The UK’s private rental sector grapples with a surge in waiting times for contractor appointments, according to industry supplier Fixflo. 

A new report, based on analysis of 170,000 rental units, highlights a significant variation in response times between emergency and non-emergency repair requests. 

It claims emergency issues receive swift attention, underscoring the industry’s commitment to tenant safety. Conversely, non-emergency repairs may take longer.

The average time from the initial issue report to action being taken is just four days. Agents proactively reach out to tenants within two days, indicating prompt communication, and assignments to contractors typically occur within four days, showcasing efficient internal workflows.

A pressing challenge faced by the industry is the scarcity of contractors, leading to a notable increase in the time required to book appointments, which rose by nearly 15 per cent between 2021 and 2022.

However, once appointments are secured job completion times improved by eight per cent. 

A Fixflo spokesperson says: “Though our industry grapples with increased wait times for contractor appointments, our research shows that resilience and adaptability shine through.The data underscores the industry’s commitment to safety, communication, and efficiency, even in the face of these difficulties.”

You can see the full report here.