Repair responsibilities
We want everyone to be clear about what Incommunities is responsible for and what customers are responsible for themselves – it’s a partnership after all.
You can find out more about what your responsibilities and what are Incommunities responsibilities on the expanding sections below.
Doors and lock furniture
Minor Repair Work |
Incommunities |
Customer |
Replacement of lost keys |
✗ |
✔ |
Fitting new locks and latches due to lost keys or damage not caused through normal wear and tear |
✗ |
✔ |
Broken door panes caused by themselves, friends/family |
✗ |
✔ |
Door adjustments for new flooring (unless fit by us) |
✗ |
✔ |
Security chains and spy-holes |
✗ |
✔ |
Personal fixtures and fittings
Personal Fixtures & Fittings |
Incommunities |
Customer |
Coat hooks, curtains & curtain rails |
✗ |
✓ |
Minor plumbing
Minor Plumbing |
Incommunities |
Customer |
Replacement plugs and chains to baths, wash-hand basins and baths |
✗ |
✓ |
Initial un-blocking of sinks, toilets, baths and wash-hand basins using un-blocking agents and/or plungers etc. |
✗ |
✓ |
Any Blockages to dishwashers and washing machines |
✗ |
✓ |
Cleaning toilet pans |
✗ |
✓ |
Isolating the water supply in the event of major leaks |
✓ |
✗ |
Taking appropriate steps to prevent pipes from bursting in winter |
✗ |
✓ |
WC seats, towel rails, toilet holders, bathroom mirrors |
✗ |
✓ |
Heating
Heating |
Incommunities |
Customer |
Ensuring that the property is properly heated and ventilated to prevent condensation and black mould growth |
✗ |
✓ |
Ensuring that the property has enough background heat in winter to prevent pipes from bursting |
✗ |
✓ |
Checking and adjusting heating controls including the Thermostat and timer |
✗ |
✓ |
Decoration, flooring and glazing
Decoration and minor plaster work |
Incommunities |
Customer |
Decoration to all walls, woodwork and ceilings |
✗ |
✓ |
Minor cracks to plaster works |
✗ |
✓ |
Flooring |
Incommunities |
Customer |
Repairing and replacement of all flooring (vinyl, carpet, laminated floors etc |
✗ |
✓ |
Screeding and floor levelling where needed |
✓ |
✗ |
Glazing |
Incommunities |
Customer |
Reglazing broken or cracked windows by our customers, friends and/or family |
✗ |
✓ |
Fitting of additional security measures such as sash jammers |
✗ |
✓ |
External pipes and drainage
External Pipes & Drainage |
Incommunities |
Customer |
Keeping gully grates clear of blockages |
✗ |
✓ |
Blocked gulleys |
✗ |
✓ |
Electrics
Electrics |
Incommunities |
Customer |
Replacement of all bulbs and tubes except for sealed bathroom units and external light fittings |
✗ |
✓ |
Testing and cleaning of smoke detectors including replacement batteries if not hard-wired |
✗ |
✓ |
Replacement plugs and fuses for customer-owned appliances such as kettles and TVs |
✗ |
✓ |
Domestic appliance faults and replacements such as cookers, fridges, ovens and dishwashers |
✗ |
✓ |
Repair and replacement of customer-installed electric fittings |
✗ |
✓ |
With guidance if necessary over the telephone, initial emergency isolation of the power supply in the event of an emergency |
✗ |
✓ |
Emergency isolation of power |
✓ |
✗ |
TV aerials and telephony
TV Aerials & Telephony |
Incommunities |
Customer |
Installation of TV aerials, and satellite dishes and resolving signal issues - unless it is a supply to communal areas |
✗ |
✓ |
TV Aerial/internet/telephone sockets |
✗ |
✓ |
Gardens, boundaries and balconies
Gardens, Boundaries & Balconies |
Incommunities |
Customer |
Customers must keep their gardens and/or balconies tidy |
✗ |
✓ |
Prevent animal fouling |
✗ |
✓ |
Cease from lighting fires including or having BBQs on their balconies |
✗ |
✓ |
Ensure that adequate fencing is insitu to prevent any dogs from escaping from their gardens (subject to formal consent or planning regulations) |
✗ |
✓ |
Obtain written consent before planting/removing any trees in/from their gardens |
✗ |
✓ |
Keep balconies free from anything that could be a danger to them or anyone who lives with them and any neighbours |
✗ |
✓ |
Renew broken clotheslines or posts |
✗ |
✓ |
Replace keys to any garages and/or sheds |
✗ |
✓ |
Repair any fencing, patios, and steps provided by our customers |
✗ |
✓ |
The repair or renewal of timber sheds, outbuildings or greenhouses |
✗ |
✓ |
Washing lines and washing posts |
✗ |
✓ |
Dividing fencing and gates |
✗ |
✓ |
Communal areas
Communal Areas |
Incommunities |
Customer |
Our customers and anyone who lives with them must help make sure that any communal areas are kept clean, tidy and clear of any obstruction |
✗ |
✓ |
Dustbins and the removal of household rubbish |
✗ |
✓ |
Adaptations and improvements
Customer must:
- Allow reasonable access to the property to carry out repairs, annual safety checks, services and any inspections needed
- Report to the police any criminal damage or break-ins
- Remove personal items which prevent operatives from carrying out repairs to the home including floor covering.
- Repair any alterations, installations, replacement fixtures fittings and extensions made by the customer themselves
- Carry out any repairs after a mutual exchange has been agreed resulting from neglect, misuse, wilful or accidental damage of the previous customer Repair any alterations, installations, replacement fixtures and fittings and extensions made by the customer themselves
Any repair caused by neglect, vandalism, misuse, wilful or accidental damage by a customer, friends, pets or any visitors to the property