Housing

Conditions of Tenancy - Chapter 7

Repairs

Your repair responsibilities

7.1 You must repair, renew or replace as necessary any parts of the structure, installations, fixtures or fittings inside or outside the building that are damaged by you, a member of your household or someone you have allowed into the property, including children. If we carry out this work, we will expect you to pay the full cost of the repair.

7.1a If we carry out any urgent repairs that are your responsibility, we will charge you a reasonable cost, including administration costs.

7.2 You are also responsible for repairing, renewing or replacing:

Keys to door and window locks
Plugs and chains to sinks, basins and baths
Television aerials where they are not part of the shared system
Surface damage to internal plaster work you have damaged
Curtain and picture rails
Gate and shed latches, bolts and catches
Lagging and insulation where you have damaged our installation
Fuses
Cupboard catches; and
Windows

7.2a If you fail to carry out any repairs you are responsible for, we may give you 28 days' notice to do so. After this, we will carry out any outstanding work and charge you for doing so.

7.2b If you do not pay, we may apply for a money judgement order against you, which could affect your ability to get credit in the future.

7.2c If you have circumstances which make it difficult for you to carry out any repairs you are responsible for, please contact a local housing office, your community housing management team or a citizens advice bureau. We may be able to do the repair and charge you a reasonable cost, or tell you about a voluntary agency that may be able to help. You may also be entitled to benefits which increase your income.

7.2d If you, your family or visitors break the glass in a window, you will have to pay for it. If a window is broken in other circumstances, we will investigate before we replace it. We may ask you to provide a crime number, and you should report deliberate breakages by unknown people to the police.

7.3 We will provide the following items at the start of your tenancy. After that, it is your responsibility to repair or replace them.

Door handles
Inside doors (where damaged)
Sealant around sinks, baths and kitchen work surfaces
Cylinder jackets
Toilet chains and handles
Drawer handles
Door numbers and letter plates
Glazed tiles around the bath, basin or sink
Kitchen units
Toilet seats

7.4 You are responsible for:

Removing scale from taps, sinks, baths and toilet pans with descaler; and
Lubricating hinges and locks

7.5 You are responsible for looking after keys for door and window locks, and for providing extra locks.

7.6 You must take reasonable steps to avoid moisture building up (condensation) in the property and causing damage.

7.6a To stop moisture building up, we suggest that you follow these steps.

Keep the property reasonably well ventilated. Rooms that need the most ventilation include your bathroom and kitchen because of bathing, washing, drying clothes indoors and cooking. Open windows and doors where possible, and use an extractor fan if there is one in your property
Do not use unvented tumble dryers, cylinder gas heaters or cookers, paraffin heaters or other appliances that produce moisture without proper ventilation during and after use
Do not block air vents or other ventilation
Keep the property suitably heated by using any heating we have provided in your property
Do not overcrowd your property
Prevent damage to woodwork and plaster work by regularly wiping down and drying any surfaces and windows where moisture settles. If mould develops, you must clean it off using a suitable solution (that is, 1 part household bleach to 5 parts water)
Take reasonable steps to prevent heat loss. For example, fit draught-excluder strips to the letter box, outside doors and window frames

7.7 You must maintain any garage, shed, outbuilding or fencing you are responsible for.

7.8 You, your friends and relatives, and any other person living in or visiting the property (including children), must not cause damage to any of our buildings or property.

7.9 You must take reasonable steps to prevent pipes freezing in winter, particularly by using any heating we have provided in your property.

7.9a If you have a burst pipe, put something under the leak to catch the water, turn off the water supply at the stopcock and contact your local housing office.

We will tell you where the stopcock is at the start of your tenancy. If you need any more advice, please contact your local housing office.

7.10 You are responsible for:

Properly plumbing in washing machines and other appliances
Connecting gas appliances you own (using a CORGI-registered engineer); and
Replacing any pipe work that is damaged

7.10a Gas appliances must be installed by a qualified CORGI-registered person. Ask at your local housing office for advice.

7.11 You must take reasonable steps to prevent blockages in waste pipes (for example, to a sink, basin or toilet) or outside drains, and to remove any blockages in sink and bath pipes.

7.12 If you have an open fire, or a gas fire you have installed and which belongs to you, you must sweep chimneys and fireplaces and keep them clean and clear.

7.12a If we carry out any repairs as a result of you failing to properly sweep and clear chimneys and fireplaces, we will charge you a reasonable cost for doing so.

7.12b This includes fitting gas appliances other than cookers, for example, gas boilers, fires, central-heating systems, gas refrigerators, gas tumble dryers or gas washing machines.

7.13 You are responsible for any step, path or paving that is not an essential access route to your property.

7.14 You must not make any changes to the structure of the property, its fixtures, fittings, doors, boundary fence or wall, or anything connected with providing services to the property, without getting our permission in writing beforehand. If we give you permission, we may set certain conditions that you must meet.

7.14a In the interest of fire safety, you must not remove or replace any doors without our permission.

7.14b We will not refuse our permission unreasonably.

7.14c If you do make changes without our permission, we may restore the property to how it was and charge you a reasonable cost for doing so.

7.14d If we give our written permission for structural changes, you will need to find out if you need planning permission, and get this if necessary. You will also need to follow building regulations. This includes all your own gas and electrical appliances.

7.15 You must not fit a citizens band (CB) radio aerial or satellite dish at the property without our written permission and the relevant planning permission.

7.16 Any work you have done at your property must be carried out by a qualified and suitably experienced person. If we find work has been carried out in a way that has, or could, damage the property or cause danger to someone, we will insist that you sort out the problem. If you do not, we may deal with it and charge you a reasonable cost for doing so.

7.16a You may have repairs that are your responsibility carried out by any qualified and reliable person. We have the right to inspect repairs after they have been completed.

7.17 You are responsible for repairing and maintaining all improvements and fixtures and fittings you install at the property.

7.18 You must not remove or disconnect any mains-operated smoke detector we have fitted.

7.18a We will maintain mains-operated smoke detectors.

7.19 You must maintain any battery-operated smoke detectors. (This includes changing the batteries).

7.20 You are responsible for repairs, which would not have been necessary if you had given us notice about another repair.

7.20a You must contact us as soon as you are aware of a repair.

7.21 You are responsible for repairs, which either would not have been necessary at all or would not have been as serious if you had given us notice earlier. For example, if you notice but fail to report a leaking pipe, which then causes damage to decorations and plaster work over a period of time, we may decide to charge you for carrying out the work.

7.22 You should insure the contents of your home. We do not insure your contents and if you suffer loss because of, for example, a burglary or flood damage, you will need to make a claim from your own insurance policy. If you damage other people's property, for example, by your washing machine flooding the flat below, you may have to pay compensation and you will need enough insurance cover for this type of risk as well.

Our repair responsibilities|

Telling us about repairs|

Period for completing repairs|

Access to inspect and repair|

Temporary alternative accommodation during major work|

Housing

Conditions of Tenancy - Chapter 7

Repairs

Your repair responsibilities

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