If repairs are urgent
If the state of disrepair is likely to cause injury to people or property, a tenant can have repair work done and ask the landlord to pay them for it. A landlord must also pay the tenant back for any urgent repair work the tenant had to have done, as long as the tenant made reasonable attempts to let the landlord know first.
Both landlords and tenants need insurance in case of damage
Insurance explains about the importance of having insurance.