Repairs & Maintenance
Please click on any of the headings below for further information on repairs and maintenance.
New properties
Properties over 1 year old
Reporting repairs
Your responsibilities
Major repairs
Improvements to your home
Existing improvements
If you have bought a newly built property, for the first year the builder will normally be responsible for putting right any problems relating to defects caused by faulty workmanship or materials.
Any other defects will be your responsibility. The defects period runs from the date that the property is handed over by the builder to "Johnnie" Johnson Housing Trust, and not from the date that you moved in. Any defects noted during this period should be reported to our Leasehold Team who will pass on the work requested to the builder.
"Johnnie" Johnson Housing Trust is normally responsible, under the terms of your lease, for certain items of external repair and maintenance, for example:
- The roof
- External Walls
- Any exterior drainage pipes
- Exterior wiring to the main fuse box
- Original fencing and boundary walls
- Communal parts such as a shared entrance halls, lifts, shared TV aerials
- 24 hour emergency alarm equipment
- Door entry systems
An NHBC Building Guarantee may cover your property if it is less than 10 years old. The guarantee will only cover specific repairs. Please ensure that you have received a copy of the NHBC booklet if you are a buying a new home.
If you need to report a repair you can either contact your Scheme Manager or Visiting Warden or telephone the Leasehold Team. Alternatively, you can report it to your Housing Manager when they visit the scheme. In an emergency you may report a repair to Astraline using your warden call equipment if this is provided or by telephoning Astraline on 0845 7231021. Please note that Astraline are only able to arrange repairs to parts which are the responsiblity of "Johnnie" Johnson Housing Trust.
When you report a repair we will be able to tell you whether the repair is our responsibility and whether the repair is being handled as an emergency, urgent or routine repair. This will depend on the nature of the repair and will determine how long we will give the contractor to complete the repair.
CLASSIFICATION OF REPAIRS
- Emergency Repairs—these repairs are to be completed within 24 hours of being reported.
- Urgent Repairs—these repairs should be completed within 3 working days of being reported (excluding Saturday and Sunday).
- Non-urgent Repairs-these repairs should be completed within 28 days of being reported.
You are responsible for the repair, maintenance and decoration within your home, including your keys, hot and cold water pipe work, hot and cold water tanks, ball valves, gas boilers, cookers and fires (other than where there is a communal heating system), light fittings, wiring, switches, immersion heaters, fitted cupboards and bathroom fittings.
You are responsible for arranging to have your gas appliances serviced on an annual basis. Repairs which are your responsibility must be arranged and paid for by you, unless the repair can be claimed for under the terms of the building insurance policy (see the information leaflet on Buildings Insurance).
When we need to carry out major works such as replacing windows, external parking etc. we will consult with you. If the work will cost more than £250 per property we will consult following the requirements in the Commonhold & Leasehold Reform Act 2002.
All contributing leaseholders will be provided with a description, in general terms, of the works proposed.
We will provide you with our reasoning of why the works are necessary and invite observations in relation to the proposed works.
You normally have a right to carry out improvements or alterations to your home, but should always
- Check your lease to ensure alterations are permitted.
- Get written permission from "Johnnie" Johnson Housing Trust.
- Ensure that the proposed works conform with building regulations.
- Get any necessary planning permission.
The Trust will not unreasonably refuse permission to carry out improvements, providing the work is carried out to an acceptable standard. Your improvements will not result in additional charges in rent but may affect your service charge due to the extra maintenance costs, which may arise. The value of any improvement is included in the valuation if you sell your home, but is disregarded when shared owners apply to buy further shares in the property.
If the Trust plan improvements to your home, which will increase your rent or service charge, we will consult with you and seek your agreement before any work begins. (See Major Repairs).
If you buy a property which has been improved by the previous owner, you will be responsible for the repair and future maintenance of these improvements, including;
- Conservatories
- Porches
- External Doors
- Windows
If any additions have been provided by "Johnnie" Johnson Housing Trust, these will not be your responsiblity.
Where possible, we will advise you of any alterations that have been made to a property, prior to purchase.
