Priorities and responsibilities
When you report a repair, the work will be prioritised.
- Priority 1: Emergency repairs: risk of immediate danger to people and/or significant damage to property (e.g. this could be a substantial leak or flood that can’t be contained by the tenant).
We will attend within 2 hours to make safe with the objective of completing the repair within 24 hours or the next working day (if attended by the out of hours service).
- Priority 2: Urgent repairs: risk of danger to people and/or damage to property if not attended to within three days.
To be completed within 3 working days.
- Priority 3: Routine repairs: low risk of danger to people and/or further damage to property.
To be completed within 20 working days.
When you call to report a repair, the call taker will tell you how the repair has been prioritised and book an appointment with you within timescales above.
Repair responsibilities
Depending on the type of repair, some are the responsibility of the council, the tenant or the leaseholder. You should check before contacting the council to request a repair. Any SBC repair that has been caused by damage or neglect will be rechargeable. We may agree to undertake some tenant responsibility repairs in exceptional circumstances and recharge.
Leaseholders please note: Repair responsibilities for leaseholders differ depending on your lease agreement. Please check your lease for confirmation of responsibility for repairs.
The structure
| Repair description |
Council tenancies SBC |
Council tenancies Tenant |
Lease holder |
|
Roof and chimney stacks/breasts (brickwork, flashing, cowls and protective fittings)
|
Yes |
No |
No |
| Chimney cleaning |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Walls, foundations and flooring (floorboards, MDF panel or concrete screed and lino in kitchen/bathroom/wet rooms) |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Heating, power and sanitary installations
| Repair description |
Council tenancies SBC |
Council tenancies Tenant |
Lease holder |
| Central heating boilers and radiators |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Council-supplied gas and electric fires |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Electricity wiring and gas and water* pipework from meter or point of entry into the property.
*the council may be responsible for water supply pipework outside the property and some pipework passing through leasehold properties.
|
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Blocked and damaged drains and sewers |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Slow-draining/blocked sink, hand basin and bath waste traps/u-bends |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| W.C. pans, sinks and cisterns |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Fixtures and fittings
| Repair description |
Council tenancies SBC |
Council tenancies Tenant |
Lease holder |
| Laminate flooring, carpets and other non-council floor coverings |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Kitchen sinks, units and worktops |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Toilet seats |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Curtain battens, rails, shelves and coat hooks |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Standard light and fluorescent light bulbs and starter fittings |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Electrical sockets, light switches and pull cords |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Sink plugs and toilet chains |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Smoke alarm batteries |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Hard-wired smoke alarms |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Shower rails and curtains |
No |
Yes |
No |
Doors and windows
| Repair description |
Council tenancies SBC |
Council tenancies Tenant |
Lease holder |
| External doors, hinges and locks |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Internal doors and hinges and privacy door locks |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Window frames and glazing panes, latches, locks, putty and sills |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Failed seal in double glazing units (not caused by pane break)
|
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Gaining access/lost keys |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Gardens
| Repair description |
Council tenancies SBC |
Council tenancies Tenant |
Lease holder |
| Individual washing lines and rotary driers |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Washing lines/driers in communal areas |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Dividing fencing and gates for tenants/ leaseholder gardens * The council will maintain any estate boundary fencing |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Garden sheds, greenhouses and patios |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Decoration
| Repair description |
Council tenancies SBC |
Council tenancies Tenant |
Lease holder |
| Internal decorations including minor plastering |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| External decorations |
Yes |
No |
No |
Other repairs
| Repair description |
Council tenancies SBC |
Council tenancies Tenant |
Lease holder |
| White goods and non-council appliances |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Improvements and alterations by you or previous tenants |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Communal and external areas
| Repair description |
Council tenancies SBC |
Council tenancies Tenant |
Lease holder |
| Footpaths to your front door |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Estate paths across grounds |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Gates and fencing to alleyways and drying areas |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Play equipment |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Door entry systems *Damage to door entry system handsets may be rechargeable |
Yes |
No |
No |
Refuse and recycling
| Repair description |
Council tenancies SBC |
Council tenancies Tenant |
Lease holder |
| Cleaning individual refuse/recycling bins |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Replacing lost or stolen bins (via MyCouncil) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
