Repair Responsibilities

As a valued customer, it is our responsibility to provide you with a repairs and maintenance service which makes sure your home stays safe, warm, secure and in good condition.  

While most repair responsibilities are included in our repair, maintenance and replacement service, as a customer you also have some responsibilities of your own to maintain, fix or replace items when needed.  

For example, as your landlord we are responsible for things such as the building structure and some areas outside of your home, any fixtures and fittings we have provided, and any repairs or replacements in communal areas. Customers are responsible for things such as bleeding radiators, unblocking sink drains, and painting and decorating.  

You can find a full list of what repairs we are responsible for, and those that are yours, below.

Tenant's Repair Responsibilities

Whilst it is Accent's responsibility to deliver a reliable repairs service to our customers, it also a tenants responsibility to look after their home, ensuring that it is kept in good working order. This leaflet sets out who is responsible for what under the terms of your tenancy agreement.

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Who repairs what?

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Basins or sinks – unless the damage has been caused deliberately.
Appliances we have provided (unless Accent has 'gifted' these to you).
Sealant around kitchen units and sanitary fittings.
Replacing tap washers.
Unblocking outside waste pipes.
Upkeep of the water supply and water pipes.

Chimneys.
Fireplaces, fitted fires and central heating systems, including boilers.
Gas pipes and appliances we have provided (unless Accent has 'gifted' these to you).
Servicing of gas fires and fireplaces*

*Existing gas fires will be serviced annually, but not replaced when we view them to be beyond economical repair.

Electrical wiring including sockets and switches.
RCD (residual current device) fuses. Often referred to as a fuse board or box which are a safety measure, acting as a trip switch.

Any repairs or replacement items in communal (shared) areas.
Major cracks in walls or ceilings (for example, more than 5mm wide at any point).
Door entry systems, including handsets and phones that we have provided.
Any fixtures and fittings we have provided.
Flooring in communal areas.
Painting and decorating in communal areas.
Pest control (not in your home, in communal areas only).
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Communal TV aerials and satellite dishes.
Washing lines or rotary driers.

Boundary walls, fences and gates that lead onto public footpaths or other public areas.
Doors and doorsteps.
Drains, gutters and outside pipes.
Garages and brick-built stores (not sheds).
Painting.
Paths and walkways (where these are shared or form the main access to your home).
Communal washing lines or rotary dryers that were provided or fitted by us.
Window sills, catches, sash cords and window frames.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Plumbing and the replacement of fixtures and fittings you have fitted.
Replacing bath panels.
Blocked baths, basins, sinks and showers.
Broken toilet seats.
New plugs and chains.
Shower curtains, shower hoses and heads and riser rails replacements.

Bleeding radiators and adjusting pressure.

Replacing fluorescent tubes and starter motors.
Re-setting trip switches in fuse boxes.
Replacing light bulbs.

Minor cracks in walls and ceilings (2mm or less is generally viewed as cosmetic).
Replacing curtain poles, rails and tracks.
Changing and re-hanging doors to allow for new carpets and flooring, including re-fixing draught excluders.
Replacing, maintaining and fitting doorbells.
Replacing and repairing inside doors and door 'furniture' (for example, handles and latches).
Repairing or replacing flooring (except flooring we have provided in kitchens and bathrooms).
Replacing lost or broken keys. We will replace communal keys and fobs, but we will recharge you for these.
Letterbox repairs or replacements.
Painting and decorating, including after any damage caused by a leak.
Pest control (in your own home).
TV aerials or satellite dishes.
Window glazing and handles.

Replacing dustbins.
Keeping gardens tidy, including looking after hedging and trees.
Replacing and repairing fencing, gates and walls unless they border a public footpath or road.