Looking after your home
Find out about which repairs you can do yourself, which you need to ask permission for and chargeable repairs in the event of your home being neglected or deliberately damaged.
What repairs do I need to pay for?
Most people take pride in their homes, however there are a few who damage things deliberately or neglect their homes. It’s not fair for other tenants to pick up the bill for this, so people who cause damage are responsible for paying for the repairs.
These are called ‘Chargeable Repairs’ and includes anything that has been damaged through misuse, neglect or accidental damage such as smashed windows/doors or lost keys.
Your tenancy agreement lets you know in more detail which repairs you are responsible for and which ones you have to pay for.
Tenant alterations
Tenants may often wish to make improvements to their homes. In these cases you must contact us with details of the improvement before making any changes.
We will consider your plans and write to you to give consent to go ahead with any work. This is to protect the integrity and safety of your home and to protect you as a tenant.
SLH will not be responsible for the repair and maintenance of any alteration or improvement made by yourself. We will pre and post-inspect all completed works and reserve the right to carry out any remedial works as necessary if we believe the work has not been carried out properly, endangers health and safety or does not comply with our consent. Any remedial works will be recharged to the tenant.
If you are in any doubt about repairs or alterations to your home please read your tenancy agreement or get in touch.
Roles and responsibilities: Who does what?
We have created a guide to help you understand which jobs in and around your home are your responsibility as customers, and which jobs are the responsibility of SLH as your landlord.
The guidance on this page refers to items that are fitted as standard to SLH homes. Tenants are responsible for the repair or replacement of items that they fit themselves, or items that have been previously fitted to the home and gifted to the tenant by SLH.
Responsibility for these items will be agreed and signed for by the tenant at the start of their tenancy.
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Roof covering, roof structure, chimney repairs & leaks |
No |
Yes |
|
Gutter & gully repairs and clearance of blockages causing a building defect |
No |
Yes |
|
Rainwater pipe - make safe defective rain water goods, soffit and fascia |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Structural issues, significant render & brickwork repairs |
No |
Yes |
|
External façade & wooden cladding |
No |
Yes |
|
Failed damp proof course repairs |
No |
Yes |
|
Penetrating dampness repairs |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Removal of dangerous fencing, gates, gate posts and boundary walls etc. |
No |
Yes |
|
Minor repair of fencing, gates, gate posts and boundary walls, etc. (Only in limited specific circumstances will SLH carry out fencing works outside of our planned investment programme) |
No |
Yes |
|
Minor repair of communal area fencing, gates, gate posts and boundary walls, etc. |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Make safe health and safety related concerns, such as removing trip hazards from paths and walkways (to paved areas provided by SLH). |
No |
Yes |
|
Make safe health and safety related concerns, such as removing trip hazards from paths and walkways (to paved areas provided by you or your family). |
Yes |
No |
|
Repair or replacement of communal area paving, tarmac or turf. |
No |
Yes |
|
Providing new areas of paving or tarmac in order to create patios or driveways, or laying turf in your own garden. |
Yes |
No |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Deal with health and safety-related hazards |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of outhouse items e.g. locks and fittings, windows, doors, finishes, etc. |
Yes |
No |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Repair or replacement of garage internal elements inclusive of door locks and fittings, finishes, etc. |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of garage external items inclusive of roof, rainwater goods, brickwork, door, window etc. |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Bin - repair or replacement of bins to individual house or flat |
Yes |
No |
|
TV aerial - repair or replacement of TV aerials or satellite dishes serving an individual house or flat |
Yes |
No |
|
Washing line - repair or replacement of washing lines and rotary dryers to an individual house or flat |
Yes |
No |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Maintenance of trees, grass, hedges, shrubs where there isn't a grounds maintenance contract in place |
Yes |
No |
|
Maintenance of trees causing structural damage or where tree is diseased, dangerous or damaged |
No |
Yes |
|
Removal or control of invasive weeds i.e. Japanese Knotweed |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Within boundary - blocked or leaking foul drain, soil stack etc |
No |
Yes |
|
Outside boundary - blocked or leaking shared foul drain outside (United Utilities responsibility – SLH will report if made aware) |
Yes |
No |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Loss of water supply, leaks to water pipes and water tanks (within the boundary up to the stop-tap in street) |
No |
Yes |
|
Installation of new pipework and fittings (e.g. washing machines, dishwashers) |
Yes |
No |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Boarding up of broken glazing |
No |
Yes |
|
Re-glaze windows if crime reference number provided (if no crime reference provided customer issued with a recharge) |
No |
Yes |
|
Re-glaze windows if caused by damage/abuse |
Yes |
No |
|
Replacement of failed double glazed units |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Repair or replacement of window inclusive of frame, external sealant, sash, sill, window board, operating mechanisms, restrictor catch, window handle, casement fastener |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of internal sealant, window ironmongery inclusive of locks, replacement keys, casement stay |
No |
Yes |
|
Window restrictors in blocks |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Repair or replacement of external doors inclusive of frame, threshold, weatherboard, hinges and operating mechanisms such as door handles, multi-point locks, and suited lock systems |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of door locks, replacement of keys, letter plate, number plate, security chain, spy hole and other associated door ironmongery |
