Maintaining your Home

Our aim is to make sure that your home is well managed and in good repair, providing you with a high quality home at an affordable rent. Some repairs are our responsibility and some are your responsibility.

With our in-house maintenance teams at local depots, backed by quality approved specialist contractors, we aim to provide a first class maintenance service. We aim to carry out repairs quickly and efficiently and to see that maintenance is carried out to a high standard. We continue to meet and improve our target response times and customer satisfaction is at a high level.

The Repairs and Maintenance section of your handbook "A Guide to Services" gives you all the information you need about the repairs we carry out and the target times for completion.

Repairs and Maintenance Leaflet

Repairs we are responsible for

We have responsibility for maintaining the structure and fabric of the building which includes keeping in good repair:-

• the structure and fabric of all dwellings and common areas, including drains, gullies and external pipes.
• all water, gas, electric, sanitation, space and water heating systems installed by us.
• communal lighting.
• all fire fighting and detection equipment supplied by us.

In addition the Government has drawn up a list of what are known as Qualifying Repairs which we must carry out.

If we fail to carry out a qualifying repair which costs no more than £250 you may be eligible for compensation. This may apply if it is not carried out in a specified period and likely to jeopardise your health, safety and security.

For more information, please ask for a copy of our Right to Repair leaflet.

Your Right to Repair leaflet

Report a Repair

If you need to report an emergency or urgent repair, please phone us immediately on 0800 096 8690. If you need to report a routine repair please contact us using the email link below.

Emergency Repairs

Emergencies are works which present a risk to life, which may cause severe structural damage or endangers a life or property. These are normally repaired within 24 hours of being reported and typically include floods, burst pipes, main drains, serious fires, serious electrical faults.

Urgent Repairs

These are repairs that affect safety, health and security of your home, but whilst they are important, they are not emergencies. Normally urgent repairs will be completed within four working days and examples include electrical repairs (e.g. faulty light switches and bulb holders), plumbing repairs (e.g. overflow), external door locks and window catches.

Routine Repairs

These are jobs which are not urgent and are normally completed within 18 working days of being reported. Examples include internal joinery, minor plumbing repairs, walls and ceiling plaster defects, replacement of sanitary ware, repairs to boundary fences and gates where safety is a concern, repairs to garages, path and paving works.

Report a Routine Repair

If you would like to report a routine repair, please use this email address. Please give your name, address, contact phone number and full details of your repair. A member of our customer services team will contact you to discuss your repair and to book an appointment with you for a repairs operative to visit.

enquiries@ssha.co.uk

Improvement Programmes

We invest in our homes through major improvement programmes.

Past programmes have included new PVCu windows and mains powered smoke detectors. Ongoing programmes include kitchens, bathrooms, storm porches for bungalows, new roofs, rewiring and replacement central heating.

Kitchen Installation leaflet

Making Your Own Improvements

At some time you may want to make some improvements to your home that are not covered under our repairing responsibilities, or replace something in your home that we are not due to replace for several years. In this case you may want to carry out the work yourself.

You must get written permission from us before making any alterations or improvements. We cannot unreasonably refuse to allow you to carry out improvements to your home, but improvements which we believe will reduce the value of your home or cause a nuisance to your neighbours will not usually be allowed. We may also set some guidelines that you must comply with. You should also check with the Council's Planning Department to see if you need Planning Permission.

We will inspect your proposals to see if they comply with Building Regulations. Once works are completed we will visit you to check that the works have been completed and are of a satisfactory standard.

Any improvements you carry out to your home will not lead us to increase your rent.

Application Forms: Permission to carry out Improvements:

Application For Permission to Carry Out Alterations

Application For Permission to Install a Shower

Application to Erect Fencing

Application To Erect a Greenhouse or Shed

Application to Install a Satellite Dish

Application For Access Crossing and Driveway or Garage

Compensation for Improvements

The Right to To Compensation allows you to claim some money towards the cost of carrying out certain types of improvements if you move away from your home soon after completing them. The improvements that are covered under this right are the type of work that is covered under our repairing responsibilities.

For a full list and the process that you will need to follow to make a claim, please download our "Right to Compensation for Improvements" leaflet.

Your Right to Compensation for Improvements Leaflet

Grounds Maintenance

We maintain large areas of open spaces and gardens, which includes grassed areas, shrub beds and trees in communal gardens and open areas.

Our aim is to provide clean and tidy areas, this involves grass cutting, tree surgery, hedge trimming, litter collection and weed control.

Full details of our grounds maintenance service are given in the Guide to Services leaflet Gardens and Open Areas.

Gardens and Open Areas leaflet