A Lettable Standard
What you can expect from your new home
A Lettable Standard
Contents
Introduction
Smoke detectors
Asbestos
Gas and electricity and water supplies
Doors and windows
Roofs, gutters and drainage
Walls and ceilings
Floors and stairs
Heating and ventilation
Hot and cold water
Kitchen
Bathroom / WC
Decoration
Garden
Footpaths
Boundary walls and fences
Sheds and outbuildings
Cleanliness
Gifting
Non-standard items
Energy efficiency
Adapted homes
Communal facilities
Flexibility
Complaints
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A Lettable Standard
Introduction
This guide to the lettable standard sets out the condition your
new home should be in when your tenancy starts.
Some works may be carried out after you move in, where the
work is not of a risk to health or safety. These will be identified
when you sign your tenancy agreement and the timescale for
completion of any additional work will be made clear to you. By
doing this we aim to reduce the time that a property remains
empty and speed up the availability of your new home.
This standard does not apply to shared ownership or properties
let at market rental value.
Before you move in, your home will have been cleaned, have had
the necessary safety checks and be free from pests.
Before letting, it will be assessed to make sure that it is
structurally stable. Other checks include compliance with the
Decent Homes Standard, and we also measure the energy
efficiency of your home, compiling an Energy Performance
Certificate, which will be given to you.
Smoke detectors
Every home is fitted with at least one smoke detector which will
have been tested before you move in, and we will make
arrangements with you to retest them annually. You should
regularly test any fitted detectors by pushing and holding the test
button. If you are unable to carry this out and do not have a
relative or friend who can do this for you, please contact our
Customer Services Centre.
Asbestos
If there is any asbestos in your home, we will inform you. Further
details of where this is located within your home, and guidance on
safety around asbestos will be issued to you when you sign for the
property.
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A Lettable Standard
Gas, electricity and water supplies
The electrical installation in your new home will be checked for
safety before you move in.
If your new home has a gas supply, any gas fires or gas boilers will
have been tested, and a Landlord’s Gas Safety Certificate will be
issued.
If your home has oil-fired heating, you may need to order a
delivery of heating oil before we can commission the boiler.
It will be your responsibility to contact the utility and water
suppliers to register as a customer at your new address.
We will do our best to have the electricity supply connected, but
the gas will be turned off until you have arranged for our engineers
to call.
Doors and windows
We will make sure that all external doors open and close properly
and are able to withstand normal weather conditions. You will be
supplied with at least two sets of keys for your external doors. If
required, extra keys can be purchased from Severnside.
Internal doors will open and close correctly, and be free from
serious defects. Fire doors will be checked for condition and
operation. We would advise that you follow the guidance in our
leaflet on fire safety.
All windows will be checked for correct operation and security
and to make sure they are able to withstand normal weather
conditions. Where possible, we will provide keys for locking
windows. Window restrictors will be fitted where necessary.
Defective glazing will be replaced before you move in, or at the
time you are moving in.
Roofs, gutters and drainage
We will check that the roof has no serious defects, and is free from
obvious leaks. Accessible roof spaces will be insulated, and any
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A Lettable Standard
items from previous tenants will be removed. Minor repairs may
be carried out after you have moved in. Chimney pots and
brickwork will be checked to make sure that they will withstand
normal weather conditions.
Gutters, down pipes and drains will have been checked and will
be free from blockages or leaks. Grids will be fitted to drain
gullies, and manhole covers will be safe and in good condition.
Walls and ceilings
We will make sure that all external walls are in good condition
and free from serious defects, damp or mould growth.
Any large cracks to internal walls or ceilings will be repaired.
Minor cracks and imperfections will be your responsibility to fill
and decorate.
Polystyrene ceiling tiles will be removed before you move in.
Floors and stairs
All flooring will be safe and in good condition, and able to
withstand normal domestic use. Floorboards, skirtings and stairs
will be free from major splits, missing sections, major defects and
insect infestation and pests.
A suitable handrail will be fitted to stairs.
Solid floors will be free from serious unevenness and defects.
Solid floors in kitchens and bathrooms will have a cleanable
surface.
Carpet grippers, where complete and serviceable, will be left insitu and covered for safety.
