North Wales Housing

This is your guide to the standard we aim to achieve for repairing, decorating and the cleanliness in your new home.

If you find work needs to be done, speak to your Housing Officer when you view your new home as we may already have arranged it.

Because of the shortage of housing in the area we need you to move in as quickly as possible.  So although we will do some repairs before you move in, other repairs will have to wait till afterwards.  The “smiley faces” in the tables in this leaflet show which repairs are done and when.

After your tenancy starts we may also carry out work that is part of our property investment programme to improve your home.

If any of your rooms need redecorating, we will give you vouchers so you can choose your own materials.  We will generally expect you to decorate but in exceptional circumstances we may be able to offer assistance.  If you cannot carry out the decorating you should discuss it with your Housing Officer.

We will visit you after you move in to make sure you have settled in and check that all the repairs are on target.

The standards we will provide to New Tenants

Main Services		Before your tenancy starts	After your tenancy starts
Electrical Items
Safety	We will remove any dangerous fittings
	We will send a qualified electrician to inspect your property and give us a safety certificate
	We will fit a smoke detector or check that the existing ones work properly
Sockets	We will supply at least one double socket in each room
	We will renew faulty lamp holders and sockets
Gas	If there is gas at the property:
Safety	We will ensure there is a gas safety certificate for the property. We will give you a copy of it.
	We will send a registered contractor to test/service gas boilers, fires and water heaters when gas is available.
Cookers	We will ensure there is a working bayonet connection for gas cookers when gas is available.
Water
	A plumbing inspection will be carried out
	We will check the stopcock and ensure it works and show you where it is.
	We will make sure that taps are in good working order
	We will ensure drinking water is provided to the kitchen sink
Floors, walls, ceilings and stairs		Before your tenancy starts	After your tenancy starts
Floors
	Wooden floors will be fixed to joists. We will repair gaps, splits or holes in floors and skirtings that could be a risk to your safety.
Condition	We will make sure all floors are safe, level and ready for your floor coverings. Carpet grippers glued to the floor will remain in place.
Kitchen, Bathroom, Toilet	The floor covering in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet will be water resistant.
Tiles	We will replace any broken or missing tiles or other floor covering with the nearest colour match
Walls
	We will repair loose plaster but you may need to fill minor cracks when decorating.
Tiles	We will replace any broken or missing wall tiles
Ceilings
	We will make sure all ceilings are secure and safe. There will be no loose plaster but you may need to fill minor cracks.
Stairs
Condition	We will make sure stairs are secure and have no gaps, splits or holes that could be a risk to your safety.
Safety	We will make sure staircase and landing rails and banisters are secure and safe.
Kitchen		Before your tenancy starts	After your tenancy starts
Units or cupboards	You will have at least one double floor cupboard with a work surface, and a wall cupboard. These units may not match exactly.
Sink unit	The sink will have at least a single drainer, a plug and chain.
	We will make sure the unit has a tiled splash back
Condition	We will make sure the cupboards and work surfaces have no deep scratches or burns
	We will make sure all cupboard doors and drawers open and close
Cooker	There will be an electric and gas cooker point (in properties with a gas supply)
Ventilation	We will make sure you have either an opening window or an extractor fan
Washing machine	In most instances a washing machine point will be made available.
Bathroom and Toilet		Before your tenancy starts	After your tenancy starts
Bathroom
	We will make sure the bath or shower is clean and has no serious cracks or defects. The bath will have a plug and chain.
The Bath	The bath will have tiled splash backs and your shower area will be tiled if applicable.
Ventilation	We will make sure you have either an opening window or an extractor fan
Toilet
	We will make sure the toilet is clean and replace the toilet seat if it is broken or missing.
Working order	We will make sure the toilet flushes properly and the system is not rusty
Ventilation	We will make sure you have either an opening window or an extractor fan
Wash hand basin
	We will make sure the hand basin is clean with no serious cracks or damage. However, we will allow minor cracks to the glaze.
	The basin will have a tiled splash back.
Doors and windows		Before your tenancy starts	After your tenancy starts
Doors
Locks	We will make sure that the locks to outside doors have been changed from those of the ex-tenant. We will provide at least one key for each lock.
Glazing	We will make sure glass in doors is not cracked and will secure it.
Windows
	Windows will open and close properly. If keys are not available, windows will be unlocked.
	We will replace broken house/flat sealed window units with temporary glazing/boarding and replace when the correct units are available
Heating and hot water		Before your tenancy starts	After your tenancy starts
Space Heating
	We will make sure there is a source of heating to your main living room
Hot water
	You will be able to get hot water from a time-controlled boiler, or an immersion heater
Cylinder
	We will make sure the hot water tank has an insulation jacket
Other matters		Before your tenancy starts	After your tenancy starts
Cleanliness
	We will clean the property to a good standard and remove all rubbish
	We will remove all carpets left by the previous resident unless you have arranged to keep them.
Insulation
	We will insulate loft spaces, water tanks and pipes
	We will provide an Energy Performance Certificate to each new tenant
Weatherproofing
	The roof and outside walls will be weatherproof, including sheds / garages where provided