Right to Repair

Important

This is only a general guide. It is not a complete statement of the Right to Repair Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. If you want to know more about your rights, you should get advice from us or a solicitor or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

 

What is the right to repair?

Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, our tenants have the right to have small urgent repairs carried out by Grampian Housing Association within a given timescale.  This is called the Right to Repair scheme.

The Right to Repair scheme applies to all tenants of local authorities, housing associations (including tenants who are members of fully mutual co-operative housing associations) and water and sewerage authorities.

What happens when I report a repair?

When you report a repair, we will let you know whether it is our responsibility and whether it is a qualifying repair under the Right to Repair scheme. We may need to inspect your home to find out whether the repair is a qualifying repair or not.

If the repair does qualify under the scheme, we will:

  • tell you the maximum time allowed to carry out the repair;
  • tell you the last day of that period;
  • explain your rights under the Right to Repair scheme;
  • give you the name, address and phone number of their usual contractor and at least one other contractor from a list; and
  • make arrangements with you to get into your home to carry out the repair.

How long does Grampian Housing Association have to carry out the repair?

Repair times depend on the type of repair.

If your toilet is not flushing, we usually have one working day to come and repair it.  But we have three working days to mend a loose bannister rail and seven working days to mend a broken extractor fan in your bathroom or kitchen. These times are set by law, not by Grampian Housing Association.

Sometimes there may be circumstances which Grampian Housing Association or our contractor has no control over which make it impossible to do the repair within the maximum time (for example, severe weather).  In these circumstances we may need to make temporary arrangements and to extend the maximum time.  If we are going to do this, we must let you know.

What happens if the work is not done in time?

If our usual contractor does not start the qualifying repair within the time limit set, you can tell another contractor from Grampian Housing Association's approved contractors list to carry out the repair.  You cannot use a contractor who is not on approved contractor's list.  The other contractor will then tell us that you have asked them to carry out the repair.  Grampian Housing Associaition will then pay you £15 compensation for the inconvenience.  If Grampian Housing Association's main contractor has started but not completed the repair within the maximum time, you will also be entitled to £15 compensation.

How long does the other contractor have to complete the repair?

The other contractor has the same length of time to carry out the repair as our main contractor.  If they do not carry out the repair within the time limit set, you will be entitled to another £3 compensation for each working day until the repair has been completed.  This amount can add up to a maximum compensation payment of £100 for any one repair.

What if there is no other contractor available?

In this case, our main contractor will carry out the repair but you will still be entitled to the £15 compensation payment.

What happens if I am out when the contractor calls to carry out the inspection or repair?

If the contractor cannot get into your home at the time you have agreed with us, your right to repair will be cancelled. You will then have to re-apply and start the process again.

Who pays for the repair?

Grampian Housing Association pays for the repair.  If you have told another contractor to carry out the repair, the contractor should send the bill direct to the us.

Significant Performance Failures

A significant performance failure will occur when the Association fails to do something, or takes action that will put its tenants' interests at risk.  It will normally relate to the Association's failure to meet its legal requirements or tenant commitments and it will affect many or all of the Association's tenants.  A significant performance failure will relate to services provided to tenants, for example, the Association fails to carry out health and safety required, such as annual gas safety checks. 

 

When a service failure affects only one tenant or a small number of tenants then this will be dealt with as a complaint.

 

For more information read the Scottish Housing Regulator's  Significant Performance Failures Tenant Leaflet.

 

For more information about how to raise a concern about a social landlord please visit the Scottish Housing Regulator’s website.