Connswater Homes Tenant Handbook

Tenant’s Living in Apartments Service Charges

Tenants who live in apartments or schemes with communal spaces will pay a service charge along with their rent. This charge may cover window cleaning, grass cutting, replacement or repair of locks, doors & door furniture if they apply to the entrances of a communal building, repair of windows in communal spaces, rotary dryers in communal spaces, extermination of vermin within communal dwellings and other aspects unique to individual schemes. The services covered by your service charge will be listed in your tenancy agreement. Rechargeable Repairs If you leave your property in a poor condition or cause damage not considered as normal wear and tear you may be re-charged for the resulting repairs. This list is not exhaustive but provides an indication of damage that will be charged for if caused by neglect, carelessness or abuse. • Call outs or repairs to oil tanks and pipe work caused by the tenant allowing the tank to run out of oil • Scorched or damaged kitchen work tops • Holes in internal doors • Replacement of rotary dryers (except for new tenancy) • Replacement of wheelie bins (except for new tenancy) • Blocked / chocked pipes or toilet where blockage has been caused by tenant negligence Access to Your Home Access to your home is essential to carry out repairs to fix any internal problem that has been reported to the Association and where it is the responsibility of the Association. As contractors are unable to be unaccompanied in a tenant’s home, it is therefore essential that the Association is given a contact number to arrange access and if you are not able to be present you arrange for a friend or a family member to be there. If a contractor calls and you are out, then they will leave a calling card for you to contact them. If after 2 attempts by the contractor to get into your home and you have not contacted them, then YOU WILL BE CHARGED for this and the works order cancelled. Access may also be required by the Association’s staff to inspect repair items in your home as highlighted in your tenancy agreement. • Callout for electrical failure which is due to household appliance • Damage to wash-hand basins, WC bowls, baths and bath panels

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