Repair Obligations

How to care for your living space.

Maintaining home is essential for your safety and wellbeing. Below are simple guidelines to help you understand your responsibilities and our obligations and what you can expect from us.  

Repairs - Who does what?

Understanding who handles repairs helps avoid confusion. Here is a clear breakdown. 

Tenant is responsible for: 

  • Replacing toilet seat
  • Replacing light bulbs and fuses
  • Keeping the garden clean and tidy
  • Unblock sinks, toilets, and drains if they get clogged
  • Keeping paint work and decorations clean and undamaged
  • Keeping cupboards, radiators, and switches in good condition
  • Keeping all doors, built in cupboards and units clear and undamaged
  • Lock changes as a result of Tenant damage (i.e. Excludes forced entry by the Council or Police)
  • If the tenant wants to redecorate during their tenure they must get written permission from HfH and must pay for all redecorations themselves. 
  • Responsible for ensuring property does not become infested with any insect or 'bug' within their control

Owner is responsible for: 

Inside the Property

  • Full or partial electrical rewiring
  • Replacement of fuse boxes or fuses needing investigation
  • Plastering walls and ceilings
  • Replacement of internal pipework (baths, sinks, toilets)
  • Repairs to heating and hot water systems
  • Supplied appliances like cookers and fridges

Structure and Exterior

  • Repairs to roof, chimney, external brickwork, and gutters
  • Replacement of windows, seals, and frames
  • Repairs to external doors, fences, and party walls
  • Maintenance of drains, soil stacks, and gas pipes
  • Cutting back garden trees
  • Fixing external downpipes and water tanks
  • Addressing damp and pest control issues

HfH PSL is responsible for: 

HfH PSL is your landlord – not the Council.  However, because we have an agreement with the Council to provide day to day services to you, you will have regular contact from staff who also provide services to the Councils own tenants. 

Electrical

  • Repair/replace broken light switches or sockets
  • Replace electrical fuses (if investigation needed)
  • Full or partial rewiring
  • Replace fuse boxes

Plumbing & Leaks

  • Repair leaks to toilet (wc) and cistern
  • Repair leaks to bath, kitchen, and bathroom
  • Repair taps to basins and sinks
  • Replace mastic around bath (wear and tear)
  • Leaks from washing machine pipes (not the appliance)

Interior Structure

  • Front and back door repairs (ease and adjust)
  • Lost keys and access issues
  • Internal doors (rehung)
  • Minor repairs to stairs, bannisters, and spindles
  • Replacement of kitchen units
  • Replacement of floor coverings
  • Repair/replace broken glass in windows
  • Ease and adjust windows
  • Repair broken fitted wardrobes

External Structure

  • Roof and chimney
  • External gutters and downpipes
  • External brickwork
  • External doors
  • Windows, seals, and frames
  • Fences, party walls, and external walls
  • Cutting back garden trees

Other

  • Damp and mould treatment
  • Pest control
  • Heating and hot water system repairs
  • Repairs to supplied cookers and fridges

Damage caused by the tenant

Please note, if damage to the property, fixtures or fittings which has been caused by the tenant, members of their household or anyone they have invited into the property is the responsibility of the tenant.

The fabric of the property, damage caused by fittings inside the property coming to the end of their life or being worn through reasonable wear and tear by the tenant are the responsibility of the Owner. 

If there is any tenant damage that Haringey Housing has to repair these costs will be recharged to the tenant.

Haringey Housing will complete emergency repairs to ensure the property remains safe and habitable.