Connswater Homes Repair Manual

Improvements by the Tenant The Association encourages tenants to carry out improvements and alterations to their homes. However, you must get written permission first to ensure that your proposals are reasonable and acceptable. You must also, where applicable, conform with Planning and/or Building Regulations. Careful consideration is given to all requests to carry out improvement work and permission will normally be granted in the majority of cases, albeit that certain conditions may be applied. Certain qualifying improvements may be eligible for compensation when you vacate the property. Compensation claims will only be considered if the eligible improvement was carried out after 1st April 1994 and you have obtained written permission for it (prior to carrying out the works). Full details of the scheme can be obtained from the Association. Right To Repair The Right to Repair scheme is to ensure that tenants have urgent, minor repairs which might affect their health, safety or security, completed quickly by the Association’s contractors and at no cost to the tenant. If such repairs are not carried out within the predetermined timescales, tenants can request that the Association issues the work to another contractor. If the second contractor fails to complete the repair within the time period set the tenant may then be entitled to an initial compensation sum of £10 with further sums of £2 per day for each day that the repair remains uncompleted. The maximum sum for compensation under the Right to Repair scheme is £50. This scheme does NOT mean that you can have the work carried out yourself and that the Association will pay bills for such work in all circumstances. Full details of the scheme can be obtained for the Association’s website at www.connswater.org.uk/documents/tenants/ tenant-rightrepair or from the maintenance department by phoning 028 9065 6155.

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