These are repairs that could put your health, safety or security, at risk, and/or could cause serious damage to the property. This type of repair can be reported at any time on 0300 111 3555. If it is out of office hours, our contractors will attend to make the problem safe, and then complete any further repairs that are required during normal hours.

Examples of this type of repair include:

• Severe water leak through a ceiling
• Burst pipes
• Blocked main drains
• Unsafe electrical fault likely to cause injury or fire
• Complete loss of electrical power or light
• Complete loss of heating in cold weather (31 October – 1 May) or at any time if the resident is elderly or vulnerable
• Complete loss of hot water
• Insecure external door or ground floor window
• Offensive graffiti
• Suspected gas leak or release of Carbon Monoxide

These are repairs that may affect your comfort, or convenience, or which left alone could become a risk to personal safety or cause damage to the property. It is our aim to make an appointment for the repair at a time that is most convenient to you.

These repairs may include:

• Plastering
• General carpentry work
• External doors or windows sticking
• Plumbing

For more information click here.

Please refer to the section on asbestos in Living in Your Home in your tenancy handbook. If you are concerned and have not been contacted by CHS, please phone or email us for advice.

Please refer to the section on electrical safety in your tenancy handbook

CHS carries out these checks to make sure the electrical systems in your home are safe to use and meet the current standards. Our contractors may find some minor problems with the system which can be easily fixed. If there is a more serious problem, they will contact CHS to agree the next steps.

We will keep you informed about what will happen.

CHS aims to carry out external decorations every seven years. This will cover repairs and redecoration to all painted or stained areas (such as front and back doors, and windows frames), cleaning out gutters, cleaning down any items made of uPVC etc.

We will contact you when this work is due.

CHS will carry out Fire Risk Assessments every year on internal communal areas such as to blocks of flats. This survey will be carried out by a competent surveyor with your Housing Officer. Any repairs or improvements required to the fire safety systems will be ordered from this visit. If you live in a block of flats with communal areas, please make sure you do not block any access or exit routes.

CHS carries out water risk assessments on a small number of properties. For other sites, CHS will make sure that the hot water systems are working properly as part of the annual gas safety check. If your water is heated electrically, you need to report any issues with the water temperature as a repair – this is if the hot water is too hot or too cold.

Also, please regularly clean any shower heads by removing any build-up of limescale – this will help to reduce any risks.

You should not make any alteration, improvements or additions to your home and garden without gaining permission in writing from us. Click here for more information.

Please contact us if you feel you need help within your home – we may need to put you in touch with an occupational therapist. If it is a simple adaptation, we may be able to get this done for you.. Click here for more information.

If you smell gas you should do the following:

• Report immediately toTransco on 0800 111 999 – if calling from a mobile go outside and stand well away from the property
• Call CHS on 0300 111 3555
• Do not smoke or use naked flames
• Open windows and doors
• Do not use any electrical switches or appliances

• You need to report this immediately to CHS on 0300 111 3555
• You need to seek medical help via your local Accident and Emergency Service to check if you have any effects from a suspected leak of Carbon Monoxide
• CHS will keep in contact with you to let you know the next steps

We have lots of advice on how to prevent a fire in your home – Click here for more information.

You are responsible for maintaining your front and/or back garden, however CHS will maintain any communal garden area.