and visible sinking on one side of the building.

The mortar between bricks is cracking, crumbling, or falling out, leaving gaps in the brickwork.

Damp patches appearing on inside walls, particularly after rain, often with a musty smell.

A noticeable dip or slope in the floor, where furniture rocks or a ball rolls to one side of the room.

A door that is difficult to open or close, dragging on the frame or the floor.

Floorboards that creak or squeak when walked on, especially noticeable at night.

Soft, crumbling, or discoloured wood around a window frame, sometimes with paint flaking away.

A door frame that has twisted or bowed, leaving gaps on one side and rubbing on the other.

One or more spindles (balusters) on the staircase are cracked, loose, or missing entirely.

Skirting boards that are cracked, dented, warped, or pulling away from the wall.

One or more roof tiles have slipped, cracked, or blown off, leaving exposed areas on the roof.

Water coming through the roof into the loft space or directly through the ceiling, often during or after rainfall.

The ridge line along the top of the roof has a visible dip or sag instead of running straight.

Rainwater overflows from the guttering during rainfall, running down the outside walls of the house.

Thick green moss growing across roof tiles, particularly on the north-facing side of the roof.

Lead or mortar flashing around a chimney, wall junction, or skylight is lifting, cracking, or pulling away.

Visible moisture, water droplets, or damp patches on the underside of the roof felt or rafters in the loft space.

Raised bubbles or blisters appearing on the surface of a flat roof, sometimes soft to touch.

Paint flaking, bubbling, or peeling away from interior or exterior walls in sheets or patches.

Fine or wide cracks appearing in the paint on the ceiling, sometimes with flaking edges.

A persistent discoloured patch on an interior wall, often yellowish or brownish, that may feel damp to the touch.

Wallpaper lifting at the edges, seams, or in patches, sometimes curling away from the wall.

White ceilings gradually turning yellow or brownish, particularly noticeable in kitchens and bathrooms.

Black or dark green spots spreading across the bathroom ceiling, sometimes extending down the walls.

Cracks running through the plaster on an interior wall, from fine hairline cracks to wider splits.

Plaster that sounds hollow when tapped, feels soft, or bulges away from the wall beneath.

A wet or discoloured area on plastered walls, often with a musty smell or salt crystals forming on the surface.

Textured Artex coating on the ceiling that you want removed for a smooth, modern finish.

Plaster developing bubbles, blisters, or a bumpy texture on the surface, sometimes with paint lifting over the top.

Walls with visible bumps, dips, or an uneven texture that makes decorating look poor.

A crack running through one or more wall or floor tiles in the bathroom, sometimes with pieces missing.

One or more floor tiles that rock, click, or move underfoot, sometimes with hollow sounds when tapped.

Grout between tiles turning dark grey, black, or developing visible mould spots, especially in wet areas.

Floor tiles tenting upward or popping off the substrate, sometimes with a cracking sound.

Tiles in the shower enclosure loosening, bulging, or falling off the wall, often with damp behind them.

Signs of water getting behind wall tiles, such as damp patches on the other side of the wall or loose tiles.

You cannot get into your home because the door has locked behind you, you have lost your keys, or the lock has jammed.

The key has broken off inside the lock barrel, leaving part of the key stuck and the lock unusable.

The key is increasingly difficult to turn in the lock, requiring more force each time.

A window lock or handle mechanism has failed, leaving the window unable to lock securely or open properly.

The front door lock does not engage fully, the latch does not catch, or the deadbolt will not throw into the frame.

Standing water on the lawn or flower beds after rainfall, taking days to drain away.

A garden retaining wall that is bulging, cracking, leaning, or has partially collapsed.

A bumpy or undulating lawn with dips, mounds, and hollows that make mowing difficult.

Water pooling on patios, paths, or near the house after rain, sometimes flowing toward the building.

A garden that has become unmanageable with dense vegetation, overgrown borders, and self-seeded trees.

Patio slabs or sections of paving that have dropped, creating uneven surfaces and trip hazards.

Patches or whole areas of lawn turning yellow or brown, even when it has been watered.

