Housing repairs

You are responsible for different types of repairs inside your home, depending on if you are a tenant or leaseholder.

Repairs tenants are responsible for:

• filling minor cracks in internal plasterwork including preparatory work for redecoration
• replacing lost or broken keys
• replacing fuses
• changing light bulbs.
• replacing toilet seats.
• replacing plugs and chains to sanitary ware
• replacing clothes lines in individual gardens
• decoration and floor covering 
• television aerials (general needs non communal)
• curtain rails and pelmets
• toilet seats
• damage caused by you (or your visitors) by not taking care of your home

Repairs leaseholders are responsible for:

• internal doors and catches, including cupboards
• internal glazing
• skirting boards
• internal door and window frames (known as architraves)
• bath panels
• toilet seats
• pPlugs and chains to sinks and baths
• curtain rails and pelmets
• internal decorations and finishes
• repairs to doors and drawers of kitchen units
• letter boxes (you should seek advice from the council if your letter box is damaged or before changing or repairing your letter box as changes may affect the fire or smoke resistance of your front door)
• replacing light bulbs and fluorescent tubes
• plumbing installed for washing machines and dishwashers, unless these have been fitted by the council
• electrics inside your home, including your doorbell
• independent central heating system, heaters and fires
• floorboards and tiles
• partitions inside your home
• plasterboard and plastering
• repairs to the entrance door to your home (you should seek advice from the council if the entrance door to your home is damaged or before changing or repairing this door as changes may affect the fire or smoke resistance of your entrance door)
• chimney sweeping
• damage caused by you (or your visitors) by not taking care of your home
• any extra items that were left with your permission at the beginning or your tenancy, e.g. a shower or other fittings or fixtures

You are also responsible for your own contents insurance. We do not provide contents cover on for damage to your possessions in the property, regardless of cause.

If you are not sure if a repair is your responsibility or ours, please contact us on housingmaintenance@welhat.gov.uk or call us on 0800 111 4484.

If we carry out repairs that are your responsibility, we will recharge the cost to you. The amount that we will charge depends on the type and extent of work.