We will provide additional support with repairs that would normally be the tenant's responsibility, where the tenant or a member of their household:
- is aged 67 years or over; or
- receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - higher rate of the mobility component or the medium or higher rate of the care component; or
- receives Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enhanced rate of the mobility component or enhanced rate of the daily living component; or
- receives Attendance allowance (higher or lower rate); or
- receives War Disablement Pension; or
- has a Local Authority registered care package; or
- is at risk due to harassment, hate crime or domestic abuse
We may agree to a discretionary repair in other exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the Director of Housing.
Discretionary repairs can be requested through our contact centre and will be referred to a surveyor or housing officer for a pre-inspection visit, so that we can assess the tenant's eligibility based on the criteria above and review the work requested. All evidence to support eligibility must be provided to us before we raise an order to carry out the work.
We will advise tenants of whether they have met the eligibility criteria for discretionary support within 14 working days of the request.
The type of work we may carry out as a discretionary repair could include:
- help with clearing a property because of hoarding
- help with cleaning a property where there are health hazard concerns fitting additional security measures due to harassment, hate crime, domestic abuse
- fitting additional electrical sockets for medical equipment
- carrying out minor repairs such as replacing a light bulb in a specialist light fitting in a kitchen or bathroom, bleeding a radiator, changing the time on boiler controls
We provide further information on the services or work provided in our repairs and maintenance handbook and on the Council's website at the following address:
Tenants' responsibilities for repairs
Sheltered accommodation
For residents living in sheltered accommodation, we offer an enhanced service to help with issues that are not classed as repairs.
We will be able to help with issues including:
- hanging curtains
- assembling small item of furniture
- putting up shelves
- hanging pictures