Repairs to council property
Under the East Renfrewshire Council Tenancy Agreement, the Council are responsible for repairing damage caused wilfully or accidentally by you, anyone living with you or an invited visitor to your house. If we decide to carry out the work, you must pay us for the cost of the repair. This paragraph does not apply to damage caused by:
Fair wear and tear
Vandals (provided that you have reported the damage to the police and us as soon as the damage is discovered)
We will carry out necessary repairs due to fire, flood or Act of God, within a reasonable time or offer equivalent permanent rehousing as soon as such a house becomes available. Until that time, we will provide temporary accommodation if the house is uninhabitable.
We have the right to come into your house to inspect it and its fixtures and fittings or carry out repairs to it, or adjoining property, during reasonable times of the day. We will give you at least 24 hours’ notice in writing. We have the right of access to your house in order to lay wires, cables and pipes for the purposes of telecommunications, water, gas and electricity, providing we give you reasonable notice in writing. We have the right of access to the common parts at any reasonable time. If you refuse us entry, we will have the right to make forcible entry provided we have given you every reasonable opportunity to let us in voluntarily. If we have to make forcible entry, in this situation, you are liable for the costs of any damage reasonably caused. In an emergency, we have the right to make forcible entry to your house without notice.
If we know that any house or flat adjoining your house, which we own, is likely to remain unoccupied for longer than four weeks, we will take all reasonable steps to avoid damage or danger to you or your property arising from that house or flat being unoccupied. These steps may include, but are not limited to the following:
To seeing that its doors and windows are properly secured
To seeing that the water, gas and electricity supplies to the house or flat are turned off where possible.
If we cause damage to the house or your property in connection with inspections, repairs or improvements or entry, we will reinstate the damage or compensate you for your losses. We have the right to require you to move
temporarily to suitable alternative accommodation if this is necessary for the repairs to be done. If you are moved temporarily, we will reimburse you for any extra expenses you have as a result. You will be charged rent during this period but no more than you normally pay. This will not affect your right to pursue a damages claim against us.
Our duties to repair contained within this section under the Council’s Tenancy Agreement continue until the Agreement comes to an end.
Tenants responsibilities and rights
You must report to us, as soon as possible, any damage to the house, the common parts or loss or damage to our property. You can do this in person or by telephone. You can arrange for someone else to do this on your behalf. We operate an emergency telephone service outside office hours.
You are responsible for taking reasonable care of the house. This responsibility includes carrying out minor repairs and internal decoration. It also includes keeping the house in a reasonable state of cleanliness. However, you are not responsible for carrying out repairs which are due to fair wear and tear.
If we have delayed or failed to carry out certain types of repair, the Executive intends to make regulations which will give tenants the right to have certain repairs carried out. You may also be entitled to compensation.
If we have failed to carry out repairs that we should be doing under this agreement, you have the right to carry out the repairs yourself and deduct the reasonable cost of doing so from your rent. However, you may only do so if:
You have notified us in writing about the need for the repairs
We have not done those repairs within a reasonable period
You have made a formal complaint under our complaints procedure,and you have finished the complaints procedure and you are still dissatisfied, or 3 months have passed since you made the formal complaint under the complaints procedure.
All repair work instructed by you must be done by a reputable firm and must conform to all current legislation.
You are strongly recommended to insure your personal possessions against loss or damage caused by fire, flood, theft, accident, etc. We operate such a scheme.
Tenants Alterations and Improvements
If you want to:
Alter, improve or enlarge the house, fittings or fixtures;
Add new fixtures or fittings (for example kitchen or bathroom, installations, central heating or other fixed heaters, double glazing, or any kind of external aerial or satellite dish);
Put up a garage, shed or other structure
Decorate the outside of the house
You must first get our written permission. We will not refuse permission unreasonably. We may grant permission with conditions, including conditions regarding the standard of the work.
If you have made alterations or improvements with our permission, you may be entitled to compensation at the end of your tenancy under regulations governing such arrangements. We also have the power, even if you do not qualify under these Regulations, to make a discretionary payment.
If you carry out any alterations or improvements without our permission we are entitled to restore the house to its previous condition during, or at the end of, your tenancy. If we do so, we are entitled to charge you for this work.
All Calls should be made via the Housing Call Centre on:
Tel: 0141 577 3700,
Monday to Thursday : 08:45am – 04:45pm
Friday: 08:45am – 03.55pm
For emergencies i.e. burst pipes, no special heating, no running cold water (out of normal working hours) the number to contact is the free phone number: 0808 00 31601.