Repairs and maintenance
Watch our helpful video on how to repair some common problems in and around the home: Fix it - repairs video.
Who is responsible for looking after your home?
We are both responsible. We are responsible for maintaining your home and making sure that it is safe and fit to live in but you are also responsible for looking after your home.
We ask you to:
- Keep the inside of your home clean and in good decorative order
- Look after the garden
- Do the repairs that are your responsibility
- Make sure that you promptly report repairs that are our responsibility.
Repairs that are your responsibility
You are responsible for fixtures and fittings e.g. curtain rails, cookers, light bulbs and plugs (but not for making sure that fixtures and fittings for water, sanitation, gas and electricity are in safe working order). You are also responsible for internal decoration and for any improvements, alterations or work you do yourself. More information about who is responsible for which repairs are available in the repairs and maintenance service standard booklet.
Condensation - mould in your home
Everything we do in our homes produces moisture...you might not know this but it's this moisture in the air that contributes to mould and condensation. If it's not managed properly, it can cause a lot of damage so you need to make sure you look out for the signs and prevent it from causing any problems.
Read our new condensation and mould leaflet here: Condensation - mould in your home.pdf [pdf] 2MB
How to report a repair
By telephone on 01494 463690
Online When you report a repair please give as much information as possible about the size and make of a part or piece of equipment
For gas central heating or hot water repairs please contact our gas contractor directly on 08454 349686.
By letter – Please write to the Repairs Team at Red Kite Community Housing, Windsor Court, Kingsmead Business Park, Frederick Place, High Wycombe, HP11 1JU.
We have an emergency service to deal with repairs outside normal office working hours. Emergency repairs include:- Fire damage Dangerous electrical faults Heating failures for elderly or sick people Major plumbing faults causing flooding or large scale loss of water. If you have an emergency outside office hours please call 01494 463690.
Appointments
You will be offered the choice of a morning or afternoon appointment for any repairs work to be carried out unless it is an emergency repair in which case the contractor will get there as quickly as possible. You will need to wait in until they come.
Contractors Code of Conduct
Our contractors are all expected to keep to a code of conduct that reflects our organisations values of Partnership, Respect and Pride.
The Red Kite Standard
We will be working hard to bring all homes up to the Red Kite Standard. Not everything will be done on day one but we will be working hard over the next 5 years to ensure that every home with a kitchen that is over 15 years old or a bathroom over 20 years old has the chance to have a new one and everyone who has a boiler which is more than 12 years old has it replaced. We will also be carrying out lots of other improvements.
You can download a copy of the Red Kite Standard [pdf] 6MB. A group of tenants and leaseholders have been working hard to ensure that with Red Kite you have more choice of products, fittings and colours than you have had before.
If you want to improve your home
We would encourage you to make improvements to your home. You must however write to us and receive written permission before you start the work. This applies to any kind of improvement to your home for example:-
- Installing a shower
- Building a garage or an extension
- Taking down walls
- Putting up a shed or a greenhouse
- Putting up a television aerial or satellite dish
- Putting up a conservatory
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Changing electrical fittings
When you write to us to ask permission please include as much detail as possible about what you want to do including a drawing (with measurements) if possible. We will not normally refuse permission unless there is good reason to do so.
Gas servicing
It is a legal requirement that Red Kite carries out a safety check in your home every year. Your safety is a high priority – faulty gas appliances can give off poisonous carbon monoxide. You can not see or smell if but it can kill you. Faulty gas appliances can also explode and cause a fire to break out. You will receive a letter advising you when your gas safety check is due. If the appointment is not convenient for you please call our gas contractor on 08454 349686 to rearrange the appointment.
Home contents insurance
Red Kite only insures the structure of the property. You need to insure the contents of your home such as furniture, belongings, decorations and lost keys. If you don’t take out your own home contents insurance you could find yourself in real difficulty if your things are damaged by fire or water or if they are lost or stolen. Your insurance should also cover any legal responsibility to pay damages to others following your actions when living in the property. We also recommend that you take out a policy which covers broken glass, particularly if you have large patio doors or picture windows as these can be expensive to replace. We have negotiated a low cost home contents insurance policy for our tenants and leaseholders - see the information below which shows you how much you can pay monthly and what this covers: