Report property defects clearly and get them fixed faster
Stop sending texts into the void. Defectly gives you a proper way to report defects to your landlord or property manager - with photos, status updates, and a clear record of every defect.
Free for tenantsReport from your phoneSee real-time status updates
Repair Reported
Leaking tap - kitchen
Why tenants use Defectly
Report From Your Phone
See a problem? Open Defectly, take a photo, describe it, and submit. Your landlord or property manager is notified immediately.
Track Your Reports
See the status of every defect you have reported. Know when it has been acknowledged, when a contractor has been assigned, and when it is fixed.
Photo Evidence
Attach photos to every report. Clear visual evidence helps your landlord understand the problem and speeds up the repair process.
Stay Informed
Get notifications when your defect status changes. No more wondering if your landlord even received your message.
Written Record
Every report, comment, and status change is logged. If you ever need to prove you reported a defect, the evidence is there.
Rate the Repair
After a contractor completes work at your property, share your experience. Help other tenants find reliable trades.
A better way to report property defects
The usual experience
Scattered across chats, calls, and memory
Reports arrive everywhere. Photos live in someone's phone. Nobody knows whose turn it is.
WhatsApp · Tue 22:14hi the tap in the bathroom is leaking again?? getting worse
Email · no replyRE: RE: FWD: Flat 4 repair · did anyone call the plumber back?
Sticky noteCall Dave re: leak. Or was it Steve? Get 2nd quote!!
Photos · camera rollIMG_4471.jpg · IMG_4472.jpg · sent to… somebody, probably
Missed call · Fri 08:02Unknown contractor · no voicemail
Send a text or email to your landlord and hope for a response
No way to know if your report was received or acted on
Repairs take weeks with no updates or communication
No record of what you reported or when
Disagreements about what was promised
With Defectly
One timeline, from report to resolution
Every action stamped, every person notified, every photo attached, automatically.
Tue 22:14
Defect reported · DEF-091
Leaking tap, Bathroom · 3 photos · severity: medium
Wed 09:30
2 quotes received, 1 approved
J. Mitchell & Sons · £180 · booked Thu 9am
Thu 11:05
Repair completed & verified
After photos uploaded · landlord signed off
Thu 11:06
Everyone notified, contractor rated
Tenant, landlord & agent updated · 5.0 review left
Submit a structured report with photos and a clear description
Instant notification to your landlord or property manager
Real-time status updates as the repair progresses
Full timeline of every report, comment, and action
Clear written record that both parties can reference
Tenant FAQs
Reporting repairs - answered
Do I need my landlord's permission to use Defectly?
No. Tenants can sign up for free and start documenting defects immediately. If your landlord or property manager is also on Defectly, your reports go straight into their dashboard. If not, you still have a private timestamped record with photos to refer to if you ever need to escalate.
What are my rights as a tenant when reporting repairs in the UK?
Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, your landlord is responsible for keeping the structure, exterior, sanitation and heating of your home in repair. Defectly helps you create the evidential record you need if you ever have to escalate to environmental health or the housing ombudsman.
How long does my landlord have to respond to a repair report?
Response times depend on the severity. Emergency repairs (e.g. burst pipes, no heat in winter) should be addressed within 24 hours. Urgent repairs within 7 days; routine within 28 days. Defectly timestamps every report so you can demonstrate the delay if your landlord misses these windows.
Can I report repairs anonymously to a property manager?
Reports inside Defectly are not anonymous - your landlord or property manager will see who reported the defect. However, your report stays private to you and them. Other tenants on the property cannot see your reports unless you share them.
What if my landlord refuses to fix something?
Use Defectly to build a clear timeline of reports, photos and unanswered messages. This evidence is valuable when escalating to the housing ombudsman, your local council's environmental health team, or in any future legal proceedings.
Is Defectly really free for tenants?
Yes. Your first property is free and no card is required to sign up. You get unlimited defects, 200 MB of photo storage, status tracking and the contractor directory. Paying only becomes relevant if you look after more than one property, which is a landlord problem rather than a tenant one.
