Tenant handbook - repairs and maintenance

Responsibility for looking after your home is shared with us.

You are responsible for some repairs which include:

• lost, stolen or broken keys/door entry fobs (this includes gaining entry)
• TV aerials (except for communal blocks and sheltered properties)
• decoration and floor coverings
• light bulbs
• washing line posts and rotary driers (except those in communal areas)

A full list of repairs that we are responsible for carrying out and those that you are responsible for as a tenant can be obtained by contacting our Housing Maintenance Team on 0800 111 4484.

Neglect

If we need to carry out work because of neglect or intentional damage, we will charge you unless there are special circumstances.

Charges are made to ensure that tenants who cause damage to council properties are held accountable.

This includes damage caused by tenants, a member of your household, visitors to the property or pets.

Paying for rechargeable repairs

After a rechargeable repair has been carried out, our Housing Income Team will add the cost of the repair to your rent account, in a separate sub-account, and will send you an invoice.

If your rent account is in credit, we will ask if we can take the payment from the credit on your rent account.

If you do not respond after 28 days we will use the credit to pay all or part of the cost.

We will not send you an invoice.

If you pay your rent by direct debit, we will give you 28 days’ notice in writing that we plan to add the cost to your monthly direct debit.

If you do not contact us we will spread the cost over your remaining direct debit payments for the rest of that financial year.

We will tell you what your new monthly payments will be. We will take legal action to recover the cost of rechargeable repairs if they are not paid.

Limiting damage to your home

If damage is being caused to your personal property while you are waiting for a repair to be made, you must take whatever action you can to limit the extent of the damage.

For example, this could mean moving furniture or other items affected.

Before you move in

We have an agreed standard that our empty properties must meet before they are let.

This standard ensures all the necessary work and checks have been carried out before a tenant moves in so that the property is clean, safe and fit to live in.

You can request a copy of the Empty Properties Lettable Standard from your Neighbourhood Officer.