Your right to Repairs
As a city council tenant you have the right to have repair work carried out under the legal contract between the city council and yourself, as set out in the Conditions of Tenancy.
You also have rights under the 1985 Housing Act. According to an amendment to this Act you can, under certain circumstances, receive compensation if certain repairs are not carried out within the prescribed time period.
Details of your rights are given in a leaflet called 'The Right to Repair', produced by the Department of the Environment. Copies are available at any of our housing offices.
The regulations only cover the repairs listed below. There are also some exceptions:
You also have rights under the 1985 Housing Act. According to an amendment to this Act you can, under certain circumstances, receive compensation if certain repairs are not carried out within the prescribed time period.
Details of your rights are given in a leaflet called 'The Right to Repair', produced by the Department of the Environment. Copies are available at any of our housing offices.
The regulations only cover the repairs listed below. There are also some exceptions:
- total or partial loss of electric power
- unsafe power or lighting socket, or electrical fitting
- total or partial loss of water supply
- total or partial loss of gas supply
- blocked flue to open fire or boiler
- total or partial loss of space or water heating
- blocked or leaking foul drain, soil stack, or toilet pan (where there is no other working toilet in the dwelling)
- toilet not flushing (where there is no other working toilet in the dwelling)
- blocked sink, bath or hand basin waste pipes
- tap which cannot be turned
- leaking from water or heating pipe, tank or cistern
- leaking roof
- insecure external window, door or lock
- loose or detached bannister or hand-rail
- rotten timber flooring or stair tread
- door entry-phone not working
- mechanical extractor fan in internal kitchen or bathroom not working.
Right to repair procedure
The procedure is as follows:
If the city council fails to carry out a repair listed above within the time limit given on the acknowledgement card, you should write to the Director of Adults and Housing.
In your letter explain what has happened, giving the details of when the repair was reported and when it was due to be carried out.
In your letter explain what has happened, giving the details of when the repair was reported and when it was due to be carried out.
The Director of Adults and Housing will arrange for another instruction to be given for the work to be carried out. You will be sent a second acknowledgement card with a new time limit.
If the work is still not carried out within the time limit given on the second acknowledgement card you should write to the Director of Adults and Housing again.
Explain the situation and claim the compensation that is due to you. If a compensation payment is agreed, it will then be credited to your rent account.
Compensation will only be paid if you have allowed access to your home at the appointed times.
Explain the situation and claim the compensation that is due to you. If a compensation payment is agreed, it will then be credited to your rent account.
Compensation will only be paid if you have allowed access to your home at the appointed times.
The amount of compensation will be £10 plus £2 a day for every day the repairs remains outstanding, up to a maximum of £50.