A hedge that has grown too tall, too wide, or too dense, encroaching on paths, driveways, or neighbouring properties.

Persistent weeds spreading through flower beds, paths, and the lawn, crowding out desirable plants.

Large trees casting heavy shade over the garden, house, or neighbouring properties, reducing natural light.

Thick moss spreading across the lawn, crowding out the grass and creating a spongy surface.

A door handle that wobbles, droops, or does not spring back after being pressed down.

Cold air noticeably blowing in around closed windows, making rooms feel cold and increasing energy bills.

A door that squeaks or creaks every time it is opened or closed.

A wall-mounted shelf that has pulled away from the wall or is sagging under its load.

A curtain rail or pole bracket that is pulling out of the wall, often with visible cracking around the fixings.

Silicone sealant around the bath, shower, or basin that has cracked, peeled, or turned black with mould.

A kitchen unit door that sags, swings open, or has come away from the cabinet on one side.

The kitchen worktop is bubbling, swelling, or delaminating around the sink area or at joints.

A kitchen drawer that will not open or close smoothly, jamming or sticking part way.

The plinth panel at the base of kitchen units keeps falling off or popping out of position.

A wall-mounted kitchen cabinet that is pulling away from the wall, sagging, or feels insecure when opened.

Kitchen cupboard doors that slam shut instead of closing gently, or that do not stay closed.

Water escaping from beneath the shower tray, appearing as damp on the ceiling below or on the floor outside the shower.

The decorative panel at the front or end of the bath keeps falling off or popping out of position.

A toilet that rocks or moves when you sit on it, sometimes with water seeping at the base.

The bathroom extractor fan does not turn on, runs slowly, or makes a loud rattling noise.

Water escaping past the shower screen onto the bathroom floor after every shower.

Water takes a long time to drain from the bathroom sink, sometimes backing up when running the tap.

Loud banging, kettling, or rumbling sounds coming from the boiler, particularly when the heating or hot water comes on.

The boiler pilot light repeatedly extinguishes, meaning the boiler will not fire up for heating or hot water.

A smell of gas (rotten eggs) inside the house, which could indicate a gas leak.

The boiler pressure gauge keeps falling below 1 bar, causing the boiler to lock out or lose heating efficiency.

The boiler shows an error code, flashes a warning light, or simply will not ignite when heating or hot water is called for.

Gas hob burners producing a yellow or orange flame instead of a clean blue one, sometimes with soot.

Your carbon monoxide detector is sounding, indicating potentially dangerous CO levels in the home.

Both the central heating and hot water have stopped working completely, often during cold weather.

Radiators that are hot at the top but cold at the bottom, reducing heat output.

Banging, gurgling, ticking, or clicking sounds from radiators, pipes, or the boiler when the heating is running.

The room thermostat does not respond, displays incorrectly, or the heating does not follow the set temperature.

Underfloor heating that has stopped producing heat or heats unevenly across the floor.

The house takes a very long time to reach the set temperature, with radiators warming up slowly.

Water dripping from the connection between the radiator and the valve, often leaving a pool on the floor.

Central heating radiators work normally but the hot water taps run cold.

Misting or fogging between the two panes of a double-glazed unit, which cannot be wiped away.

A window that will not shut fully, leaving a gap, or that requires excessive force to close and lock.

Cold air blowing in around a closed and locked window, making the room feel cold near the window.

A window handle that has snapped, come loose, or no longer engages the locking mechanism.

A crack running through a window pane, which may be from an impact or have appeared without obvious cause.

The rubber seals around windows have hardened, cracked, or fallen away, letting in draughts and rain.

Cracks appearing in a concrete, tarmac, or resin-bound driveway surface.

Sections of block paving that have sunk, creating dips, puddles, and an uneven surface.

Weeds pushing up through cracks or joints in the driveway surface, spreading if not dealt with.

Dark, greasy stains on the driveway surface from vehicle oil or fluid leaks.

Gravel migrating off the driveway, leaving thin patches, ruts, and bare areas, especially after heavy rain.

One or more fence panels have blown out of position or fallen flat during strong winds.

Fence posts that are soft, crumbling, or breaking at ground level where they enter the soil.

