Our responsibilities

We are responsible for the repairing and maintaining the structure and outside parts of the property you live in, such as guttering and roof tiles

Inside your home, we are responsible for all water and gas pipes, wiring, heating systems, drainage, power and light fittings, this includes any items originally provided by us or Cherwell District Council, or that we have taken responsibility for, but not items that are your responsibility.

We maintain any open area around your home in the private part of your garden.  We are responsible for any fences, walls, outbuildings or sheds originally put up by Cherwell District Council or us.

We are also responsible for the main footpaths that lead to the front and rear doors.

We are also responsible for repairs and maintenance to any communal areas and facilities that we own.

Joint responsibility for gas safety

• We are responsible for carrying out an annual gas safety check in every property with a gas supply.
   
• You must allow us entry into your home to carry out annual safety checks, this is for your own safety.  If you do not allow us in you are in breach of your Tenancy Agreement.  If necessary we will force entry and take court action to gain access.
   
• You must ensure that air vents do not become blocked.

Home Contents Insurance

We strongly advise you to take Home Contents Insurance.  This will cover you against damage to your personal belongings, carpets, furniture and other household contents and decorations, including fire or flood damage.  The insurance would also cover certain items stolen in a break in.

What repairs and maintenance does Charter carry out?

We are responsible for the outside of your property, the main structure and any fittings and appliances we have provided.  We must by law carry out an annual service of any gas appliance that we are responsible for.  Additionally we must carry out a safety check on all gas pipework even if this is serving a tenant's own appliance.  It is the tenant's responsibility to ensure that their own appliances are serviced annually.  We are also responsible for maintenance of communal areas we own.

What if I can't carry out my responsibilities?

You are responsible for taking care of the inside of your home and for certain repairs.  However, if you are vulnerable, elderly, infirm or disabled and have no able-bodied adult to help you we may be able to help you, or may put you in touch with volunteer organisations that can help.

Can I claim for damage to my property?

Only if damage was caused by our operatives, or contractors working for us.  If this is the case you need to write to our Head of Property Services explaining the problem and what it has cost you.  You should take out home contents insurance to help you pay for any other damage, for example accidents.

Do I have to pay for any repairs?

If damage was caused by you or someone in your home (or police forced entry), we expect you to get it repaired yourself immediately. If you don't we may carry out the work and you will have to pay for the cost of the repair.  We will quote you a fixed charge for standard work or give you an estimate for an unusual repair.  You must pay us before we order the work. You may decide to get someone else to do it.

If a repair is the result of a break-in or vandalism, we will carry out work to make your home safe. We will do further work to complete the repair if you supply us with a Police Crime Report Number (not an Incident Number).