Right to Repair
What is the Right to Repair?
From 30 September 2002, under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, as a tenant you have the right to have small urgent repairs carried out by Abertay within a given timescale. This is called the Right to Repair scheme.
What repairs come under the Right to Repair Scheme?
The scheme covers certain repairs up to the value of £350. These repairs are known as ‘qualifying’ repairs. They include:
| Repairs included in the scheme | Timescales |
| Unsafe power or lighting sockets or electrical fittings | 1 day |
| Loss of electric power | 1 day |
| Partial loss of electric power | 3 day |
| Loss or part loss of gas supply | 1 day |
| A blocked flue to an open fire or boiler | 1 day |
| External windows, doors or locks which are not secure | 1 day |
| Loss or part loss of space or water heating if no alternative heating is available | 1 day |
| Toilets which do not flush (if there is no other toilet in the house) | 1 day |
| Blocked or leaking foul drains, soil stacks or toilet pans (if there is no other toilet in the house) | 1 day |
| A blocked sink, bath or basin | 1 day |
| Loss of water supply | 1 day |
| Partial loss of water supply | 3 days |
| Significant leaking or flooding from a water or heating pipe, tank or cistern | 1 day |
| Unsafe rotten timber flooring or stair treads | 3 days |
| Unsafe access to a path or step | 1 day |
| Loose or detached banisters or handrails | 3 days |
| A broken mechanical extractor fan in a kitchen or bathroom which has no external window or door | 7 days |
What happens when I report a repair?
When you report a repair the customer service team will let you know whether it is a qualifying repair under the Right to Repair scheme. In some cases we may need to inspect your home to find out whether the repair is a qualifying repair or not.
If the repair does qualify under the scheme, we will:
- tell you the maximum time allowed to carry out the repair;
- tell you the last day of that period;
- explain your rights under the Right to Repair scheme;
- give you the name, address and phone number of our usual contractor and at least one other contractor from an approved list; and
- make arrangements with you to get into your home to carry out the repair.
What happens if the work is not done in time?
The timescales shown are the maximum period in working days from the day after you request a qualifying repair or inspection (excluding weekends and public holidays). If we do not carry out the repair within the time limit set, you may be entitled to compensation.
If we do not start the qualifying repair within the time limit set, you can instruct another contractor from the list to carry out the repair and Abertay will pay you £15 compensation for the inconvenience. If Abertay’s contractor has started but not completed the repair within the maximum time, you are also entitled to £15 compensation. The contractor you instruct has the same length of time to carry out the repair as the original contractor. If they do not carry out the repair within the time limit set, then you are entitled to another £3 compensation for each working day, until the repair has been completed. This amount can add up to a maximum compensation payment of £100 for any one repair.
More information on Right to Repair is available by visiting the Scottish Government website. Their leaflet on the right to repair is available here.
