The government introduced the Right to Repair scheme to ensure that you can get certain repairs to your council home completed quickly and easily. It sets time limits for certain types of repair, which councils must stick to.
If our contractors don't do the work in that time, you can ask them to hire someone else. If the repairs still aren't done, you may be able to claim compensation.
We are committed to completing all repairs we are responsible for within a reasonable timeframe, with urgent issues given priority. If you have any outstanding repairs, or believe your home may be in disrepair, please report this to us so we can investigate and put things right.
Qualifying repairs
Only certain types of repairs are covered by the Right to Repair scheme. These are called qualifying repairs and they include:
- unsafe power or lighting sockets, or electrical fittings
- blocked flues to fires or boilers
- leaking roofs
- toilets that won't flush (where there is no other toilet)
- blockages to sinks, baths or basins (only in special circumstances, for example where the blockage is in a waste shared with other homes - clearing sink traps, waste pipes etc is generally your responsibility)
- leaking or flooding from pipes, tanks or cisterns
- loose or broken banisters or handrail
- if the heating or hot water is not working between 31 October and 1 May.
Repairs not covered
This is usually for repairs that are your responsibility, including:
- repair of broken glass in windows and doors (unless it was caused by criminal damage such as burglary)
- replacement of lost keys
- repair of locks where damage was caused by misuse
- replacements or repairs needed because something was damaged or broken through misuse.
More on your repair responsibilities
Housing disrepair
If your property has fallen into disrepair through no fault of your own and we have failed to repair faults which you have reported to us, you may have a claim.
It is of course your right to instruct a solicitor. However, if you are unhappy with our service or response, you can make a complaint to us first. If you remain dissatisfied after we have completed our complaints process, you can then escalate the matter to the Housing Ombudsman.
The Housing Ombudsman is free, independent, impartial, and usually quicker and broader in scope than a housing disrepair claim. Housing disrepair companies have been reminded that social housing tenants should use the Ombudsman as the first route for complaints.
If you choose to pursue a disrepair claim instead, many firms offer ‘no win, no fee’ agreements, but it’s important to read the small print. Some contracts require you to pay all legal costs if you later decide not to continue with the claim, which could put you at financial risk.
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