Council tenants - repairs rights and responsibilities

What is my right to repair?

Under the Right to Repair Regulations 1994 the government has set out a list of urgent repairs (pdf, 16 KB) (qualifying repairs) which have to be done within a certain time limit.  They are small urgent repairs which might affect your health, safety or security and which can be done quickly and easily.

For further information please see the Department for Communities and Local Government - right to repair leaflet (pdf, 115 KB) and our getting repairs done leaflet (pdf, 428 KB).

What are my legal rights if the council does not do my repairs?

Under the Right to Repair, we have an obligation to complete qualifying repairs within specific time periods. You can claim compensation if this doesn't happen. You can get independent legal advice from:

• Avon and Bristol Law Centre (external website)
• Citizens Advice Bureau (external website)
• North Bristol Advice Service (external website)
• South Bristol Advice Service (external website)
• St Paul's Advice Centre (external website)
• The Law Society - finding a solicitor (external website)

What repairs are the council responsible for?

We are responsible for maintaining the following, to make sure that they meet health and safety standards:

• The interior and exterior of your home.
• Roof, drains, gutters and outside pipes.
• External doors and windows.
• Steps and access ramps.
• Floor structures and ceilings.
• Water heaters, boilers, radiators, associated pipework and fires, where these have been provided by us.
• Installations for the supply of water, gas, electricity and sanitation, including: washbasins, sinks, baths, toilets, toilet cisterns, waste pipes and showers, where they have been provided by us. We will not repair fixtures, fitting and appliances for making the use of the supply of water, gas or electricity, unless they were provided by us.
• Periodically painting the exterior woodwork and metalwork of your home, excluding gates, fences and outbuildings.

We are also responsible for maintaining the following communal facilities, where they have been provided by us:

• Rubbish chutes and bins.
• Lighting.
• Laundries.
• Communal TV aerials.
• Lifts.

We will also carry out an annual gas safety check and electrical safety check every 10 years, where applicable.

Whilst we are responsible for repairing these elements, if repairs are required due to damage you have caused, you will be charged.

What repairs am I responsible for?

You are responsible for minor items of repair, maintenance and decoration. Examples include:

• TV aerials (not communal).
• Sweeping chimneys.
• Minor repairs to door catches, door bells, shelving and toilet seats.
• Fittings installed by you.
• Broken glazing.
• Cleaning communal areas (where there is no caretaking service).
• Maintaining gardens.
• Plugs and chains to sinks, basins and baths.
• Individual garden fences and gates.
• Pests - such as ants, fleas and wasps' nests. Contact the Pest Control Team for further information.
• Blocked drains / baths / sinks which have been caused by damage, neglect or carelessness.

Handyperson scheme

Carrying out repairs as listed above can be difficult if you are elderly or disabled. So if you are disabled or over 60 you can take advantage of the handyperson scheme.

Run in partnership with Bristol Care and Repair (external website) the service can help with a number of jobs such as:

• changing a light bulb or fluorescent tube
• minor repairs to door catches, toilet seats
• fitting security locks, shelves, a doorbell (battery operated types only)
• assembling flat pack furniture.

The service is subsidised so you only have to pay an affordable rate plus the cost of any materials.

To apply please contact Bristol Care and Repair on  0117 954 2222 (Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm and Fridays, 9am to 4pm) .

If the job you would like done is too big for the handyperson scheme, Bristol Care and Repair will let you know. They can you give you a list of trusted contractors. You can then make your own arrangements.

What if I want to make alterations to my home?

As long as you are a secure tenant, if you wish to:

• make any alterations / improvements
• install / erect any structure within the boundary of home.

As stated in your Tenancy Agreement, you must write to the Repairs and Maintenance Service for permission. You must also seek:

• any relevant building regulations approval
• any necessary planning permission.

You will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of any alterations or improvements.

Solar PV panels

Unfortunately we are unable to grant permission for solar PV panels to be installed. This is because any installer would need to enter into a legal agreement directly with us and not just you, as the tenant.

We are constantly reviewing the viability of renewable energy supplies. If we do decide to install solar PV panels in the future, they will be fitted as part of a programme. This will make it easier and cheaper for us to establish and manage any agreements needed.

Gas and electrical testing

As your landlord we have a legal duty to check:

• gas appliances we have provided every year
• electrical installations that we are responsible for once every 10 years.

We take this duty extremely seriously:

• Faulty gas appliances can emit harmful carbon monoxide fumes and there could be a risk of an explosion.
• Faulty electrics can cause a fire risk.

We will write to you to make an appointment to carry out the checks. Under the Tenancy Agreement you must give us access to your home. Whilst we appreciate your need for privacy, you and your family could be at risk if these checks are not done. If we are unable to gain access, we will force entry and you will be charged for any costs we incur. If a carpenter is required to attend you may still be charged, even if we gain access.

If as part of the gas check we find any faulty appliances we will either disconnect them or arrange for them to be repaired. If you are asked not to use an appliances because it is faulty, please follow the advice of our gas engineer. It is for your own safety. Please see GasSafe's unsafe situations procedure (pdf, 0.6 MB) for further information.