Repair responsibilities
Responsibilities for both general needs and sheltered accommodation.
Here's a comprehensive guide to who is responsible for repairs in and around your Chorus Homes property. If any information differs from what is outlined in your tenancy agreement, your tenancy agreement takes precedence.
You are responsible for:
- Repairing things that have been damaged through neglect or misuse (we will carry out health and safety repairs but you may be charged)
- Keeping the inside of your home clean and in a good condition
- Keeping your garden area tidy and free of rubbish
- Carrying out minor repairs and replacements, these are repairs that require no technical ability and use common household tools
- Internal decoration (including after leaks and/or maintenance works)
- Your own appliances, fittings and any DIY
- Making yourself aware of the location of the stopcock in your home and turning it off in the event of a severe water leak
- Your contents – please make sure you have contents insurance
- Informing us when repairs are needed
- Providing reasonable access for repairs to be carried out and for items to be serviced where applicable
- Obtain our permission before making any changes or improvements to your home
If you have any difficulties with your responsibilities:
- Ask a family member, neighbour or friend for help – you may be surprised at how helpful they can be!
- Follow a how to guide online
- Find an accredited trades person – try checkatrade.com for recommendations in your area
We are responsible for:
- Maintaining the structure of your home, ensuring it is safe, secure and weatherproof
- Ensuring that all fixtures and fittings for the supply of water, gas, electricity, heating and sanitation are in working order
- Maintaining communal areas and facilities tidy and free of rubbish (unless there is a separate managing agent)
If you are using a mobile device, you should be able to move the following tables from side to side if they go off the page.
| Kitchen | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Chorus Homes | Tenant | Emergency Repair |
| Taps | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Where there is complete loss of water supply |
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Check out an online how to guide on changing tap washers. If you feel comfortable doing this, you do not need our permission! If you are not able to get drinking water from the kitchen tap, you can boil water from the bathroom to purify it and put it in the fridge to use for drinking water! |
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| Stopcock | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not tenant |
| Make sure you know the location of your stop cock so you can turn the water supply off in the case of a major leak. | |||
| Blocked sink | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
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Make sure you plunge and use drain un-blockers before requesting our attendance, if the blockage is due to something you have put down the sink you will be charged. if you are not able to empty your water in the kitchen sink, you can use a bowl and empty it outside or in the bath. |
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| Blocked gully drain | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
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To avoid blockages always ensure no food waste or other solids are in your waste water before tipping it down the sink. check that the drain is clear of debris, it’s a common place for leaves to collect and this could be the cause of the problem! |
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| Florescent tube | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
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Check if fuse has tripped. Sometimes this can happen when a bulb blows. Check out an online how to guide on how to change tubes and starter motors. |
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| Water leaks | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Only where uncontainable |
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Please note Chorus Homes will repair leaks in your property, however we don’t do any redecorating following the repair. Always ensure your contents insurance is up to date as this would pay for any of your belongings that may get damaged as a result of leaks. |
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| Splash-back tiling and Sealant | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| if you are comfortable using sealant you do not need our permission to re-seal existing tiles! | |||
| Window handles and hinges | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Blown window units | Not Chorus Homes | Chorus Homes responsible | Not an emergency |
| Damaged glazing in window | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | We will board up as emergency repair |
| If it was caused by criminal damage call 101 for a crime reference number, we will repair proven criminal damage at no cost to you. | |||
| Electrical sockets | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
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Is it one of your appliances causing the sockets to trip? Please check this before requesting our attendance. Put tape over the socket to prevent anyone in the property trying to use the socket. |
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| Extractor fans | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Cover pans when cooking to reduce excess moisture. | |||
| Washing machine connection points | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Please note we will only repair the pipework in the property. We do not repair or replace any fixtures of your machine or the hoses that connect it to our pipes. | |||
| Connecting, maintaining and disconnecting own appliances | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| You must ensure that it is carried out by a suitably qualified person. | |||
| Cooker socket | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Loose wall units / units damaged as result of a leak | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Tightening hinges and re-fixing handles to wall and base units | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Tightening hinges, drawer fronts, runners, shelves and backs of drawers | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Tightening or replacing internal door hinges and handles | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Sink plugs and chains | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Ventilate kitchen and keep free of mould | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Ventilate kitchen and keep free of mould - check out the video on our website for advice on managing condensation in your home. Call our Service Center if you would like information sent out in the post. | |||
| Bathroom/toilet | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Chorus Homes | Tenant | Emergency Repair |
| Toilet seat, lid and hinges | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Window handles and hinges | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Unfrosted blown window units | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Toilet cistern including flush handle and toilet pan | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | If affecting use and no second toilet in property |
