Tenants – your right to repair

Apex tenants have the right to have minor urgent repairs carried out within a given timescale under the ‘Right to Repair’ scheme.

What is the ‘Right to Repair’ scheme?

The ‘Right to Repair’ scheme enables tenants to have urgent, minor repairs which affect health or safety completed quickly at no cost. The Scheme also provides for tenants to be compensated where such repairs have not been completed within a prescribed period.

What type of repair does compensation apply to?

Compensation applies to Emergency and Urgent repairs costing less than £250 only. The scheme is limited to general need family dwellings (not supported accommodation).

Routine repairs are not covered under the ‘Right to Repair’ scheme, but, if a repair that was initially categorised as routine and is subsequently upgraded to either urgent or emergency, the conditions of the scheme will apply from the time the repair is upgraded.

Prescribed period

The prescribed period for compensation entitlement is:

• Emergency repair response time – 24 hours
  The prescribed period after which tenants may be entitled to be compensated is 48 hours
• Urgent repair response time – 4 working days
  The prescribed period after which tenants may be entitled to be compensated is 8 working days

Once a repair is reported, Apex will send an acknowledgement to each tenant giving the latest date for completion of a repair and the name of the designated contractor.

Should the contractor fail to carry out the repair within the prescribed period, the tenant should contact our Property Services department in writing.

The appropriate Property Services Officer will investigate the issue and inform tenants of any entitlement due.

How much compensation is payable?

Compensation is payable as:

• An initial payment of £10.00
• Further payments of £2.00 for each day delayed thereafter
• Maximum compensation payable is £50.00

Tenants who owe money to the Apex such as rent arrears will have any entitlement to compensation under the ‘Right to Repair’ scheme offset against such sums.

Compensation entitlement shall only be released to the tenant.

When is the scheme not applicable?

The ‘Right to Repair’ scheme does not apply when:

• A repair is classified as routine
• The tenant has failed to provide reasonable access
• There are exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the Association e.g. severe weather conditions or parts are not readily available
• The tenant cancels the repair
• The cost of repair exceeds £250.00
• The repair requires an inspection

Further information

If you have any questions or require more information you can contact your housing officer at Apex.

Contact your Housing Officer at Apex:

Apex Housing Association Ltd