Repairs - your responsibilities
You are responsible, at your own expense, for repairing all damage to council property caused through neglect, carelessness, or misuse, even if the repair is one which the council would normally carry out (clause 2.11a of your tenancy terms and conditions).
If you fail to carry out this work the council can give you a notice requiring you to carry it out and, if you fail to do this, the council can enter your home to carry out the works and charge you a reasonable sum for it (clause 2.11b).
You will also be required to pay for the cost to the council of putting right any damage to the property at the end of the tenancy (clause 2.11e).
You may also carry out the following minor repairs which are not covered by the council's responsibilities:
- Draught exclusion, provided the doors and windows fit reasonably
- fitting TV aerials / satellite dishes (subject to the council's permission)
- repairing minor cracks to plaster
- adapting doors to accommodate carpets
- fixing minor gaps between skirting boards and doors
- fitting extra catches and safety devices to doors and windows and installing burglar alarms
- replacing locks if you lose your keys
- plumbing in washing machines and dishwashers
- supplying and fitting things like shower heads, toilet seats, bathroom cabinets, towel rails, toilet roll holders, mirrors, plugs and chains on sinks, baths and basins, curtain rails, washing lines, tidy-driers, rotary driers, plugs, light fittings, shelving and coat and hat hooks
- repairs and replacement of all floor coverings, for example carpets, vinyl, hardwood or laminated floorboards (subject to our permission).
BHP will only provide keys and fobs free-of-charge to new tenants. If you lose your keys or need additional copies you will have to buy them. Please contact either of the repairs teams for further information on prices and details.