Responsibility for repairs
Learn about how we approach repairs and maintenance. Find out what our shared responsibilities are, and how and when to report a repair or piece of maintenance needed in and around your home.
Please note: This is a guide for bpha tenants and does not include Shared Owners, Right to Buy or any other leaseholder tenancies. Some of the works listed as tenant responsibility will require you to have sought permission from bpha prior to carrying these out. This will especially be the case where the repair will damage existing components or alter the structure in any way.
bpha recommend you take out home contents insurance as this can cover some of the perils mentioned below. Please ask us for more details. Shared Owners, RTB and Leaseholders are responsible for all their repairs, we welcome any enquiries.
Our responsibility
bpha is responsible for maintaining:
- The structure and outside of the home
- The fixtures and fittings we have provided (exluding those listed in the 'Your responsibility' section below)
- Any communal areas.
Bathroom / Kitchen / Plumbing
- Basin or sink replacement, unless the damage is caused by the tenant
- Plumbing/fitting appliances, provided by bpha
- Sealant replacement for kitchen units and sanitary fittings
- Tap washer replacement (to stop dripping)
- Unblocking of external waste pipes
- Water supply and water pipes.
Gas
- Chimneys
- Fireplaces, fitted fires and central heating systems
- Gas pipes and appliances provided by bpha.
Electrical
- Electrical wiring including sockets and switches
- Fuses (RCD).
Internal
- Communal areas
- Cracks (major in walls or ceiling)
- Door entry system (Handset/Phone)
- Fixtures and fittings provided by bpha
- Flooring in communal areas
- Painting and decorating communal areas
- Painting and decorating communal areas following a leak
- Pests – Communal
- Smoke alarm (battery powered) testing or replacement (If applicable)
- TV aerial or satellite dish we have fit for communal use.
External
- Boundary walls, fences and gates that lead onto public footpaths or areas
- Doors
- Door steps
- Drains, gutters and external pipes
- Garages and brick built stores (excluding sheds)
- Overall structure of the property
- Painting
- Paths and walkways where shared or main access to property
- Roof
- Walls
- Washing lines or rotary dryers (Communal only)
- Window cills, catches, sash cords and window frames.
Your responsibility
You are responsible for
Bathroom / Kitchen / Plumbing
- Bath panel replacement
- Blocked bath, basin, sink and shower (Unless this is a communal stack issue which is bpha responsibility)
- Broken toilet seat
- Blocked toilets
- Plug or chain replacement
- Plumbing/fitting tenants’ own appliances. Must be undertaken to Gas Safe or NICEIC Regulations and certification provided
- Shower curtain replacement
- Shower hose and heads and riser rails.
Gas
- Bleeding radiators and adjusting pressure.
Electrical
- Fluorescent tubes and starter motors
- Fuse box – resetting of a trip switch
- Light bulbs.
Internal
- Cracks (minor in walls or ceiling)
- Curtain pole, rail or track replacement.
- Door changes to accommodate carpets, including re-fixing of any draught excluders.
- Door bell replacement or fitting (including batteries)
- Replacement & repairs to internal doors (including fixings, rehanging and replacing door handles)
- Fixtures tenant has fitted (flooring, shelves etc.)
- Flooring (Except for kitchen and bathroom)
- Handles and latches on inside doors and cupboards
- Keys (Communal keys/fobs to be provided by bpha at a charge)
- Letterbox repair or replacement
- Painting and decorating
- Painting and decorating following damage caused by a leak
- Pests – individual property
- TV aerial or satellite dish tenant have had fitted
- Window handles
- Window glazing.
External
- Dustbin replacement
- Gardens, including hedging and trees
- Fencing, gates and walls that form part of your property and border a neighbour’s property (or privately owned land).
The tenant is responsible for any repair if
- They, their family or visitors cause the damage.
Our repairs team will use these as a guide when responding to a repairs query, and will always use their initiative and discretion to suit the individual needs of residents, especially the elderly and the vulnerable.
