Who is responsible for repairs?

When something goes wrong in your home, it’s important to know whether the repair is your responsibility or ours.

As your landlord, Arawak Walton is responsible for most repairs and maintenance to your home and the building. However, there are some repairs and areas of maintenance that you are responsible for as a tenant.

Repairs that are your responsibility

Your tenancy agreement sets out the repairs and maintenance you are responsible for. These can include:

• Minor repairs and maintenance, such as tightening loose handles or fittings.
• Damage caused accidentally or deliberately by you, members of your household or visitors.
• Looking after fittings or appliances that you have installed yourself.
• Replacing lost or mislaid keys.
• Most pest infestations, such as mice, ants, fleas, wasps and cockroaches.
• Internal decoration and keeping your home in a reasonable condition.

Some common examples include:

Plumbing and heating

• Replacing plugs and chains on baths, basins and sinks.
• Re-lighting a boiler pilot light where appropriate.
• Connecting washing machines and dishwashers, and dealing with leaks from appliances you have installed.
• Unblocking toilets, baths, showers, basins, sinks and waste pipes.
• Replacing broken toilet seats.

Electrical

• Replacing electrical plugs and fuses.
• Resetting circuit breakers.
• Replacing light bulbs, fluorescent tubes and starters.
• Looking after and testing electrical appliances that you own.

Joinery and fittings

• Easing doors where this is needed because of new flooring or carpets.
• Fitting additional locks, catches or safety devices.
• Fitting shelves, curtain rails, coat hooks or towel rails.

Decoration

• Internal decoration.
• Filling minor cracks to plasterwork and woodwork.

Keys and locks

• Replacing lost or mislaid keys.
• Replacing locks where all keys have been lost.

This is not a complete list. For full details of who is responsible for different repairs, please see our Repairs Responsibility Guide.

Download the Repairs Responsibility Guide.

Need help with a repair?

Our Repairs Specialists are here to help. If you are unsure whether a repair is your responsibility, please contact us before carrying out the work. We can provide advice and guidance, including information about DIY supplies available locally.

In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to carry out a repair that is normally your responsibility if you are physically unable to do it yourself. A charge may apply.