You must keep your property clean, tidy and in good condition. This includes fixtures and fittings.
Do not leave items in the communal areas that are flammable or may cause obstruction (E.g. tables, chairs, mobility scooters etc).
When you end a tenancy, you may incur costs if the property is not left in a desired manner.
You can find out more about this in your tenancy conditions.
Below is a guide of responsibilities. This is not an exhaustive list however if you are unsure please contact 0121 569 6000.
Bathroom/WC
The council is responsible for:
- Wash hand basins and sinks
- Shower trays (if fitted by SMBC)
- WC pans and cisterns person
The tenant is responsible for:
- Bath panels
- Plugs and chains to wash hand basins and sinks
- Sealant around baths, wash hand basins and sinks
- WC seats
Drains and Pipes
The council is responsible for:
- Blocked drains (shared drains are Severn Trent responsibility)
- Drainpipes and gulleys
- Soil pipes and fittings
Electrical
The council is responsible for:
- Consumer units (fuse box)
- Disconnection and connections of electric cookers (if owned by SMBC)
- Electric fires (if fitted by SMBC)
- Extractor fans
- Immersion heaters
- Sockets and light fittings / switches (if fitted by SMBC)
- Storage heaters (if fitted by SMBC)
- Wired in smoke alarms / pull cords / battery alarms
The tenant is responsible for:
- Electric meter and supply
Kitchens
The council is responsible for:
- Cupboard doors (may not match if replaced) (there may be a recharge if
- not standard wear and tear)
- Cupboards (there may be a recharge if not standard wear and tear)
- Drawers (there may be a recharge if not standard wear and tear)
Plumbing
The council is responsible for:
- All internal taps, stop taps and valves
- Boxing of pipework (if fitted by SMBC)
- Hot and cold services, tanks and overflows
- Inspection chambers
- Lagging of tanks and pipework
- Pipework
- Tap washers
The tenant is responsible for:
- External taps
Roofs
The council is responsible for:
- Fascia boards, soffits and barge boards
- Roof structures including tiles/slates and roof coverings
Walls, Ceilings, Canopies, Balconies and Floors
The council is responsible for:
- Balconies
- Canopies over doors (if fitted by SMBC)
- Concrete floors
The tenant is responsible for:
- Decoration
Gardens ans Garages
The council is responsible for:
- Fencing if fitted by SMBC (privacy panel (first panel from property) / communal boundary)
- Front and rear gates (if fitted by SMBC)
- Garage or outbuilding owned by SMBC
The tenant is responsible for:
- Driveways or hardstanding areas for parking
- All other fencing
- Garden maintenance and upkeep
- Replacement padlocks on garage doors
Gas
The council is responsible for:
- Boilers
- Gas cooker (if owned and installed by SMBC)
- Gas fire (if owned and installed by SMBC)
- Pipework
- Radiators, valves, time clocks and thermostats
- Thermostats (if owned and installed by SMBC)
The tenant is responsible for:
- Disconnection and connection of cookers not owned by SMBC
- Gas meter and supply (arrangement of )
- Sweeping chimneys
Glazing
The council is responsible for:
- Glazing in windows and doors (end-of-life cycle)
- External walls and rendering (Excluding decoration)
- Floor tiles (if fitted by SMBC)
- Floorboards and joists
- Foundations
- Major plastering and vents
- Skirting boards
- Staircases, banisters and handrails
- Wall tiles (if fitted by SMBC)
The tenant is responsible for:
- Glazing broken accidentally or by malicious damage (unless crime number provided)
- Hat and coat hooks
- Loose floor coverings / carpets / laminate / vinyl
- Minor plastering (cracks and small holes)
Windows and Doors
The council is responsible for:
- Architrave (if fitted by SMBC)
- Door entry systems
- Entrance door locks and ironmongery
- Entrance doors and frames
- Internal doors (if fitted by SMBC)
- Sills
- Window catches
- Window frames
Gaining entry to your property
lf you are locked out, have lost your keys or require a replacement lock (we can help you but a charge will apply). If you are a victim of crime (you will need to provide a crime reference number).