The fence is leaning noticeably to one side along part or all of its length.

A garden gate that drags on the ground, does not latch, or swings open on its own.

A fence damaged by branches falling from a tree, roots lifting the posts, or the trunk pushing against the fence.

Laminate boards rising, buckling, or peaking at the joints, creating ridges across the floor.

Carpet pulling away from the gripper rods along walls or at doorways, creating trip hazards and wrinkles.

Air pockets or bubbles forming under vinyl or LVT flooring, making the surface uneven.

Visible scratches, scuffs, or worn patches on a hardwood or engineered wood floor.

Ceramic or porcelain floor tiles developing cracks, sometimes in a line across multiple tiles.

Wooden floorboards or engineered flooring that creaks, squeaks, or groans when walked on.

Signs of mice such as droppings, gnaw marks, scratching noises at night, or shredded materials.

A wasp nest in the loft, eaves, or outbuilding, with wasps flying in and out and posing a sting risk.

Signs of rats in the garden such as burrows, droppings, gnaw marks on fences, or rats seen during the day.

Trails of ants marching across kitchen surfaces, around skirting boards, or near food storage areas.

Small, itchy bites appearing in lines on exposed skin, with tiny blood spots on sheets or dark spots on the mattress.

Scratching, scurrying, or thumping sounds from the loft during the day, with signs of gnawed woodwork or insulation.

Clothes moths damaging woollen clothing, carpets, or upholstery, with visible larvae or small holes appearing.

White, chalky deposits building up on taps, shower screens, tiles, and around plug holes.

Dark mould growing on ceiling, walls, grout, sealant, or around the window in the bathroom.

Sticky grease film on kitchen surfaces, extractor hood, tiles, and cupboard doors near the cooker.

Persistent stains on carpets from spills, pet accidents, or tracked-in dirt that domestic cleaning cannot shift.

Cloudy white marks and streaks on glass shower screens, mirrors, or windows from dried water droplets.

Furniture scratched, dented, or broken during a house move despite care being taken.

Large furniture or appliances that will not fit through the doorways, hallways, or staircase of your home.

A piano that needs moving to a different room or a new property, requiring specialist handling.

Furniture and belongings need secure storage for a period between moving out and moving into a new property.

Delicate items such as artwork, antiques, glass, or electronics that need extra care during a move.

Your planning application for an extension, loft conversion, or other work has been refused by the local authority.

Quotes for your extension are significantly higher than expected, making the project seem unaffordable.

Building work that has been done without meeting building regulations, flagged by a building control inspector or during a property sale.

Your neighbour has objected to your proposed extension or building work, potentially blocking the project.

Problems with the design or feasibility of a loft conversion, such as insufficient headroom or structural challenges.

A property survey has flagged cracks in the walls that may indicate structural issues.

A surveyor has identified signs of subsidence, which may affect the purchase or insurance of the property.

A property survey has flagged elevated moisture readings in walls, floors, or around windows.

Japanese knotweed found on or near the property during a survey, which can affect mortgages and property value.

A property survey has identified issues with the roof such as sagging, missing tiles, or deteriorated felt.

A survey has identified materials that may contain asbestos, common in properties built before 2000.

Bricks that are flaking, crumbling, or breaking apart on the face, particularly on exposed walls.

Individual bricks with cracks running through them, sometimes in a pattern across multiple bricks.

Mortar joints that are cracking, falling out, or crumbling away, leaving the brickwork exposed.

Damp, dark, or stained areas appearing on an exterior brick wall, especially after rain.

A brick wall that has tilted or is leaning away from its original vertical position.

The face of bricks flaking or breaking away in layers, leaving a rough, pitted surface.

Pools of water remaining on the lawn, patio, or paths for days after rainfall.

Water pooling on the driveway surface or running toward the house instead of draining away.

Cracks visible in the foundation walls or signs of foundation movement such as doors sticking and walls cracking.

The ground around the property slopes toward the building, directing rainwater against the walls and foundations.

A soakaway that is not absorbing water, causing surface flooding or water backing up in drains.

Roof repairs, painting, or inspection work needed at height with no safe way to access it from a ladder.