No |
Yes |
|
Replacement locks due to lost keys or locked out |
Yes |
No |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Repairs or replacement of fire doors inclusive of fittings and fixtures that provide fire protection i.e. letter box, spy hole, emergency latch, spring door closer, single push bar, overhead door closer, intumescent fire strip and smoke seals etc. |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Gas leaks - should be reported immediately to 0800 111 999 |
No |
Yes |
|
Blocked flues |
No |
Yes |
|
Leaks to heating pipes and radiators |
No |
Yes |
|
Repairs to heating appliances - boiler, electric fire, storage heaters |
No |
Yes |
|
Bleeding of radiators |
Yes |
No |
|
Repair or fitting of cookers and cooker connections such as bayonet fittings |
Yes |
No |
|
Upgrading existing and installing new heating appliances |
No |
Yes |
|
Communal area meter cupboards including lock |
No |
Yes |
|
External meter cupboards serving individual home (except locks) |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Unsafe electrical power supply or fittings e.g. unsafe wiring, sockets, light fittings, extractor fans, etc. |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair of essential electrical items - consumer units, sockets, light fittings, starter motors, extractor fans, tv sockets, etc. |
No |
Yes |
|
Replacement of light bulbs - (except Independent Living schemes or sealed light fittings) |
Yes |
No |
|
Repair or replacement of hard wired door bells |
Yes |
No |
|
Burglar alarms or other security devices |
Yes |
No |
|
Repair or replacement of security lights |
No |
Yes |
|
Fitting of additional sockets, light fittings, extractor fans, etc. |
Yes |
No |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Repair or replacement of mains-operated interlinked smoke detectors |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of battery-operated smoke detectors |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors |
No |
Yes |
|
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
Leaks to basins, sinks, baths, showers and toilets, and associated internal pipework |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of basins, sinks, baths, showers and toilets |
No |
Yes |
|
Blocked toilets, basins, sinks, baths, showers and level access shower wet room gullies. (Customers should first attempt to clear the blockage and ensure that they do not flush items that are not suitable e.g. wet wipes) |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of taps |
No |
Yes |
|
Replacement of plug, chain, bath panel and tap washers |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of shower curtains |
Yes |
No |
|
Repair or replacement of level-access shower or wet room non-slip flooring |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of shower (where fitted by SLH) |
No |
Yes |
|
Toilet seats |
Yes |
No |
|
Communal toilet seats |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Major wall and ceiling plaster work defects i.e. scratch coat repairs, holes greater than 1cm, cracks greater than 5mm wide, coving and mouldings |
No |
Yes |
|
Minor wall and ceiling plaster work defects i.e. skim coat, small holes less than 1cm, cracks less than 5mm wide |
Yes |
No |
|
Bathroom wall and kitchen splash back tiles |
No |
Yes |
|
Removal of asbestos floor tiles |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of floor damp-proof membrane and associated concrete repairs |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replace floor finishes |
Yes |
No |
|
Internal painting and decoration |
Yes |
No |
|
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
Damp, mould and condensation should be reported to SLH immediately and we will inspect within 10 working days. Any remedial work required will commence within five working days of inspection. |
No |
Yes |
|
Read more about damp, mould and condensation, and report problems in your home. |
|
|
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
Repair and replacement of existing adaptations |
No |
Yes |
|
New minor adaptations less than the value of £500 |
No |
Yes |
|
New major adaptations over the value of £500, but less than £15,000, subject to occupational therapist referral |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Repair of kitchen units and worktops that are considered as fair wear and tear |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair of kitchen units and work tops that are not considered as fair wear and tear |
Yes |
No |
|
Repair or replacement of kitchen sinks and taps |
No |
Yes |
|
Upgrade or addition of new kitchen units and worktops |
Yes |
No |
|
Repair or replacement of internal doors and ironmongery |
No |
Yes |
|
Changes to accommodate carpets including re-fixing of any draught excluders |
Yes |
No |
|
Repair or replacement of internal door frames |
No |
Yes |
|
Curtain poles, rail or track replacement |
Yes |
No |
|
Repair of health and safety hazards to handrails, balusters, newel post, stair tread, etc. |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of skirting, pipe boxing or architraves |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of stair treads, risers and nosings |
No |
Yes |
|
Make safe health and safety-related timber flooring repairs - e.g. floorboards and joists |
No |
Yes |
|
Repair or replacement of timber flooring i.e. floorboards and joists |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Lift breakdown and repairs |
No |
Yes |
|
Door entry equipment, automatic opening vents, CCTV |
No |
Yes |
|
Security lighting and repair of general lighting appliances |
No |
Yes |
|
Fire safety equipment (e.g. alarms, fire extinguishers) |
No |
Yes |
|
TV aerials, laundry equipment, toilet repairs (including toilet seats) |
No |
Yes |
|
Trustcare Warden Alarms |
No |
Yes |
|
Pest control - removal/destruction of mice, rates and other vermin |
No |
Yes |
|
Removal of asbestos-containing materials |
No |
Yes |
|
Tenant |
SLH |
|
|
Removal/destruction of mice, rats and other vermin in non-communal areas (customer should report problem to Local Authority on 0151 233 3000) |
Yes |
No |
Download the guide
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Repair responsibilities
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