Tenants Repairs Responsibilities

Your general responsibilities

You have certain general responsibilities:

  • To keep your property clean and in good decorative order inside, including repairing minor cracks or holes in walls or ceilings.
  • To take action to prevent waste pipes (from sinks, baths or toilets) or drains becoming blocked. See Handy hints on page 59 of your tenancy handbook.
  • To allow us access to your property to carry out repairs, annual safety checks and any inspections that are necessary.
  • To repair and maintain any fixture, fitting or appliance you have put including wastes, supply pipework and vents for washing machines, dishwashers and tumble driers.
  • To take action to prevent and control condensation, see Handy hints on page 63 of your tenancy handbook.
  • To take action to prevent pipes from freezing or bursting, mainly by using the heating system provided and lagging pipes.
  • To make sure that no-one who lives in or visits your home causes any damage.

Damage and Charging

If you, or anyone in your home (Including visitors and children), cause damage to your home, we expect you to arrange and pay for it to be repaired. You can get a good local contractor in or ask us to do the work. If you want us to do it you will have to pay the full cost before we start. If, for reasons of safety and security, we have to do repairs you are responsible for, we may charge you for the work. If the damage is caused by a break-in or vandalism, we may arrange to have it repaired but you may have to pay for it. However, if you get a Crime Report Number from the Police you may be able to claim back the repair cost on your home contents insurance.

If you decide to leave your home, we will charge you for any repairs that need to be done because you have not looked after it properly.

Your responsibilities in your home

You are responsible for keeping your home clean and properly decorated, and for some repairs:

  • Replacing lost or stolen keys, and changing locks if you get locked out.
  • Fitting extra locks, doorbells, letterboxes, spyholes and door knockers.
  • Replacing light bulbs.
  • Repairing or replacing inside doors and door frames, skirting boards, curtain rails, shelves and bath panels.
  • Repairing and replacing kitchen and bathroom cupboards.
  • Replacing handles, locks, catches and glass on internal doors, windows and cupboards.
  • Repairing privacy panels and fences between neighbouring gardens, and any paths which are not main paths to your door.
  • Rewashing dripping taps.
  • Replacing toilet seats and toilet roll holders.
  • Trying to clear blockages in wastepipes or toilets.
  • Repairing wall plaster or plasterboard walls.
  • Replacing plugs or chains to baths, basins and sinks.
  • Putting up TV aerials or satellite dishes (You need our permission before you do this).
  • Replacing batteries in battery operated smoke detectors.
  • Replacing ceramic tiles on walls or fire surrounds.
  • Replacing floor covering such as tiles, carpets or laminate.

If you are elderly or disabled and have no-one who can help you, we may do some tasks for you, or put you in touch with other organisations that can help.