Council housing: rights and responsibilities

Most repairs to the structure of your property and its essential services are our responsibility. But you have responsibilities too.

You are responsible for things like:

• fixing a curtain or shower rail
• getting keys cut if you lose them
• arranging and paying for any damage you or your visitors have caused in your home to be put right

We are responsible for making sure:

• the structure of your property is kept in good condition - this includes the walls, ceiling, roof and windows
• gas and electricity appliances work safely
• shared parts of a building or housing estate are kept in good condition

We tell you how long we'll take to carry out different types of repairs. 

If you have an urgent problem you can report a repair to your council property to us.

Responsibilities

What we are responsible for and what you are responsible for.

Structures

We are responsible for:

• roofs
• walls
• floors and ceilings
• window frames
• outside doorframes and doors
• chimneys (except sweeping)
• most drains, gutters and pipes outside

You are responsible for:

• windows & door glass (including double glazing) if the damage is due to your misuse
• clothes lines, posts and rotary driers (unless you share them with others)
• keeping gutters and drain gullies clear, unless you are elderly or infirm

Security

We are responsible for:

• faulty door locks
• window catches and security devices if we have provided them

You are responsible for:

• lost keys
• other locks

Sanitary fittings

We are responsible for: 

• sinks
• basins
• toilets, baths or showers (if we have provided them)
• taps
• waste pipes and traps (we may recharge you for any blockages)

You are responsible for:

• accidental damage to sinks, baths, basin plugs and chains
• blockages you have caused
• tap washers (unless you are elderly)

Water services

We are responsible for:

• water tanks
• cylinders
• pipework.

You are responsible for:

• washing machine fittings and wastes, including supply valves unless we have provided them

Gas installations

We are responsible for: 

• piping and outlets on appliances we have provided or accepted

You are responsible for:

• all fittings and appliances we have not provided

Electrical installations

We are responsible for:

• wiring and consumer units
• switches
• lighting and power points
• appliances we have provided

You are responsible for:

• appliance plugs
• fittings and appliances we have not provided
• door bells we have not provided
• light bulbs, fluorescent tubes and starters
• smoke alarms unless we have provided them

Solid fuel heating installations

We are responsible for: 

• fire bricks
• grates
• firebacks
• back boilers.

You are responsible for:

• appliances we have not provided
• sweeping chimneys

Decoration

We are responsible for: 

• all outside surfaces previously decorated

You are responsible for:

• all surfaces inside and anything we have not installed or is not our property

Insurance

We as a landlord have the appropriate insurance cover on all its houses when dealing with fire, floods, lightning etc.

You are responsible for ensuring that you take out adequate insurance cover for your home contents and for accidental damage that may occur to the property for which you are responsible.

Miscellaneous

You are responsible for the maintenance and on-going costs associated with fixtures and fittings supplied by you or installed by us at your request.

Other items inside the property

We are responsible for:

• kitchen fitments and worktops we have provided
• cylinder jackets.

You are responsible for:

• door furniture
• hinges
• locks
• catches and bolts on inside doors we have not fitted
• glass inside the property
• blinds and curtain rails
• floor coverings
• clothes airers
• hat and coat rails and hooks
• shelving
• minor cracks to the plaster

Other items outside the property

We are responsible for:

• access paths and steps directly to the front and back doors
• drainage
• boundary walls and fences we have provided

You are responsible for:

• all paths other than access paths
• patios
• garden features
• steps
• ornamental walls
• dividing garden fences, walls and hedges