B26670 Right to Repair Leaflet

Right to RepairHousing (Scotland) Act 2001Making it work together

ImportantThis leaflet is only a general guide. It is not acomplete statement of the law. If you wantto know more about your rights, you shouldget advice from a solicitor or your localCitizens’ Advice Bureau. Your landlord mayalso be able to help you.What is the right to repair?From 30 September 2002, under the Housing(Scotland) Act 2001, Scottish secure tenantsand short Scottish secure tenants have theright to have small urgent repairs carried outby their landlord within a given timescale.This is called the Right to Repair scheme.The Right to Repair scheme applies to alltenants of local authorities, housingassociations (including tenants who aremembers of fully mutual co-operativehousing associations), and water andsewerage authorities.If you are a Scottish Homes tenant yourexisting right to repair will continue.What repairs come under theRight to Repair Scheme?The scheme covers certain repairs up to thevalue of £350. These repairs are known as‘qualifying’ repairs. They include:• unsafe power or lighting sockets orelectrical fittings;• loss or part loss of electric power;

• loss or part loss of gas supply;• a blocked flue to an open fire or boiler;• external windows, doors or locks which arenot secure;• loss or part loss of space or water heating ifno alternative heating is available;• toilets which do not flush (if there is noother toilet in the house);• blocked or leaking foul drains, soil stacks ortoilet pans (if there is no other toilet in thehouse);• a blocked sink, bath or basin;• loss or part loss of water supply;• significant leaking or flooding from a wateror heating pipe, tank or cistern;• unsafe rotten timber flooring or stairtreads;• unsafe access to a path or step;• loose or detached bannisters or handrails;and• a broken mechanical extractor fan in akitchen or bathroom which has no externalwindow or door.Your landlord will be able to tell you if a repairyou need is included in the scheme. They willalso let you know:• the maximum time the repair must be donein; and• how they deal with repairs that are notcovered by the scheme.

What happens when I report arepair?When you report a repair, your landlord willlet you know whether it is their responsibilityand whether it is a qualifying repair under theRight to Repair scheme. Your landlord mayneed to inspect your home to find outwhether the repair is a qualifying repairor not.If the repair does qualify under the scheme,your landlord will:• tell you the maximum time allowed to carryout the repair;• tell you the last day of that period;• explain your rights under the Right toRepair scheme;• give you the name, address and phonenumber of their usual contractor and atleast one other contractor from a list; and• make arrangements with you to get intoyour home to carry out the repair.How long does my landlordhave to carry out the repair?Repair times depend on the type of repair.If your toilet is not flushing, your landlordusually has one working day to come andrepair it. But they have three working days tomend a loose bannister rail and sevenworking days to mend a broken extractor fanin your bathroom or kitchen. These times areset by law, not by your landlord.

How long does the othercontractor have to completethe repair?The other contractor has the samelength of time to carry out the repair asthe landlord’s main contractor. If they donot carry out the repair within the timelimit set, you will be entitled to another£3 compensation for each working dayuntil the repair has been completed. Thisamount can add up to a maximumcompensation payment of £100 for anyone repair.What if there is no othercontractor available?In this case, your landlord’s maincontractor will carry out the repair butyou will still be entitled to the £15compensation payment.What happens if I am outwhen the contractor callsto carry out the inspectionor repair?If the contractor cannot get into yourhome at the time you have agreed withyour landlord, your right to repair will becancelled. You will then have to re-applyand start the process again.

Who pays for the repair?The landlord pays for the repair. If you havetold another contractor to carry out therepair, the contractor should send the billdirect to the landlord.How can I find out more?Contact your landlord or the ScottishExecutive Development Department at:Housing 2:3Area 1-GVictoria QuayEdinburghEH6 6QQE.mail: housing.information@scotland.gsi.gov.ukPhone: 0131 244 2105This document is produced from 100% Elemental Chlorine-free,environmentally preferred material and is 100% recyclable.

QQ6 6HE hgrubnidE ,yauQ airotciV ,G-1 aerA ,3:2 gnisuoH≥U¢n: 5012 442 1310. Ë°Uù±JUÊ «ù©öŸ ´Kv ≥cÁ «∞MAd… ≠w ±uÆl≤ºa √îdÈ °BOm °b¥KW Ë°KGU‹ «∞πLU´U‹ «∞ºJU≤OW ±s ≥cÁ «∞MAd…±∑u≠d… ´Mb «∞DKV ±s «∞∑MHOc¥W «ùßJ∑KMb¥W ,evitucexE hsittocSAlternative formats and community language versions of thisleaflet are available on request from the Scottish Executive,Housing 2:3, Area 1-G, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQTel: 0131 244 2105. The leaflet can also be viewed on theScottish Executive website at www.scotland.gov.ukTha cumaidhean atharraichte agus dreachan den bhileag seoann an cànanan coimhearsnachd ri fhaighinn le iarrtas bhoRiaghaltas na h-Alba, Taigheadas 2:3, Roinn 1-G, CidheBhictoria, Dùn Èideann EH6 6QQ Fòn: 0131 244 2105.Faodar a’ bhileag fhaicinn cuideachd air làrach-lìn Riaghaltasna h-Alba aig www.scotland.gov.uk«∞∑MHOc¥W «ùßJ∑KMb¥W ´Kv «ù≤∑d≤X ku.vog.dnaltocs.wwwScottish Executive, Housing 2:3, Area 1-G, Victoria Quay,Edinburgh EH6 6QQ ßlJj: 0131 244 2105 F IjMPrJiâPo FAk´YJrkP©r KmT· IJTJr S TKoCKjKa nJwJr xÄÛre kJS~J pJ~Ç ÛKavFKéKTCKan-Fr SP~mxJAa www.scotland.gov.uk FS k´YJrk©Ka ßhUJkJS~J pJ~Çß‚ ¬d∑§ ∑§Ë •ÊflÎÁc ∑§Ê •ŸÈflÊŒ •ãÿ Ã⁄UË∑§Ù¥ •ı⁄U ∑§êÿÍÁŸÁ≈U ÷Ê·Ê•Ù¢ ◊apple¥ÁŸflappleŒŸ ∑§⁄UŸapple ¬⁄U ñ∑§ÊÚÁ≈U‡ ßÇ$¡appleÄÿÍÁ≈Ufl „UÊ©UÁ√¢ª Scottish Executive,Housing 2:3, Area 1-G, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ‚apple Á◊‹ ‚∑§ÃÊ „ÒU˚ ≈appleU‹Ë$»§ÙŸ£ 0131 244 2105˚ ß‚ ¬d∑§ ∑§Ù ñ∑§ÊÚÁ≈U‡ßÇ$¡appleÄÿÍÁ≈Ufl flapple’‚Ê®≈U www.scotland.gov.uk ¬⁄U ÷Ë Œappleπ ‚∑§Ãapple „ÒU˚izs pqe qoM mNge jax ’qe izh prcI ivklpk rUpA ivc ]qe kNim[uintI BaSavA weivc iml skwI hE: Scottish Executive, Housing 2:3, Area 1-G,Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ, tElIFon: 0131 244 2105.izs prcI ¥ ska