Who is responsible for repairs?

What is Red Kite responsible for?

The things we are responsible for include:

• External walls, external doors, external window frames and sills
• Drains and gutters
• Access paths and steps
• External decorations
• Outbuildings which form part of the original structure or have been provided previously by the landlord
• Repair and improvement to communal areas

We are also responsible for keeping in repair and good working order:

• Installations for the supply of water, gas, electricity and sanitation. (The service up to and including the gas/electricity meter is the responsibility of the service provider, unless the mains supply outside the home is owned by the landlord)
• Installations for room and water heating fitted by us
• Lifts and shared lighting serving the building or estate (where these are not adopted by the council or in other private ownership)
• Fences and gates which divide your home from a public path/right of way
• Floor coverings that we have installed in kitchens, bathrooms and toilets, where there is a potential trip hazard

What are tenants responsible for?

We expect you to:

• Keep the inside of your home clean and in a good condition
• Maintain your garden
• Keep communal areas clean, tidy and free from clutter
• Carry out all internal decorations
• Report repairs quickly to prevent ongoing damage
• Meet the cost of repairs that are listed as your responsibility
• Provide access, in accordance with Tenancy Agreement conditions, so that repairs can be carried out in line with priority timescales set
• Treat your home with respect and care, avoiding wilful damage and neglect.

Specific tenant responsibilities include:

• Replacing internal doors, toilet seats, plugs/chains to sinks, and curtain rails and pelmets
• Plumbing to washing machines and dishwashers
• Minor repairs to kitchen unit doors and drawers
• Renewal of letter boxes
• Items that you, your family or visitors have damaged
• Repairs to your own improvements (after receiving permission)
• Replacing light bulbs and fluorescent tubes (unless these are part of a sealed unit)
• Lock changes and replacing keys/fobs due to loss of keys (unless you are in sheltered housing)
• Path and patio repairs (we will maintain paths only around the perimeter of the building, and to any washing line installed by us)
• Doing as much as possible to prevent the build up of condensation in your home, and letting us know about any instances of damp or mould
• Clearing internal blockages to sinks, baths, showers, WCs and gulley drains
• Repairs and maintenance to TV aerials (unless in a flat on a communal system), satellite dishes, telephones and their cabling and supply. (Some homes have two TV points; a new one for access to digital TV and an old one no longer in use. It is your responsibility if you require both TV points to be operational)
• Repairs to sheds and structures you have installed
• Repairs to boundary fencing and gates between neighbours' gardens.

If we need to carry out repairs that are your responsibility we will recharge you for the cost of this work.

Replacement of lightbulbs and fluorescent tubes

You are responsible for replacing any defective lightbulbs or fluorescent light tubes and starters in your home.

The type of light fitting in your home will vary according to the age of your home and when it was last rewired or subject to an electrical upgrade.

A number of our homes have a fluorescent tube or D lamp installed in the kitchens and bathrooms. They are called D lamps because the fluorescent tube is in the shape of a D. These D lamps are available at all major DIY outlets.

For further information on repairs, please refer to the Repairs Handbook provided to you when you signed up.

Protecting homes at risk of flooding

Some of our homes are located in areas which are at risk of flooding during exceptional rainfall or when nearby waterways rise. In these situations the risk of flood damage increases. To make sure these homes are protected as well as they can be, we have put measures in place to reduce flood risks, including early warning systems that help us respond quickly when we need to. We also regularly carry out planned preventative work on those homes which are most vulnerable.

We are making use of geographical information systems to plot high-risk flood areas, as well as tracking weather forecasts through advanced weather warnings sent directly from the Meteorological Office. Our staff and contractors are informed of possible severe weather in advance so they can react accordingly, and we have equipment, including sandbags and portable pumps, and people ready to react quickly in an emergency. We have also carried out physical work to help prevent flooding to homes most at risk.

While it is not possible to prevent flooding in every instance, due to the severity of some natural events, we have taken and continue to take appropriate measures where necessary and will monitor and react to ongoing situations accordingly.