Landlords have a responsibility to ensure that their properties are in good, habitable condition. Social housing property maintenance is essential to make sure it complies with the law. If you’re a landlord or a tenant in social housing, it’s important that you know who’s responsible for any repairs.
The council or housing association must make sure that repairs are done in good time and that the property is safe to live in. Let’s find out more about exactly what social housing property maintenance landlords are responsible for.
Landlord Responsibilities
Gas Appliances
The landlord must ensure that gas appliances are working correctly and safely. This includes the boiler, which needs to be working properly. This will ensure that the property has heating and hot water.
Plumbing
This includes toilets, baths, pipes and sinks. Therefore, the landlord is responsible for making sure all of these function as they should.
Electrical
Any wiring throughout the property is the landlord’s responsibility to maintain. They’ll also need to repair any electrical faults with the appliances they provide.
Common Areas & Structure
This includes lifts, stairwells and communal entrances. In addition, the landlord is responsible for making sure that the roof, walls, windows and doors are all safe and fit for purpose.
Health & Safety
Social housing property maintenance must include a comprehensive plan to tackle gas, electrical and fire safety issues. The home must be safe. Hazards such as damp, mould, insect infestations, asbestos or structural damage need to be dealt with promptly.
Anything Else in the Tenancy Agreement
This is not an exhaustive list. You must read your tenancy agreement if you aren’t sure who’s responsibility another fault might be. Some are assigned to the landlord.
Tenant Responsibilities
Reporting
The tenant must report any issues that are the landlord’s responsibility to fix right away. In addition, Landlords have to arrange repairs in a timely manner.
Respect the Property
Tenants must keep the property in a reasonably clean condition, so they’ll have to repair any property that they damage. This could be through poor cleanliness or antisocial behaviour – even from guests.
Decoration
If a tenant wishes to decorate their social housing property, this will be their responsibility. This will only fall on the landlord if something like damp has caused the need to redecorate. The landlord could contribute to these costs if they supply the property in poor condition. Therefore, it’s in everyone’s best interests to keep social housing in a good state of repair.
Call BDL Painting & Maintenance Contractors for Social Housing Property Maintenance in Birmingham
We specialise in social housing property maintenance. BDL provide a comprehensive service which covers all aspects of social housing maintenance. We offer competitive rates so that you can keep your property in full working order.
Buildings develop problems that need to be addressed over time. BDL social housing property maintenance ensure that your buildings are safe, comfortable and lawfully maintained.
