Repairs you are responsible for

When you sign up for a property, tell your housing officer about any repairs that need doing or fixtures that are missing. Your housing officer will make sure that they are put right. When you are living in the property you must repair or replace:

• Door latches and door fittings inside your home, locks if you have lost the keys, cupboards, kitchen cupboards and cupboard handles and hinges.
• Letter and milk boxes and airing racks.
• Sink plugs and chains, toilet chains, toilet seats and tap washers.
• Small faults and cracks in plaster.
• Damaged wall and floor tiles.
• Gas fire heating elements, fire grates, hearth and fireplace tiles.
• Electric plugs and fuses to plugs (but not socket outlets), fuses and pull cords to light fittings, fluorescent tubes and starters.
• Cylinder jackets.
• Glass inside your home.
• Rubbish bags, rubbish bag holders and dustbins.
• Wallpaper, or paintwork inside your home.
• Blocked sinks or drains caused by misuse.

You are also responsible for repairing or replacing any installation if:

• The damage is your fault (including accidental damage).
• We did not give you permission in writing for the installation to be fitted; or
• We gave you our written permission, but told you that it was not our responsibility to repair or replace the installation. We will charge you if we replace entry phone keys or controls after you lose yours.

Decorating

You are responsible for decorating the inside of your home. If we have caused the damage as a result of other work we have done, we will either offer to redecorate your home or pay you a decorating allowance.

If you are over 65 or disabled, and there is no other member of your family or household who can help, we will decorate a room in your home once every three years under a planned programme. Please note that this scheme has been suspended until April 2007. In the meantime you can still apply by calling 020 7926 6000.

Rechargeable Repairs

The council does not bear the cost of all repairs to your property. Where you or visitors to your property, have caused damage (eg. broken window) or been negligent (eg. locked out of property) the council will charge for the cost of works to rectify the problem. You will be advised if a repair is rechargeable when reporting.

Will the repair be covered by my insurance?

You might be able to claim back the cost of rechargeable repair done through your personal contents insurance. It is up to you to check your policy details to see if you are covered for accidental damage.