Report a Repair

You don’t have to let us know if you are redecorating, but if you want to make any alterations or improvements to your home you need to request permission.

This can include:

• Removing or changing kitchen or bathroom units and fittings
• Installing central heating or moving radiators
• Putting up satellite dishes or television aerials
• Putting up sheds, fencing, driveways or decking

We will only grant permission to any alterations or improvements that require a Building Warrant or Planning Permission, on the condition that the plans have been approved by the Council’s Planning Department.

Right to compensation

If you are given permission to make alterations or improvements you might have the right to compensation at the end of your tenancy. Please contact us to find out if the work you have done is a “qualifying improvement”.

If we have to refuse permission to carry out any alterations or improvements in your home, we will always let you know the reasons why you cannot carry out the work, for example if the work was likely to cause damage to the property or cause a nuisance to your neighbours.

If you go ahead and make an alteration/improvement without our permission or fail to adhere to any of the conditions attached to our permission we will exercise our right to re-instate our property to its previous condition and you will be responsible for the cost of the work.

If you would like more information on what improvements or alterations you can make to your home, or if you would like to request permission, please contact us.

Apply Online Call us on 01475 807000

We have three categories of repair to help us prioritise our work. Each category has a target timescale.

Emergency Repairs

We attend emergency repairs and make them safe within 4 hours.

Urgent Repairs

We aim to complete urgent repairs within 2 working days.

Routine Repairs

We aim to complete routine repairs within 7 working days.

Chargeable Repairs

There are some repairs that you will have to pay for. We call these rechargeable repairs. Rechargeable repairs include:

• Repairs to damage that has been caused deliberately by you, your relatives or visitors;
• Callouts to fix TV signal problems if it is found that the fault is with your own equipment or leads;
• Callouts to emergency services when you do not give access;
• Repairs caused by a fault due to your fixtures, fittings, or installations;
• When you repeatedly fail to give access after making an arrangement to do so;
• Repairs to items installed by you which are your responsibility;
• Gaining access to the property where you have lost your keys;
• End of tenancy repairs where you fail to leave the property in an acceptable condition and to hand in 2 sets of keys.

If you are unsure if your repair falls into one of the above categories please contact us on 01475 807001.

Our Responsibilities

We are responsible for maintaining the structure and outside of your home and for ensuring that it’s fit to live in.

Properties that become vacant must reach a minimum standard before we re-let them. Before your tenancy starts we will inspect the house to make sure that it meets our minimum standard and carry out any work that is necessary. We will also inspect the common areas.

During your tenancy, we will carry out any necessary repairs to keep the property windproof, watertight and fit to live in.

Our responsibilities include:

• Drains, gutters and external pipes (except where blocked due to negligence)
• The roof
• Outside walls, doors, window sills and frames
• Internal walls, floors, ceilings, doors, and frames, staircases and landings (not including decoration)
• Chimneys, stacks, flues (not including sweeping)
• Pathways and steps
• Plasterwork
• Integral garages and stores
• Boundary walls and fences
• Heating systems, fires and services installed
• Door entry system
• Communal TV aerial systems
• Extractor fans (not including cleaning)
• Repairing any damage that we cause whilst carrying out repairs
• Necessary repairs that are a result of fire, flood or natural disaster
• Necessary repairs that are a result of acts of vandalism that have been reported to the police

We are not responsible for the following:

• any fixtures, fittings or items installed by you
• repairing damage caused by deliberate neglect, accident or negligence by you, anyone living with you, or visitors

We have a right to inspect your house or carry out repairs during reasonable times of the day. We will give you at least 24 hour’s notice in writing. If you do not let us enter the house, or in an emergency, we may force entry.

Your Responsibilities

You are responsible for the following:

• Reporting to us, as soon as possible, any damage to the house or common parts of the property
• Taking reasonable care of the house, including minor repairs and keeping it reasonably clean
• Internal decoration
• Carrying out miscellaneous repairs, such as damage to glass or sinks; replacing lost or broken keys,
• Replacing smoke-detector batteries
• Notifying us of emergencies and allowing access
• Taking reasonable care to ensure water pipes do not freeze, particularly if you are leaving the property unoccupied
• Arranging home contents insurance for your belongings. We can give you details on some of the options that are available.
• Asking permission before making any alterations

These lists are not exhaustive. Please phone us on 01475 807 001 and ask if you are uncertain.

As a Tenant of OTHA, you have the right to have certain small repairs carried out within a given timescale. This is called the ‘Right to Repair’ and is part of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

What does the Right to Repair cover?

The scheme covers certain repairs up to the value of £350.

The qualifying repairs are listed below:

• Unsafe power or lighting sockets or electrical fittings
• Loss or partial loss of electrical power, gas or water supply
• A blocked flue to an open fire or boiler
• External windows, doors or locks which are not secure
• Loss or partial loss of space or water heating if no alternative heating is available
• Toilets which do not flush (if there is no other toilet in the house)
• Blocked or leaking foul drains, soil stacks or toilet pans (if there is no other toilet in the house)
• Blocked sink, bath or basin
• Significant leaking or flooding from a water or heating pipe, tank or cistern
• Unsafe rotten timber flooring or stair treads
• Unsafe access to a path or step
• Loose or detached banisters or handrails
• Broken mechanical extractor fan in a kitchen or bathroom, which has no external window, or door.

How does it work?

When you report a repair we will let you know whether it is a qualifying repair. Repair times depend on the type of repair and we will tell you the maximum time allowed to carry out the repair. For example, we have one working day to repair your toilet if it is not flushing but we have three working days to repair a loose banister.

If our usual contractor does not start the qualifying repair within the time limit set, you can tell another contractor from our approved contractor's list to carry out the repair. We will then pay you £15.00 compensation for the inconvenience. If you are in arrears of rent, we may offset the compensation against arrears.

Please do not contact a second contractor unless you have a case to do so as you may be recharged for the call out.

How do I find out more? If you wish to find out more about the Right to Repair scheme please contact us.