Right to Repair
As a Council tenant you have the right to expect that certain qualifying repairs be completed within a prescribed time limit. The following table provides some examples of such qualifying repairs:
Qualifying Repairs
|
Qualifying Repair |
Prescribed completion period
(working days) |
|
Total loss of electric power |
1 |
|
Unsafe power or lighting socket or electrical fitting |
1 |
|
Total loss of water supply |
1 |
|
Total or partial loss of gas supply |
1 |
|
Blocked flue to open fire or boiler |
1 |
|
Toilet not flushing (when no other working WC in the house) |
1 |
|
Loss or partial loss of space or water heating |
1 |
|
Blocked or leaking foul drain, soil stack or toilet pan where only working toilet in house |
1 |
|
Partial loss of electric power |
5 |
|
Partial loss of water supply |
5 |
|
Blocked or leaking foul drain, soil stack or toilet pan |
5 |
|
|
|
|
Tap which cannot be turned |
5 |
|
Rotten timber flooring or stair tread |
5 |
|
Leaking from water or heating pipe, tank or cistern |
5 |
|
Insecure external window, door or lock |
1 |
|
Loose or detached banister or hand rail |
5 |
|
Leaking roof |
20 |
|
Extractor fan in internal kitchen or bathroom not working |
20 |
When you have requested a repair and it is not carried out within the above time limits, then you should write to the Head of Housing explaining when the repair was reported and when the repair should have been completed. The Head of Housing will then instruct another contractor to carry out the work, and provide you with details of the new time limit. If the repair is still not completed at the prescribed time, then providing you have allowed access on the appointed day, you will be entitled to compensation. The compensation is prescribed by law, and states that the landlord must pay £10 compensation plus an additional £2 for each day that the repair is delayed up to a maximum of £50 in total.