The exterior walls or windows on the upper floors need painting or maintenance but are too high to reach safely.

Chimney repointing, flashing, or cap work needed but the chimney is too high for ladder access.

Gutters on a two-storey or taller property that need cleaning or repair but are beyond safe ladder reach.

A building project such as an extension, loft conversion, or re-roof that requires scaffolding for safe working.

Cracks appearing in the external render, ranging from hairline to wide splits that expose the masonry beneath.

Sections of external render detaching and falling from the wall, exposing bare brickwork or blockwork.

Damp patches visible on internal walls that correspond to areas of external render, especially after rain.

External render developing green algae or moss growth, making the walls look dirty and neglected.

Pebbledash coating losing stones or whole sections detaching from the wall.

A visible bulge in the external render where it has separated from the wall but not yet fallen away.

Smoke from the fire or stove blowing back into the room instead of going up the chimney.

Birds have built a nest in the chimney, blocking the flue and causing noise, smell, or smoke issues.

The fire burns sluggishly with a poor draught, or the chimney does not pull smoke up effectively.

Lumps of soot or debris falling down the chimney into the fireplace, sometimes accompanied by a draught.

An unpleasant musty, smoky, or foul odour coming from the fireplace, especially in warm or humid weather.

An external drain or manhole cover with standing water, overflowing, or draining very slowly.

A strong sewage or rotten-egg smell around the outside of the property, particularly near drains or manholes.

Sewage or waste water spilling out of a drain, manhole, or inspection chamber, especially during heavy rain.

Bath or shower water taking a long time to drain away, sometimes backing up around the plughole.

Drains making gurgling or bubbling sounds when water runs out of sinks, baths, or toilets.

Tree roots have grown into the underground drain pipes, causing blockages and slow drainage.

An underground drain pipe that has broken, collapsed, or caved in, causing persistent blockages or sinkholes.

The burglar alarm sounding for no apparent reason, often at night or when the house is occupied.

Your CCTV system is not saving footage, shows a blank screen, or has stopped sending alerts.

The alarm keypad does not light up, accept codes, or respond to button presses.

Motion sensors on the alarm or outdoor lights activating when there is no one present.

The alarm panel or a sensor emitting a persistent beep, usually indicating a fault or low battery.

The TV picture freezing, pixelating, or cutting out intermittently, often worse in bad weather.

The satellite receiver showing 'no signal' or 'searching for signal' with no picture on any channel.

The TV aerial has been displaced or blown off the chimney or roof mast during a storm.

Some TV channels work fine but others show 'no signal' or are missing from the channel list.

The TV picture breaking into blocks or squares, with the sound cutting in and out.

The washing machine fills and washes but does not spin, leaving clothes soaking wet at the end of the cycle.

Dirty water sitting in the bottom of the dishwasher at the end of a cycle, or the machine stopping mid-cycle.

The oven does not reach temperature, heats unevenly, or does not heat at all when turned on.

The fridge is running but not keeping food cold, or food is going off faster than it should.

The tumble dryer runs but clothes come out still damp, or it takes much longer than usual to dry a load.

Thick ice building up inside the freezer, reducing storage space and making drawers difficult to open.

Water pooling on the floor under or around the washing machine during or after a cycle.

The EV charger does not start a charging session, shows an error, or the car does not recognise it.

The home electrics trip whenever the EV charger starts or during a charging session.

The car is charging much slower than expected, taking many hours longer than the charger's rated speed.

The EV charger unit displaying a red or amber error light, with charging not starting.

The charger's smartphone app cannot connect to the unit, preventing remote control or scheduling.

The solar panel system showing zero or very low generation despite sunny conditions.

Pigeons or other birds building nests under the gap between solar panels and the roof.

Visible crack or damage to the glass surface of a solar panel, which may reduce output.

The solar inverter displaying an error code, red light, or not operating, stopping power generation.

Solar panels producing noticeably less electricity than in previous years or compared to expected levels.

Need to prevent pigeons from nesting, roosting, and fouling under solar panels.

The heat pump is running but not producing enough heat to warm the house or hot water.

