Repairs - Tenant

Darlington Borough Council is not responsible for:

Damage by tenant including damage to plaster through the prolonged use of steamers to remove wallpaper.
The repair or replacement of anything installed or fitted in the property by the current tenant without the written permission of Darlington Borough Council.
The repair or replacement of anything installed or fitted in the property by a previous tenant if you exchange into that property.
Making good any internal decoration affected by improvement or repairs work, unless agreed with the Management Officer of Darlington Borough Council, in writing, in advance, a decoration allowance may be offered.

The following is a list of repairs that you will normally be responsible for:

Blocked sinks, drains, hand basins, baths and WC’s.
Hat and coat hooks
TV aerials: Tenant’s responsibility, unless we have fitted them in communal blocks.
Changing locks due to loss of key either lost or stolen
Draining the water system: If the property is going to be left empty for more than one night during freezing weather conditions, the system should be drained or the central heating left on low to prevent pipes or tanks from bursting.
Connecting appliances: The tenant is responsible for making sure that all appliances are installed by trained and competent trades people.
Tenant’s own fixtures and fittings
Glazing.
Internal doors: Tenant’s responsibility to refit doors after a carpet has been fitted.
Internal door handles
Flooded gardens
Tenant’s own electrical and gas installations or appliances.
Doorbell, unless installed by Darlington Borough Council Social or Warden Services.
Paving: Maintenance of paving to the perimeter of the property and access paving to the front and rear rests with Darlington Borough Council. Maintenance of the garden is the responsibility of the tenant.
The repayment of unused decoration vouchers
The provision of dustbins
Light bulbs or tubes and pull cords
Shower Curtains
Minor Plaster Cracks
Boarding of broken windows and reglazing including out of hours
Re-lighting pilot lights for heating systems and additional gas bottles for temporary heating

All repairs due to accidental or deliberate damage due to fault, neglect or carelessness, such as:

Plugs and chains to sinks, hand basins and baths
Toilet lid/seat: This will only be replaced if you are a brand new tenant.
Internal decoration
Knocked radiator valves that are leaking
Trip switches/broken fuses as a result of a faulty appliance
Nails through pipework
Collection of rubbish
Repair of unauthorized or unsafe alterations
Charging for tenant damage

We will charge you if we have to make a repair for damage caused by you, your family, friends or your visitors. Examples of the type of damage you will be charged for include:

Broken glazing.
Blocked wash hand basin, bath or sink.
Broken toilet seat.
Changing door lock due to keys being lost.
Abuse of the Emergency Service, for example, if you exaggerate the urgency of the repair request.
Where plastering has been extensively damaged through the prolonged use of a steamer to strip wallpaper.
Charging for repairs that are tenant’s responsibility

If the repair is your responsibility but you ask us to undertake the repair, we will usually charge you. Before the repair is ordered you must sign a recharge form to authorise us to carry out this work - please visit the Customer Services Centre or any Neighbourhood Surgery. No work will be issued unless this form is signed by the tenant of the property, signatures of friends/family will not be accepted.

Examples of the repairs you can pay us to carry out for you include:

Re-glazing windows and doors.
Changing door locks.
Unblocking sinks, wash hand basins, baths and external gullies.

For More Information:

Secure Tenancy Agreement - pdf document

Phone 01325 388542 or visit the Customer Services Centre or any Neighbourhood Surgery and we will arrange an appointment with you.

A property inspector may need to visit and assess the repair before the work is ordered.