Missing or damaged vinyl floor tiles will be replaced with the
nearest colour match available.
Some non-standard flooring may be left in-situ and gifted to you if
in good, clean condition – (also see section on ‘Gifting on page 9’).
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A Lettable Standard
Heating and ventilation
Your home will have a programmable heating system, which may
run off gas, electric (storage heaters), or oil. This system will be
adequate for the property. The heating installation will have been
checked and any defects remedied. You will be instructed on the
efficient use of your system when you move in, including how to
use any thermostatic controls.
Your home will have adequate means of ventilation.
Hot and cold water
Plumbing will have been checked and any obvious leaks or
defects will have been rectified.
The internal mains water stopcock will have been tested, and will
be in working order.
If there is a hot water cylinder fitted, it will be insulated.
In very cold weather, the hot and cold water system may have
been drained down to prevent damage to the property, and the
internal mains water stopcock may have been turned off. If this is
the case it will be re-filled and tested when you move in.
Kitchen
Your kitchen will have either an electric cooker connection point
or where there is a gas supply, both gas and electric connection
points, and sufficient standard space for a freestanding cooker.
The cooker space will be in a safe position and will allow easy
access to the appliance.
The kitchen units, doors and drawers will be clean and in good
working order.
If we have to replace any kitchen door units, we will try to match
existing ones, but this may not always be possible.
Worktops will be securely fixed, in reasonable condition, and
adequately sized for the property. Splashbacks will be tiled and
sealed where they meet worktops.
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A Lettable Standard
Sink tops will be cleanable and free from significant damage
excluding general wear and tear. Sink tops will have a fitted plug
and chain or equivalent.
There will be an adequate supply of hot and cold water to the
sink. Taps will be a matching pair. Wherever possible, a
connection will be installed for the use of a washing machine, but
this may not be in the kitchen area if space is not available. Where
a communal laundry is available on site, there may not be a
washing machine space in the property.
There will be room for a fridge or freezer. This will be in the
kitchen if space allows.
If a new kitchen is required,you will be notified of this. We will
contact you to arrange to fit this within three months of you
moving in. You will have a choice from a range of finishes for the
units, worktops, handles, tiles, flooring and decoration, and taking
into account certain health and safety factors, we will involve you
in the layout as much as possible.
Bathroom/WC
The toilet, wash basin and bath/shower, will be clean, useable and
free from cracks or serious damage. There will be a tiled
splashback above the wash basin and bath. Damaged wall tiles will
be replaced but may not match the original colour or style.
Defective grout will be rectified. Taps will be matching pairs on
the bath and/or wash basin. The wash basin and bath will have an
adequate piped supply of hot and cold water.
Baths and wash basins will have a watertight seal to all tiled
surfaces. Bath panels will be secure and free from major defects.
Baths and wash basins will have a plug and chain fitted or
equivalent.
Any showers fitted in shower cubicles will be electrically tested
for safety reasons. Where a shower unit has been fitted by a
previous tenant over a bath, that is in good condition and
thermostatically controlled, it will be tested for safety and may be
gifted.
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A Lettable Standard
The toilet seat will be renewed. The bathroom and toilet door
will be lockable from the inside.
The toilet will be provided in an artificial or naturally ventilated
and lit room, not opening directly onto a space used for the
preparation of food. An extractor fan will be provided where no
natural ventilation is available.
Decoration
Decorating vouchers will be issued where necessary, based on an
assessment of the condition of the existing decoration, on a room
by room basis. This is a contribution towards the cost of
decoration materials and not in lieu of decoration costs.
These can be redeemed at our approved decorating supplier in
Shrewsbury.
Where you are moving from one Severnside property to another,
any decoration allowance required for your former home will be
deducted from any allowance for your new home.
Where required, re-decoration will be carried out to properties
specifically designed for housing older people and within sheltered
schemes.
Any racist or otherwise offensive graffiti will be removed or
painted over.
Any areas of mould will have been investigated, the cause remedied
if necessary, and treated to help prevent further staining.
Garden
Garden areas will be left in a safe condition. Rubbish will be
cleared away, and ponds filled in. If any grassed areas, hedges or
trees are overgrown, these will be cut back to a manageable
height, but this may be after you have moved in. Trees that are
dangerous or obstructing light will be cut back or removed. Any
non-standard structures or features that are in a safe condition
may be gifted to you (also see section on ‘Gifting on page 9’).