The heat pump outdoor unit producing excessive vibration, buzzing, rattling, or humming.

Heavy ice or frost forming on the outdoor heat pump unit, particularly on the coils, that does not defrost.

The heat pump controller or display showing an error or fault code, and the system stopping or reducing output.

Rooms not getting up to the temperature set on the thermostat, even after the heat pump runs for a long time.

The heat pump never seems to switch off, running 24 hours a day and driving up electricity bills.

The garage door will not open, either manually or with the electric opener, leaving the car trapped inside.

The garage door has come off its guide track on one or both sides, hanging at an angle or stuck partway.

The electric garage door opener does not respond to the remote control or wall switch.

A loud bang heard from the garage followed by the door becoming very heavy or impossible to lift.

The garage door producing loud grinding, scraping, or squealing sounds when opening or closing.

The floor in a loft conversion feels springy or bouncy when walked on, sometimes with visible flex.

A loft conversion room that is noticeably colder than the rest of the house, even with the heating on.

Moisture forming on windows, walls, or the inside of the roof slope in a loft conversion.

The loft conversion becoming uncomfortably hot in summer, making it difficult to use or sleep in.

The staircase to the loft conversion feels dangerously steep or does not meet building regulations.

Damp and discolouration on ground floor walls, typically up to about one metre from the floor, with a tide mark.

A persistent damp area at the base of an internal wall, often with peeling paint or a musty smell.

A horizontal line of discolouration or salt deposits running along the base of ground floor walls.

A persistent damp, musty, or earthy smell throughout the house or in specific rooms.

Basement walls that are visibly wet, with water seeping through or condensation forming on cold surfaces.

White, powdery, or crystalline deposits appearing on the surface of internal or external walls.

Paint blistering or bubbling on ground floor walls, sometimes with damp visible beneath the paint surface.

Rooms feeling cold even when the central heating is running at full, with high energy bills.

Upper-floor rooms feeling noticeably draughty with cold air coming in around windows, loft hatch, or eaves.

Energy bills significantly higher than expected despite normal usage, suggesting heat is escaping from the property.

Internal walls that feel cold to the touch, sometimes with condensation forming on the wall surface.

Ice or heavy condensation forming on the inside of windows overnight during cold weather.

Water pipes freezing during cold weather, causing taps to stop running and risking burst pipes.

A tree that has developed a noticeable lean, particularly after a storm, raising concerns about it falling.

Dead or dying branches hanging over the roof, driveway, or garden, posing a risk of falling.

Cracks in the house or signs of subsidence linked to tree roots growing under or near the foundations.

A large tree significantly reducing natural light to rooms, the garden, or solar panels.

A tree's branches touching or growing very close to overhead power lines, creating a safety hazard.

A tree that has been damaged by a storm, with broken branches, split trunk, or partial uprooting.

Individual patio slabs or sections of paving that have dropped, creating an uneven and sometimes dangerous surface.

Cracks appearing in paving slabs, concrete paving, or natural stone, sometimes splitting entire slabs.

Weeds pushing up through the joints between patio slabs or paving stones.

Water pooling on the patio surface or not draining away after rain, creating puddles and algae growth.

Discoloured or stained patio slabs from algae, moss, oil, rust, or other marks that look unsightly.

A garden littered with rubble, old building materials, or demolition waste that needs clearing.

A property that needs clearing of furniture, belongings, and general household items, often after a bereavement or tenancy.

Waste from a building project such as plasterboard, timber, tiles, and packaging that needs disposing.

A garage packed with accumulated items, old furniture, and general clutter that needs clearing out.

Old kitchen units, bathroom suites, tiles, and associated waste from a refit that needs removing.

Water dripping into the conservatory through the roof panels, joints, or where the conservatory meets the house wall.

The conservatory becoming unbearably hot in summer, making it unusable during warm weather.

The conservatory becoming too cold to use comfortably during autumn and winter months.

The conservatory door dragging, sticking, or not locking securely when closed.

Moisture forming on the inside of conservatory windows and roof panels, dripping onto furniture.

Gutters on the conservatory overflowing during rain, with water running down the walls or pooling at the base.