How to notify a repair
As your Landlords Agents, Arden Property Centre wants you to feel comfortable in your home. When something goes wrong, we want you to know that it will be dealt with as quickly as possible and therefore please advise us as soon as reasonably practicable of any repair issues which require attention. We will contact you and advise which contractor has been instructed and agree suitable access arrangements. You must allow access at all reasonable times and within normal office hours. If the contractor fails to attend, delays in completing any necessary works or fails to remedy the issue reported please advise us immediately.
Whilst we will endeavour to arrange suitable times for the contractor to attend, due to the nature of their business, they can only be considered as approximate. In some circumstances they may only be able to give am or pm time slots.
However, before reporting repairs please note that in many instances they may be your responsibility to deal with. Please see guidance notes below.
Guidance notes
Before reporting repairs, please note that in many instances they may be your responsibility to deal with. In addition, some Tenancies are not fully managed by APC and are dealt with directly by the Landlord. In these circumstances your Tenancy Agreement will stipulate the type of service we supply to the Landlord, and you will be given contact details for the Landlord to deal with any repairs.
Please see guidance notes below and generally the more information you give it will assist determining which contractor to send out.
It is our aim to deal with Repairs within 2 working days but we would like to confirm that APC only manages your property on behalf of your Landlord and has no authority to instruct, other than emergencies, any works without their consent. It would therefore be appreciated if you could please bear with us if we are having difficulty in making contact with them or obtaining their approval to complete any necessary works.
What about an emergency
Please note that contacting the out of hours number for a problem does not mean that the issue will be dealt with outside normal working hours.
For gas leaks call 0800 111 999
Loss of electricity dial 105 from your mobile
Water pressure or quality of water call south staffordshire water 0800 3891011 or severn trent water 0800 783 4444
For general maintenance issues call 01213550456
Problems with your boiler, plumbing issues and leaks call 01213550456
Electrical Issues call 01213550456
Lost keys
If during your tenancy you lose your house keys, whatever the circumstances, you are responsible for the cost of replacement. If we are unable to supply keys out of hours and if you lock yourself out of the property you must either wait until we contact you or instruct a locksmith at your own expense. If you occupy a flat in a block which has a common entrance door key you may also be charged the cost of providing all tenants in the block with new keys.
You must return the full complement of keys to the property at the end of the tenancy and you will be charged for the cost of any duplicate keys or lock changes required if you do not do this.
What are my responsibilities
When you rent a property, you are expected to deal with day-to-day housekeeping issues as if you owned your own home and we have prepared the following list for your guidance:
- General Cleaning
- Cleaning Windows
- Clearing blocked sinks WC’s
- Dealing with vermin infestations, birds’ nests, ants, wasps and bees
- Keep the property free from condensation and ensure it is sufficiently aired and warmed at all times during the tenancy
- Keep the drains free from obstruction
- Not to put down, or allow to be put down, any damaging oil, grease or other harmful or corrosive substances into the washing or sanitary appliances or drains within the premises
- Clear any blockages in any gutters and down pipes and ensure all covers of surface water drains are kept free from leaves and any other rubbish or debris that might cause a flood
- Replacing light bulbs
- Replacing Batteries in and weekly testing smoke, heat and CO Alarms
- Topping up boilers
- Cleaning filters in washing machines, air vents, cooker hoods, Hoovers and the like
- Cleaning Shower heads and extractor fans.
My boiler is not working I have no heat or hot water
- Read the instructions...normally on the boiler
- The boiler has not been accidentally switched off
- The thermostats and timers are set correctly
- The thermostatic valves are at correct temperature
- If there is air in the radiators, they may require "bleeding"
- The pressure in the boiler has dropped...top up boiler if this is the case
- If none of the above, please contact the office
- Frozen Pipes in extreme weather please see Video
My shower is not working
- If fed from the boiler, please check above
- If it is an electric shower check the isolator is switched on
- If it's on but not lit check the circuit breaker in the main consumer unit has not tripped.
- If it continues to trip, please contact the office.
- If none of the above, please contact the office.
Water leak through roof or ceiling
- If you are in a flat contact your neighbour above and alert them of problem. If there is no-one in arrange to turn off the water supply in the street. Contact the office advising of any damage
- With any leak, clear away furniture below, pull back carpets and put down bowls buckets and towels to capture the water.
- If the leak is due to a storm, remember contractors will not go onto a roof due to safety grounds
- If it a serious flood capable of seriously damaging the property contact the office immediately. If out of hours, contact the Fire Brigade.
- In an emergency a plumber will only turn off the supply they will not source and repair the defect
Water from my flat is flooding the property below
- Check all baths, wash hand basins, WCs and water tanks or cylinders to ensure there are no taps running causing an overflow.
- Check there are no leaks from washing machines or dishwashers
- If the leak is continuous and there are no signs of a problem, turn off stop cock.
- Stop using showers and baths if leak is intermittent until the fault has been identified
- In heavy storms drainage and roof pipes can block causing water to back up and discharge into a property.
My electricity has failed
Firstly, check that there has not been a general power failure in your area. Are you neighbours without power, have the streetlights gone out. If that's the case phone the supplier for your area. If this is not the case and only some of the lights/sockets are all/part not working:
- Check individual circuit breakers in the Consumer Unit, all the switches should be up. Lights/sockets can often be tripped by a light bulb blowing or an appliance being faulty and tripping the circuit. Replace faulty light bulbs and check fuses in appliance plug.
- If problems still persists call us and we will send out an engineer, but remember if it is found you have not checked the above you will be responsible for the call out charge.
My washing machine/ fridge/ freezer/ dish washer/ hoover has broken down
- In the first instance refer to manufacturer's instructions.
- Check fuse in plug has not blown
- Check water supply has not been disconnected
- Check that washing machines and dish washers are not overloaded
- Check all filters and ensure they are not blocked.
- Check bag is not full in Hoover
- Check there are no obstructions hindering normal usage
Please remember that you will be liable for the costs arising as a result of any misuse of the appliances or non-compliance of manufacturer's instructions provided
My toilet/ sink/ drains are blocked
Blockages and associated costs are the responsibility of the tenant, try using a strong drain cleaner or plunger to move the blockage. In certain circumstances you may require to appoint a specialist firm or plumber. If you require advice and assistance, please contact our office