WhatsApp messages in a landlord or tenant dispute
The repair you reported at 7am, the rent he said he'd knock off, the photo of the damp. If you stop agreeing about what was said, the answer is in your chat.
One voice note said one thing, and the next said the opposite
Maya's boiler breaks in January. On Tuesday, 13 January 2026 Tom tells her in a voice note to buy heaters and take the cost off the rent. A week later, in another voice note, he says he never agreed to that.
You can't quote audio on a phone. Written out in date order, each note has a number anyone can look up. Read the whole chat.
Tuesday, 13 January 2026
Tom Hartley18:42:54
Voice note: 00000021-AUDIO-2026-01-13-18-42-10.m4a
Hi Maya, it's Tom. Look, I've spoken to the engineer and he says the part has to be ordered, so it won't be this week. I know it's cold. Get yourself a couple of electric heaters and keep the receipts, and I'll take the cost off February's rent. And you don't need to pay the full rent until this is fixed, we'll sort it out when it's working again.
Maya Lindqvist19:10:10
OK. Thank you. So I buy heaters, keep the receipts, and you take them off February's rent?
Tom Hartley19:24:48
Yep 👍
Tuesday, 20 January 2026
Tom Hartley08:15:45
Voice note: 00000034-AUDIO-2026-01-20-08-15-33.m4a
Morning. So the engineer came yesterday and he says the boiler's actually fine now, the pressure was low, that's all it was. So I don't think there's anything to take off the rent. I never agreed to anything like that. Just top up the pressure next time.
The same man, a week later
Your chat, as a timeline
Whoever reads your complaint needs the story on one page. Here's Maya's, with each line pointing to the message that backs it up.
| Date | Message | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan | 2 | Maya reports that the boiler has stopped and there's no heating or hot water. |
| 12 Jan | 13 | The engineer gets it running and says a part needs replacing. |
| 13 Jan | 17 | Tom says in a voice note to buy heaters and that he'll take the cost off February's rent. |
| 13 Jan | 18–19 | Maya repeats it back in writing. Tom replies "Yep". |
| 14 Jan | 20 | Maya buys two heaters for £84.98 and says she's kept the receipt. |
| 15 Jan | 21–22 | Maya sends a photo of the damp on the bathroom ceiling. |
| 20 Jan | 28 | Tom says in a voice note that he never agreed to anything like that. |
| 26 Jan | 35–36 | Maya sends a photo of the engineer's job sheet saying the valve needs replacing. |
| 3 Feb | 45 | With the valve fitted, Maya notes 26 days in total and takes the £84.98 off the rent. |
What to look for in your own chat
The first report
The date you first told them, in your own words, and each time you chased it. This shows how long the problem went on and that they knew.
Promises and agreements
Anything about rent reductions, repayments, who pays for what, or when someone will come. A voice note counts.
Access and contractors
Times you offered to let someone in, appointments that were missed and replies from the engineer.
Photos and readings
Damp, mould, broken fittings, meter readings and thermometers, with the message that explains each one.
Money
Rent paid, deposits, deductions and receipts for things you bought. Keep your bank statements alongside the chat.
Moving in and moving out
Inventory photos, the state of the place and anything said about the deposit when you left.
What to do from today
- Report problems in writing, with the date and what's wrong, even if you also phone.
- After a phone call or a visit, send a short message saying what was agreed. A reply of "yes" or "ok" is worth a lot later on.
- Check that disappearing messages are off, and export the chat with media before things get worse.
- Keep receipts, your tenancy agreement and any letters together with the export.
- Stay polite. Whoever reads the record reads your messages too.
- Before you hold back rent or leave, talk to a tenants' adviser or a lawyer. This guide isn't legal advice.
Common questions
Can I stop paying rent if my landlord doesn't fix something?
Ask a tenants' adviser or a lawyer before you hold anything back. In many places, withholding rent can put your tenancy at risk even when the repair complaint is justified, and the rules differ widely.
Who would look at a record of the chat?
It depends on where you live. People commonly show this kind of evidence to a council or housing officer, a tenants' advice service, a deposit scheme, a mediator, a tribunal or a court. Ask them what format they want before you send anything.
I'm the landlord. Does this work for me too?
Yes. A record shows the whole conversation, whoever orders it. Late rent, reported damage, agreed access and promises to pay can all be in the chat, and the same steps apply.
Read your chat with your landlord
Search it for the word you remember, and play the voice notes. It's free and it stays on your device.