Repair Request Letter to the Building Committee

Looking for a repair request letter to the building committee? Here is a ready-to-use letter demanding the repair of a defect in the common property — a leak in the stairwell, lighting that doesn’t work, a loose railing or any other defect. Copy it with one click, print it or download it as a Word file, fill in the details in the square brackets — and your request is documented and tidy.

To The building committee (va'ad bayit) [Address]   Re: Request to repair a defect in the common property   1. I would like to bring to your attention that at [Location of the defect] there is a defect of the following kind: [Description of the defect], present since at least [Approximate date].   2. The defect causes [Nuisance or hazard], including [Brief details].   3. The proper maintenance of the common property and the repair of defects in it rest with the committee, out of the shared fund, in accordance with the Land Law and the building's bylaws.   4. I would ask you to arrange a professional and have the defect repaired within [Number] days. I will gladly coordinate access and help in any way needed.   5. Photos of the defect taken on [Photo date] are attached.   With thanks in advance and neighborly regards, [Full name], apartment [Apartment number], tel. [Phone] Date: [Date]

Fill in the details — the notice updates automatically:

Illustration of a stairwell wall with a damp stain and a dripping pipe, next to a repair request document with a wrench symbol

How to write a repair request to the committee — and what speeds up the fix

When a defect appears in the common property — a leak in the stairwell, a burnt-out light, a loose railing — the responsibility for the repair rests with the building committee, out of the shared fund, not with the resident who spotted the problem. A tidy written request speeds up the handling, and no less important: it documents the date on which the committee knew about the defect — a critical reference point if the damage worsens or escalation becomes necessary.

Include four details in the request: the exact location of the defect, a short businesslike description, how long it has existed by your estimate, and a reasonable deadline for handling it. Attach dated photos — such documentation matters especially with damp problems, where ongoing damage worsens over time, and it saves arguments about “how urgent it really is”. Close on a neighborly note: offering to coordinate access and to help lowers resistance and speeds up the repair.

If the committee does not act within a reasonable time, send a written reminder with a deadline — and if that too goes unanswered, you can apply to the Supervisor of Land Registration (the Mefakeach) to compel the committee to act. In such a proceeding, the written record of your earlier requests, with the dates and photos, is your central evidence — one more reason to start with a proper letter rather than a hallway conversation.

Mind the distinction: a defect in the common property (roof, main plumbing, stairwell, lobby, elevator) is fixed from the committee’s fund; damage caused to a private apartment as a result — for example damp that penetrated into the apartment — is a question of liability and insurance, and sometimes involves the building’s joint structure insurance. In a dispute over the source of the defect or the extent of the damage, consult a professional (leak detection, an appraiser) or a lawyer. This wording is a general template and not legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for fixing a leak in the stairwell — the committee or the residents?

The building committee (va’ad bayit), out of the shared fund. The stairwell, the roof, the main plumbing and the lobby are common property, and maintaining them is exactly what the building fees are for.

What do you do if the committee ignores the repair request?

Send a written reminder with a deadline, and if there is no response — you can apply to the Supervisor of Land Registration to compel the committee to carry out the repair. The written record of your earlier requests will serve you there.

Should I attach photos to a request to the committee?

Yes, always. Dated photos make the severity of the defect clear, save arguments about urgency, and document the state of the defect at the time of the request — important if the damage worsens.

How much time is reasonable to give the committee to fix a defect?

It depends on the defect: a safety hazard (loose railing, emergency lighting) justifies a few days; an active leak — up to two weeks; a cosmetic defect can wait for a batched fix. State an explicit, reasonable deadline in the letter — an excessive demand weakens the request, while a reasonable deadline that wasn’t honored strengthens your position later.

What do I do when a defect in the common property damages my own apartment?

Document the damage with dated photos, demand in writing that the source (the defect in the common property) be fixed, and check the structure insurance coverage — the building’s and the apartment’s. If the damage continues because the committee failed to act in time, there may be grounds to demand a share of the costs — at that stage it’s worth consulting a lawyer.

Key Takeaways

  • Repairing defects in the common property rests with the committee and is paid from the committee’s fund
  • A written request documents the date the committee knew about the defect — critical if the damage worsens
  • Attach dated photos and state the location, description, how long it has existed and a reasonable repair deadline
  • No response? A written reminder, and after it — an application to the Supervisor of Land Registration
  • The template here is free — copy, print, or download as Word

Related Templates

All templates for building committees →

Is your building committee still managing requests and repairs with sticky notes and an overloaded WhatsApp group? With a digital notice board for your building, updates on repairs and faults go up on the screen at the entrance — transparent to all residents, updated remotely in seconds.

Want your notices on a smart digital board? See the GoMixApp board →

Need a digital signage system? For more details fill in your details and we will get back to you shortly.