Responsibility of repairs
Contents
Overview
Maintaining properties is a joint responsibility.
South Tyneside Homes is responsible for maintaining the structure and outside.
Tenants are responsible for the general upkeep and maintenance of their home.
Our responsibilities
South Tyneside Homes is responsible for maintaining the structure and outside of the property, including shared (communal) areas. This includes:
- Drains, gutters and external pipes
- The roof, outside walls, outside doors, windowsills, window catches and window
- Frames (including necessary external painting and decorating)
- Internal walls, floors (excluding floor coverings), ceilings, doors, doorframes
- Hinges and skirting boards
- Chimneys, chimneystacks and flues (including sweeping)
- Main entrance path
- Major plasterwork
- Integral garages and stores
- Irrigation or drainage works where gathered water is affecting the integrity of the property
South Tyneside Homes is also responsible for the fitting of water heating, sanitation, and for the supply of water, electricity, gas and drainage inside your home, including:
- Basins, sinks, baths, toilet, flushing systems and waste pipes
- Showers that we have installed
- Electric wiring including sockets and switches fuses, light fittings (excluding bulbs and plugs fitted to tenants' appliances)
- Gas pipes, water pipes, water heaters, fitted fires and central heating installations
Where electric fires are a secondary heat source and a decorative feature within the living room, South Tyneside Homes is responsible for ensuring the electrical supply up to the fire.
Any repairs or renewal of the fire is the responsibility of the tenant.
If you feel the fire is no longer required, we will discuss removal options with you.
Your responsibilities
As a tenant, you are responsible for the general upkeep and maintenance of your home, including minor repairs, cleaning, lubricating of parts / tightening of screws as needed. This may include:
- Decorating the inside of your home
- Electric plugs fitted to tenants' appliances (not sockets)
- Fuses and light bulbs
- Toilet seats and lids
- Maintenance of catches and locks
- Bath and sink plugs and chains
- Washing machine plumbing and fitting
- Showers not fitted by us
- Cookers, ovens and hobs owned by the tenant
- Floor, wall and fireplace tiles
- Maintenance of kitchen cupboards and drawers
- Small cracks in plaster
- Releasing windows stuck after internal painting
- Maintenance of fences
- Clearing and upkeep of ground level gullies and grates
- General upkeep of gardens and surrounding areas (hedges must be clipped and kept to a maximum of 1.8m (6ft) at the back of the property and 1.2m (four feet) at the front of the property)
For more details about repairs and responsibilities, see the Repairs and Maintenance Policy.