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A Lettable Standard
Garden areas to flatted accommodation will be marked on a plan
to show responsibility.This will be included in the sign-up pack,
where plans are available.
Footpaths
All footpaths or steps that are the responsibility of Severnside and
within the boundary of the property will be left in a safe
condition. Some paved areas such as patios or decorative areas
may be gifted to you, if fitted by previous tenants and in good
condition (also see section on ‘Gifting on page 9’).
Boundary walls and fences
Boundary walls will be in a safe condition, free from major
defects. Any further work may be carried out when you have
moved in.
Fencing will not be replaced or repaired except where it forms a
privacy panel divide between properties, or where it adjoins a
public highway, defined as an ‘A’ or ‘B’ road, open space, garages,
canal or river.
Any fencing erected by a former tenant will be gifted to you (also
see section on ‘Gifting on page 9’) and will not be repaired by
Severnside.
Dangerous or dilapidated fencing will be removed or made safe.
Sheds and outbuildings
Any outbuildings will be empty and left in a safe and clean
condition. Doors will be secure and lockable.
Sheds in good condition will be checked for structural safety,
emptied and gifted (also see section on ‘Gifting on page 9’). Any
unsafe sheds or other structures will be removed before you
move in.
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A Lettable Standard
Cleanliness
All rubbish will be cleared out.
All floors and stairs will be cleaned. Washable floors, such as
bathrooms and kitchens will be mopped. Doors and handles, sills,
skirtings and window frames will be cleaned. Sanitary fittings will
be cleaned. All worktops, units, sink tops and tiles will be cleaned,
as well as the inside of drawers and cupboards. All light switches,
electrical sockets, fans and electrical fittings will be cleaned.
Glazing will be cleaned internally and externally on ground floor
windows and internally on the first floor and above.
Outhouses and sheds will be swept out. Dustbins will be emptied.
Any communal areas leading to the property will be swept.
Air fresheners will be left in the bathroom/WC, kitchen, lounge
and bedrooms.
Any areas of mould will be cleaned and treated with a suitable
mould inhibitor.
Gifting
We will usually remove items left by a previous customer, but if
items are in a good, clean condition and you wish to accept them
we may be able to leave them in the property.
You will be asked to sign a form to accept responsibility for these
items when signing for the tenancy.
Non-standard items
Sometimes non-standard items may be left in the property if in
good condition and well fitted. This may include items such as
coving, dado or picture rails, decorative ceiling roses. If gifted (see
above), these will become your responsibility.
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A Lettable Standard
Energy efficiency
We will supply you with an Energy Performance Certificate when
you sign for the property which will tell you how much energy
your new home is likely to use. In your sign-up pack you will find a
booklet full of tips and hints to keep your energy bills down. Your
new home will be fitted with energy efficient light bulbs. If your
home has a loft space it will either be fitted with at least 300mm of
insulation or will be included in future insulation upgrades.
Adapted homes
When you apply for housing you will be given the opportunity to
tell us about any disabilities you or people living with you have,
that may require adaptations to your home. We will identify
suitable applicants for properties that have adaptations when they
become vacant. Any subsequent adaptations will be subject to
Severnside’s Aids & Adaptions policy.
Communal facilities
If your new home is part of a scheme that has communal
facilities, we will ensure that these are functional and serviced.
Flexibility
We wish to offer all of our customers an equally high standard of
service but we would also like to offer some flexibility where
required, to meet different needs.
This may be to increase the desirability of a property which is
classed as low demand, or to provide more support to a particular
client group.
Complaints
If you feel that anything is wrong with our service, we will try to
put things right as quickly as possible. If you are still unhappy then
you may wish to use our complaints procedure. A leaflet to help
you follow this procedure will be given to you at sign-up, and is
available on the website or from our main reception.
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If you would like any more information about Severnside Housing, please contact us:
Write to us
Severnside Housing
Brassey Road
Old Potts Way
Shrewsbury
SY3 7FA
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Severnside Community Association LH4325. A company limited by guarantee. Company No. 04025816.
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