Legal Definitions - want of repair

Want of repair refers to a condition where something is defective or damaged because it has not received the necessary maintenance or upkeep. This lack of repair often renders the item, property, or infrastructure unsafe, unusable, or significantly impairs its intended function.

• Example 1: Residential Property

  Imagine a tenant living in an apartment building where the heating system has been malfunctioning for several weeks during winter. Despite repeated requests from the tenant, the landlord has failed to call a technician or replace faulty parts, leading to consistently cold temperatures inside the apartment and a risk of burst pipes.

  This situation illustrates "want of repair" because the landlord's inaction and failure to address the broken heating system (a lack of necessary repair) created a defective and uncomfortable living condition, potentially making the property uninhabitable.

• Example 2: Commercial Equipment

  Consider a restaurant kitchen where a commercial refrigerator's door seal has been torn for months. The restaurant owner has neglected to replace it, causing the refrigerator to constantly leak cold air, struggle to maintain proper temperatures, and consume excessive electricity. Eventually, some stored food spoils due to inadequate cooling.

  This is an example of "want of repair" because the owner's failure to replace the damaged door seal (a lack of necessary repair) led to the refrigerator's defective operation, compromising food safety and increasing operational costs.

• Example 3: Public Facilities

  A local library has a main staircase with several loose handrails and cracked steps that have been present for over a year. Despite numerous complaints from patrons, the city council responsible for the library's upkeep has not allocated funds or scheduled repairs, making the staircase a tripping hazard for visitors, especially the elderly or those with mobility issues.

  This scenario demonstrates "want of repair" because the city council's neglect in fixing the deteriorating staircase (a lack of necessary repair) resulted in a defective and unsafe condition within a public facility, posing a risk to its users.