Your repair responsibilties

Hackney Homes will look after the outside of your home, the main structure and any fittings and appliances that we have provided.You are responsible for taking care of the inside of your home and for certain repairs.

Your General Responsibilities

You have certain general responsibilities:

to keep your property clean and in good decorative order inside, including repairing minor cracks or holes in walls or ceilings
to take action to prevent waste pipes (from sinks, baths or toilets) or drains becoming blocked.
to allow us access to your property to carry out repairs, annual safety checks and any inspections that are necessary
to repair and maintain any fixture, fitting or appliance you have put in including wastes, supply pipework and vents for washing machines, dishwashers and tumble driers
to take action to prevent and control condensation.
to take action to prevent pipes from freezing or bursting, mainly by using the heating system provided and lagging pipes
to make sure that no-one who lives in or visits your home causes any damage.

Damage and Charging

Any repair resulting from wilful damage will be charged to the tenant of the property. This is to ensure that tenants who cause damage to properties are held responsible and accountable for the damage caused.

The following list, are repairs which would attract a charge to the current or last tenant of the property where the damage has been caused. This list is not exhaustive and indicates the most likely reasons for there being a recharge to tenants for repairs undertaken at their former or current property.

Wilful damage - e.g. replace smashed door, DIY which has damaged the fabric/ structure of the property
Neglect - e.g. clear blocked sink, drain, bath and toilet of nappies, toilet fresheners , removal of fire doors, frozen/burst pipes, etc
Misuse - e.g. – replace tiling, repair damage to walls (graffiti)
Abuse - e.g. – rubbish removal, residents who contact the repairs service on the premise claiming they fall into the vulnerable tenants’ repairs policy category when on delivery of the repair it is found to be untrue. Tenants will also be responsible for work that may be required when moving out of their home in order to bring it up to an acceptable standard for it to be re-let. This includes cleaning of property, replacing missing fixtures and fittings. If you request a rechargable repair we will, where possible, give you an estimate of the cost and ask for payment prior to the commencement of works.

Further information about how we recharge residents is included in the the Repairs Recharge Policy leaflet (opens in a new window)

Your Responsibilities in your Home

You are responsible for keeping your home clean and properly decorated, and for some repairs:

replacing lost or stolen keys, and changing locks if you get locked out
fitting extra locks, doorbells, letterboxes, spyholes and door knockers
replacing light bulbs
repairing or replacing inside doors and door frames, skirting boards, curtain rails, shelves and bath panels
repairing and replacing kitchen and bathroom cupboards
replacing handles, locks, catches and glass on internal doors, windows and cupboards
repairing privacy panels and fences between neighbouring gardens, and any paths which are not main paths to your door
re-washing dripping taps
replacing toilet seats and toilet roll holders
trying to clear blockages in wastepipes or toilets
repairing wall plaster or plasterboard walls
replacing plugs or chains to baths, basins and sinks
putting up TV aerials or satellite dishes (you need our permission before you do this)
replacing batteries in battery operated smoke detectors
replacing ceramic tiles on walls or fire surrounds
replacing floor coverings such as tiles, carpets or laminate.

If you are elderly or disabled and have no-one who can help you, we may do some tasks for you, or put you in touch with other organisations that can help.

There is more information about your responsibilities in the Tenants' Handbook.

We strongly advise you to have a home contents insurance policy, as you may be able to claim back the repair costs for a break-in, vandalism or for any accidental damage.

If you have any queries you can contact the Housing Contact Centre on 0208 356 3691 or email.