Repairs - your responsibilities
We carry out structural repairs to your home, including drains,
gutters and outside pipes and repairs to installations for water,
gas, electricity, drainage, heating and hot water and some
fittings.
You are responsible for some repairs in your home. A
list of these is outlined below. If you are on a low income we can
give you advice about voluntary groups that may be able to
help.
Electrics
You are responsible for:
- Changing plugs on electrical appliances;
- Replacing fuses and resetting trip switches;
- Replacing tubes in fluorescent lighting;
- Replacing the batteries in smoke alarms; and
- Repairing or replacing immersion heater elements if gas is your
main fuel for heating and hot water.
Apart from replacing light bulbs, fluorescent
tubes, batteries, plugs and fuses, all electrical work must be done
by a qualified electrician who is approved by us.
Plumbing and Drainage
You are responsible for:
- Clearing blockages in sink, bath and basin wastepipes;
- Replacing the washers on dripping taps;
- Replacing plugs and chains in sinks, baths and basins;
- Replacing the grids over drains;
- Clearing any blockages in outside gullies;
- Clearing blocked toilet pans if you live in a house or
bungalow.
Private Gardens
You are responsible for:
- Keeping the garden clean and tidy, including cutting the grass
and trimming the hedges;
- Repairing footpaths, yards and patios that are not the main
access to front or back doors;
- Replacing clothes posts, pulleys and washing lines;
- Keeping air bricks clean;
- Cleaning the frames of your double-glazed windows.
- Repairing or replacing gates and fencing.
We will repair any fences that border a public footpath. In
other cases, we may supply you with fencing materials to match
other fences in the area, for you to put up.
We will not supply fencing materials which are over 1200mm (4
feet) high.
Repairs and Maintenance
You are responsible for the following:
- Making sure that double-glazed windows and doors are regularly
maintained, cleaned and oiled to keep them working properly;
- Minor repairs to inside doors and frames, including adjusting
doors to close over carpets;
- Repairing or replacing locks, latches, keys, handles, bolts,
letter boxes, numbers, peep holes, security chains, knockers and
bells;
- Repairing and adjusting kitchen units, cupboards, drawers,
doors, shelves and worktops;
- Replacing wall tiles;
- Repairing or replacing toilet seats;
- All decorations inside your home, including repairing surface
cracks and holes in walls and ceilings;
- Replacing broken tiles on fire hearths and surrounds;
- £25 towards the cost of any damage to glass and
double-glazing.
You must pay even if you did not cause the damage.
We will pay the rest of the bill and arrange for the work to be
done.
If you have solid-fuel heating or open fires you are also
responsible for:
- Replacing ash pans and fire tools; and
- Sweeping the chimney if it needs sweeping more than once a year
(we will sweep your chimney once a year as part of our solid-fuel
service contract)
General
- You are also responsible for any damage that has been caused by
neglect or misuse, even if the damage was accidental. If necessary
you will have to replace damaged items that cannot be
repaired.
- You must also make your own arrangements to get rid of pests
such as fleas, ants and wasps.