You are responsible for keeping your home in reasonable condition. You are also responsible for:

• decorating the inside of your home, including repairing minor cracks in plaster prior to redecoration.
• maintaining the garden, including dustbins and rubbish areas, but not including the shared areas we maintain
• any repairs caused by neglect, deliberate damage to the property or forced entry if you get locked out.
• taking reasonable precautions to prevent damage to the property by fire, frost, burst water pipes or blocked drains
• trying to clear sink and basin blockages
• any fittings, appliances supplied or alterations carried out by yourself (including TV aerials, cookers, plumbing in washing machines and dishwashers) and adapting doors to fit carpets
• testing, keeping clean and replacing batteries (unless a sealed unit) in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms
• changing domestic fuses, fire bulbs, light bulbs and fluorescent tubes
• replacing keys and the locks if you lose your key or lock yourself out
• replacing plugs and chains and other bathroom fittings such as cabinets, mirrors, towel rails and toilet roll holders
• replacing hat and coat rails
• replacing floor covering
• washing lines
• bleeding the radiators (unless you have a combination boiler)
• sweeping chimneys, if you have an open fire or multi-fuel stove.  We will sweep the chimney as part of your yearly safety check but you may need to sweep the chimney more than once a year, depending on how you use it

If you are under 60 and do not live in accommodation where we provide support, you are also responsible for replacing:

• inside door handles and latches
• toilet seats
• hearth and fireplace tiles
• fire grates
• clothes posts and rotary driers

Rechargeable repairs

From time to time we find it necessary to charge tenants for repairs carried out on their property.

This can happen:

• if you have asked us to carry out a repair which is your responsibility
• if you have asked us to carry out repairs but we find that  damage has been caused by the neglect, fault or carelessness of you, your family or visitors, we will normally charge you for the repairs
• if you  are leaving your home to move elsewhere and do not leave it in a clean and tidy condition. Further guidance on what you should do if you are moving out can be found in our “ How to end your tenancy” leaflet
• if you have made an appointment for a repair to be done but are not in when the contractor calls
• if you report that your heating is not working but we find that the problem has been caused because you have run out of money on your pre-payment card, or run out of fuel (if you have oil or LPG)

If you report a repair which is rechargeable we will:

• tell that the work is rechargeable
• tell you that you may employ your own tradesperson to carry out the repair
• if possible, advise of the estimated cost of carrying out the repair
• ask you to either pay for the work in advance or sign an agreement to pay the amount you are billed for

Once the work is completed we will send you an account. If you feel that you cannot pay the whole amount in full you should contact us and we may be able to agree for you to pay the bill by instalments.

This account can be paid at any of the Association offices in Northallerton, Stokesley and Thirsk , by post or at any PayPoint outlet.