| Blocked basin, bath and shower | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Make sure you plunge and use drain unblockers before requesting our attendance, if the blockage is due to mis-use you will be charged. | |||
| Blocked toilet | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | If no second toilet in property |
| Water leaks | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Uncontainable leaks only |
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Always ensure your contents insurance is up to date as this would pay for any of your belongings that may get damaged as a result of leaks. Find a container or towel to catch the water. |
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| Bath panel | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| We will only replace panels where we have damaged them. | |||
| Sealant around splash-back tiles and sanitary fittings | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Sealant around splash-back tiles and sanitary fittings - if you are comfortable using sealant you do not need our permission! | |||
| Wet room shower mechanics | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Where not able to use for washing |
| Wet room shower hose, shower head, shower riser and any attachments | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Shower curtains and rails | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Showers over a bath | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Any shower in situ is gifted to you, if you wish to replace a faulty shower you must request our permission. | |||
| Taps | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Check out an online how to guide on changing tap washers. If you feel comfortable doing this, you do not need our permission! | |||
| Extractor fans | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Replacement bulbs to sealed units | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| check out our website for a handy video on how to remove the sealed unit cover. | |||
| Replacement bulbs to shaving lights | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Basin and bath plugs and chains | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Internal door handle, hinges and bolt | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Ventilating the bathroom and keeping it clean and free of mould | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Check out our video on our website about lifestyle tips that reduce condensation. | |||
| All rooms | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Chorus Homes | Tenant | Emergency Repair |
| Bannisters, balustrades and handrails | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Blown window units (other than lounge) | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Window handles and hinges | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Smoke alarms | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| You must not remove the smoke alarm. | |||
| Carbon Monoxide alarms | If there is an open fire or solid fuel heating | If you do not have solid fuel or an open fire | Is classed as an emergency |
| Damage to Chorus Homes property caused by leaks | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
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Please note Chorus Homes will repair damage caused by leaks in your property, however we don’t do any redecorating following the repair. Make sure you have contents insurance to protect your property. |
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| Internal doors – tightening or replacing hinges or handles | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| TV aerial and dish | Communal aerials only | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Electrical sockets | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
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Is it one of your appliances causing the sockets to trip? Please check this before requesting our attendance. Put tape over the socket to prevent anyone in the property trying to use the socket. |
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| Radiators | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| No heating | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Between Nov 1st and Feb 28th |
| Use an online how to guide on trouble shooting user errors on the boiler in your home. | |||
| No hot water | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Where there are no alternative forms |
| Blocked chimney | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Decorating | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Redecorating following a repair | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Replacing light bulbs | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Inside and out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Chorus Homes | Tenant | Emergency Repair |
| Pest control | Communal areas only | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| All fixtures and fittings installed with our permission | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| This includes anything left in situ by previous occupants, as this will have been gifted to you. | |||
| Replacement keys | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Chorus Homes do not have spare keys for individual properties. | |||
| Outside | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Chorus Homes | Tenant | Emergency Repair |
| Leak from overflow pipe | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Roof leak | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | If causing Health & Safety concern |
| Guttering blocked or broken | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Fencing | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | If causing Health & Safety concern |
| We are responsible for marking our boundary line. If there is a large area of fencing that needs to be replaced we may use alternative materials to mark the boundary line. For example we may replace wooden fencing with a post and chain-link fence. | |||
| Garage doors and locks | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Only if car is stuck in garage |
| Washing lines | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Wooden shed | Not Chorus Homes | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Brick shed | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| Garden maintenance and grass cutting | Communal only | Tenant responsible | Not an emergency |
| Communal areas | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Chorus Homes | Tenant | Emergency Repair |
| TV aerials – if applicable | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |
| If you live in a flat that benefits from a communal aerial first check with your neighbours to see if they are having issues. This is a quick way to establish if it’s the aerial or your equipment that is causing the problem. | |||
| Lifts | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Where it's the only lift on site |
| Lights | Chorus Homes responsible | Not tenant | Not an emergency |