Repair responsibilities

Keeping our tenants and staff safe is always important

Although we are responsible for carrying out most repairs to your home, there are certain repairs which you are responsible for. The table below provides guidance on the responsibilities when repairing and maintaining homes.

We may be able to complete some of the 'your responsibilities' jobs on your behalf as rechargeable works, we will provide you with a quote if you wish to do this.

**Work types and repair responsibilities**
Item	Our responsibility	Tenant responsibility
Bathroom and toilets	Bath and bath panel Taps Sinks and wash basins Toilets Shower unit Floor covering Wall tiles	Toilet seat Plugs and chains Shower curtains and rails Fittings that you have installed or accepted at start of your tenancy Replacement shower head and hose Blocked sinks, toilets and drains
Kitchen	Units including worktop, door and draw fronts, carcase plinth (kick boards) and handles Taps Sinks Floor covering Wall tiles Appliance repairs (Sheltered and homeless schemes only) where BDC/MSDC has provided these.	Plugs and chains Washing machine connections and fittings Repair/replacement of tenant owned ovens/hobs and white goods Fittings that you have installed or accepted at start of your tenancy Blocked sinks and drains
Heating	Oil storage tanks Gas-fired systems with radiators Solid fuel system Electric storage heating system Any other system fitted by BDC/ MSDC	Oil storage tanks - ensure tank lid is fitted and secured at all times, also tenant responsibility to inform BDC /MSDC if the oil tank becomes damaged or condition has deteriorated Any heating system supplied and fitted by tenant Providing adequate fuel and power to service or repair the appliance Purchase and topping up of salt for water softener
Doors	Internal and external doors (not caused by tenant or tenant visitor damage) Outside locks (where a fault or defect has been identified) Fire doors Door ironmongery (e.g. handles and hinges)	Internal and external doors, repair / replace including glass or any components damaged by tenant or visitors, or forced entry by council or other agencies Doorbells, chains and name plates Keys including communal keys and fobs (lost or damaged) Replacement locks if keys lost
Electrical	Immersion heater Light fittings, switches, and sockets Wiring and circuits Smoke detectors fitted by BDC / MSDC Fire alarms fitted by BDC / MSDC Co2 sensors fitted by BDC / MSDC Door entry systems Solar PV service of invertor and panels and review metering connections	Plugs and battery-operated smoke detectors fitted by you Light bulbs including fluorescent tubes and starters Loss of power due to faulty electrical appliances Replacement batteries for battery operated smoke detectors and sensors Test smoke and Co2 detectors weekly Tenant responsibility to test the circuit breaker button every quarter, these are located at the fuse board. PV cleaning panels, where possible
Plumbing	Drainage systems excludes blockages caused by misuse Hot and cold-water supply Clearing gutters and down pipes Clearing gullies	Bleeding radiators Resetting time clocks and programmers Keeping grates, grids, drains and gullies clean and clear Turn the water main stopcock off and back on every six months to maintain correct operations in emergencies
Damp and mould	Responsible for responding and investigating to reports of Damp and Mould to establish cause and remedy any building defects Following investigation, to undertake reasonable works to improve property performance where possible (Homes fit for habitation)	The removal of mould and mildew caused by inadequate heating and ventilation and/or condensation Tenant responsible for ensuring natural ventilation, use of extractors fans in kitchen when cooking and bathroom when showering, maintain consistent heating temperature and clean condensation from windows regularly. See damp and mould guides
Structure	Roof Structural ceilings, floors and walls over 4mm wide Damp proof course Stairs and steps Brick sheds	Cracks in ceilings and walls less than 4mm wide
Chimney and fireplaces	Chimney and flue (enclosed) Chimney sweeping if there is an open fire	Coal bunker Fireplace tiles
Windows	Window glass, sills, frames, catches and handles where not damaged by tenant or tenant visitors	Window glass, sills, frames, catches and handles where damage caused by tenant or tenant visitors Window cleaning
Fencing, gates, and decking	Repair, maintain or replace fence or gate that divides tenant’s home from a public area. For example, if the fence forms a boundary to an amenity green, service road or an alleyway which would allow access to the back garden Refer to our Fencing Policy on our policies webpage	Repair, maintain or replace fence or gate that divides tenant’s home from their neighbour Gates and fencing installed by tenant Decking either installed by tenant or accepted when tenancy started Fence will not be installed to separate front and rear gardens, or to keep pets, animals, children or persons in or out of gardens. Tenant’s are responsible to ensure their belongings are adequately protected Fence painting Alterations to fences and gates erected by the Council is subject to a Tenant Alteration Application No new gate openings are to be created
Garden, footpaths and walls	Brick walls Footpaths - front access path edging around the building (apron) and manholes Drives (only if installed with the property) Communal washing lines	Dustbins Wooden sheds Trees Shrubs Lawn maintenance Side and rear garden paths, patios and hardstandings Drives (if installed by the tenant under an alterations request) Personal washing lines, clothes posts (fixed and rotary dryers)
Decoration	External decoration (part of a planned programme)	Internal decoration in line with tenant obligations in tenancy agreement Replacing fittings discoloured through smoking
Garages and outbuildings	Garage roofs Garage doors (excluding locks)	Locks to garages, sheds, and outbuildings
General		Other fixtures and fittings such as: Light bulbs Coat hooks Telephone ports Aerials/satellite dishes Curtain poles Maintenance, repair and replacement of any item fitted by tenant or gifted at sign up Repair/replace carpets, laminates and over floor coverings either installed by tenant or gifted
Customer alterations		Repairs and replacement (alterations to be authorised and inspected by BDC/MSDC prior to installation)
Pest control	Communal areas	Pest control or pest infestation within the property
Aids & adaptations	On referrals from Occupational Therapist

Our Waste Team can help to replace lost or damaged wheelie bins

It's very important to use qualified workers when carrying out your own repairs. Failing to do so can lead to expensive and even dangerous mistakes.

If we attend a repair call and the fault is found to be an appliance owned by you, you could be charged.

Report a repair

To report a repair, visit our Report a Repair webpage.

Right to carry out improvements to your home

If you want to make alterations to your home, you must get permission. Read our Apply for alterations webpage for more information.

Contents insurance

It is your responsibility to ensure you have contents insurance for your own personal belongings. The Crystal Insurance Scheme offers you home contents insurance at an affordable rate. The insurance will:

cover fire, theft, flood, water damage and other household risk
cover lost or stolen keys
freezer contents
accidental damage to fixed glass in doors and windows

For more information phone Thistle Insurance on 0845 601 7007. It may be cheaper to phone Thistle Insurance on 01628 586187 from a mobile. You can also email Thistle Insurance. You can also visit the Crystal Insurance Scheme website. The Crystal Insurance Scheme is administered by Thistle Tenant Risks.