Your tenancy agreement

9.1 Rent

You must pay the rent and all other charges for your home regularly and on time.

9.2 Repairs and maintenance

9.2.1 You must take proper care of your home and report to us any repairs needed or damage to your home or its fixtures and fittings immediately. If you do not report a repair or damage, we will, where appropriate, charge you for extra work required as a result of your delay in reporting the repair or damage.

9.2.2 You must tell us if you do any repairs yourself or make any arrangements to have them done.

9.2.3 You must make sure that a competent person carries out to the relevant standard any work you get done at your home. Only a Gas Safe registered engineer must make any repair or improvements involving gas. If you have any electrical work done, this must be carried out by an NICEIC approved electrician. You must by law send us a copy of the certificate that the electrician has to give you.

9.3 Improvements and alterations.

9.3.1 Before making improvements or alterations to your home you must get our permission in writing. We will only refuse permission if there is good reason to do so, but we may set certain conditions. If we refuse permission, we will explain why. Before doing any work you are responsible for getting any necessary planning and building regulations approval.

9.3.2 You are responsible for paying any costs involved with the work.

9.3.3 We have the right to inspect any work you have done.

9.3.4 You will be responsible for repairing and maintaining all improvements, fixtures and fittings you have installed in your home for a period of 12 months after installing them. After that time, subject to any guarantees, we will maintain and repair them, as long as you had gained our permission for the work in the first place and, when inspected after completion, they were passed fit.

9.3.5 If you leave your home, you may take with you any installations or fixtures and fittings you were responsible for repairing and maintaining. However, you may only do this if you let us know which items you are taking; replace them with the original fittings; and return the property as it was before you improved it. If you don’t, we will restore the property to its original state and charge you for any materials and for the labour costs.

9.3.6 You may choose to leave behind the improvements you have made and, where we think they have definitely improved the property, you can claim compensation from us.

9.3.7 You are responsible for plumbing in washing machines and dishwashers. You should get a qualified and competent plumber to do this, as you will be held responsible for any damage resulting from leaks or faulty pipe work.

9.4 How to get our permission

If you need our written permission for anything, you should apply to us. We will only refuse permission if there is good reason to do so.

If we refuse permission, we will give our reasons in writing. If we give our permission, we may set certain reasonable conditions. If you do not meet these conditions, you will be breaking your tenancy agreement and we may withdraw our permission.

9.5 Access

You must give reasonable access to us or anyone we authorise to:

• inspect the condition of the property or how it is being used
• check that the people living there are the same people as are named on our records
• carry out maintenance, renewal, repairs or improvements
• meet health-and-safety requirements, such as our duty to inspect and service gas appliances once a year
• inspect, clean, maintain, repair or improve any other property or sewer, drain, pipe, wire or cabling that serves your property or any other property.

In an emergency we may not be able to give any notice and may need to force entry. If this happens, we will remedy any damage caused. This includes situations where we feel there is a risk of personal injury or damage to neighbouring properties.

You must allow access to your home for a yearly gas service. We need to make sure your gas appliances are safe. Inadequate heating or ventilation, or blocks or leaks in the flue, can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which can kill people.

If you do not respond to our requests to visit your home to inspect or service gas appliances, we may get a warrant to forcibly enter your home. We will give you at least 24 hours’ notice before this happens and we may charge you for forcing entry to your home and any costs.

9.6 Damage to property

You must ensure that you or anyone living with you or visiting your home, do not misuse, damage, vandalise or remove any part of the property, neighbouring property or shared area. You will be charged for repairing any damage caused to your home by you, anyone living with you or your visitors.

9.7 Living in your home

9.7.1 You must use this property as your only or main home.

9.7.2 You must tell us if you will be away from your home for more than 28 days. This is to ensure we do not repossess it as an abandoned property

9.7.3 You must tell us of any changes to your household; for example if anyone leaves or comes to live in your home, someone has a new baby or you take in a lodger. This will ensure that you do not overcrowd your home and to ensure any new member of your household is able to claim any rights they may be entitled to – for example they may have the right of succession if they are your husband/wife, civil partner or partner. It may also affect any benefits you may be entitled to.

9.7.4 You must allow us access to your home to check that this agreement is being complied with.

9.7.5 You must keep the inside of the property clean, tidy and reasonably decorated at all times.

9.7.6 You are responsible for insuring your home contents. We are not responsible for loss or damage to your possessions.

9.7.7 You must keep any yard, paths and open spaces within the boundary of the property clean, tidy and clear of rubbish.

9.7.8 You must keep the garden properly trimmed and cultivated and keep shrubs and hedges trimmed so they don’t overhang pavements or block light from neighbouring properties. You must make sure you get rid of garden waste properly.

9.7.9 You must keep drains, waste and soil pipes that serve your home clear and unblocked. We will charge you for any blockages that occur through misuse.

9.7.10 You must keep all shared areas, entrances, stairs and landings clean, tidy and free of litter and obstructions.

9.7.11 You must use any door-entry system properly. If the door-entry system is broken, you must report it immediately. Don’t leave any main entrance door open as this may reduce the security for all residents.

9.7.12 You must dispose of all rubbish properly. Put it in the correct bin for the type of rubbish it is, and put only recyclable products in the recycling bin. If we set aside a place for bins, you must use it properly and keep it locked where appropriate.