What we repair
South Hams District Council will keep tenants’ homes in good condition, repairing and maintaining:
- The structure and exterior of the building – roofs, walls, floors, ceilings, window frames, external doors, drains, gutters, outside pipes, insulation.
- Kitchen and bathroom fixtures – basins, sinks, toilets, baths, showers.
- Electrical wiring, gas and water pipes.
- Heating equipment and water heating equipment.
- Any communal areas around tenants’ home – stairs, lifts, landings, lighting, entrance.
- Halls, paving, shared gardens, parking areas and rubbish chutes.
SHDC will maintain any paintwork to the outside of tenant’s home at regular intervals on the programmed work contract.
The working area will be left in a clean and tidy state and tenants’ decoration will be left as close as possible to how it was before the repair was carried out.
Tenants have the responsibility for the property which they occupy together with using all the fixtures and fittings in the correct manner. A comprehensive summary is outlined in the tenant’s handbook.
How to report a repair
The best way to request a repair is by completing our online form.
You can report a repair at any time, but submissions to this form will only be monitored during work hours between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday to Friday.
When you report a repair please provide:
- your name
- your address
- a daytime telephone number(s)
- as many details as you can about the repair
- times it is convenient for workmen to call
Outside of work hours
If you have a real emergency repair (such as a burst pipe or no electricity) you can report these by ringing our out of hours team on 01803 861539.
Only true emergencies will be dealt with outside working hours and all other repair issues will be passed to the Seamoor Lettings team at the start of the next working day.
We prioritise responsive repairs based on urgency, risk and statutory responsibility.
We will consider information given to us at the time of reporting a repair and will prioritise vulnerable customers when there is a genuine need and assistance cannot be provided by others.
Important: A person over the age of 18 must be present at the time of the repair.
We aim to provide a “right first time” service that is reliable, of good standard and provides tenants with a safe, well-maintained home.
If the repair cannot be completed in one visit, our contractor will agree an appointment to return and complete the work.
We will keep you updated with the progress of any outstanding work.
Damp and Mould Advice
Everyone has the right to a warm, secure and decent home and to be treated with dignity and fairness.
When a tenant reports damp and mould we will arrange for an inspection to be carried out to assess the affected area, the severity, location, underlying causes and potential health risks.
Addressing condensation
Condensation is one of the most common causes of damp and mould in homes. Moisture from normal occupant activities, such as showering, drying laundry and cooking, builds up in the air around a home if it cannot be removed. Over time, condensation can lead to damp and mould growth.
There are a number of means to address condensation:
- addressing building deficiencies
- improving ventilation
- improving energy efficiency and addressing inadequate heating systems
- working with tenants to make small, reasonable adjustments to their behaviour, if appropriate, to reduce their damp and mould risk
The exact approach will depend on the specific conditions of the dwelling.
For further information on the different types of Damp and mould, and the remedies please see links below.
If any mould does appear you should clean this with an anti-fungal solution or a dilute bleach and water solution (please read the instructions and wear rubber gloves). For further information please contact the Seamoor Lettings team.