Tenant repairs - permission and responsibilities
Last updated: 19 June 2025
Next review: 6 May 2026
You must ask permission before doing any work repairing or altering something in a home we are responsible for. Also, all work must comply with building standards and regulations. If planning permission or building control approval is required, you must pay for this.
What you need permission for
- Anything that will change the appearance of your property, eg installing a satellite dish
- Repairing or altering something we're responsible for eg replacing windows or painting outside
- Any major alterations, like removing a wall
All work you do must comply with building standards. If it goes wrong, you’ll be responsible for repairing it.
What you can’t get permission for
- Anything that risks disturbing asbestos
- Laying laminates if you live in a flat, if in doubt contact your housing officer
- Anything that requires planning permission
- Something that causes structural damage to the property
If you do repairs without permission
- You could be asked to return your home to the condition it was before - at your own expense.
- And you’ll be held responsible for any damage to other properties
How do you get permission?
To get permission, simply contact the Building Services team
Tenant responsibilities
As a tenant, some repairs are your responsibility, but others are ours.
General responsibilities
| Type of repair | Who's responsible for repair? |
|---|---|
| Maintaining items you provided yourself eg furniture/ washing machine | You |
| Wear and tear, damage caused by you or guests | You |
| Minimising damp and mould | You |
| Communal areas | Waltham Forest |
| Light fittings and light bulbs | You |
Bathroom/kitchen/plumbing
| Type of repair | Who's responsible for repair? |
|---|---|
| Basin/sink replacement | Waltham Forest |
| Bath sinks and toilets – panels, blockages, plug/chain replacement, shower curtains | You |
| Blocked bath/basin/sink/planned replacements shower/toilet | You |
| Plug and chain replacement | You |
| Plumbing in or fitting domestic appliances | You, however it must be fitted by the Council |
| Sealant (kitchen work surfaces, baths, sinks) | You |
| Shower curtain | You |
| Tap washer | Waltham Forest |
| Unblocking external waste pipes (in houses only) | You |
| Water supply and water pipes | Waltham Forest |
Electrical
| Type of repair | Who's responsible for repair? |
|---|---|
| Electrical wiring | Waltham Forest |
| Fluorescent tubes | You |
| Fuses, plugs and light bulbs | You |
| Resetting trip switch | You |
| Type of repair | Who's responsible for repair? |
| Chimneys (excluding sweep), fireplaces, fitted fires and central heating | Waltham Forest |
| Gas cookers* (not provided by us) | You |
| Gas pipes and appliances provided by us - for example water heaters, boilers gas fires | Waltham Forest |
* If a gas leak to a cooker is found, the cooker will be capped off. You’ll be responsible for replacement and reinstatement. Works must be carried out by a Gas Safe Registered engineer.
Inside areas
| Type of repair | Who's responsible for repair? |
|---|---|
| Communal areas | Waltham Forest |
| Cracks (minor, thinner than a pound coin) in walls or ceiling patching. | You |
| Curtain pole, rail or track replacement | You |
| Doors: including adaptations (to accommodate carpets), frames, hinges, skirting, fitting additional locks/catches, doorbells | You |
| Draught proofing | You |
Fixtures and fittings provided by Waltham Forest | Waltham Forest |
| Fixtures you have fitted | You |
| Floor coverings (excluding kitchen and bathroom, unless fitted by you) | You |
| Handles and latches on inside doors/cupboards | You |
| Front door keys / communal keys / fobs | You – if lost, requiring a replacement or additional fob/key, it will be chargeable. Waltham Forest – if defective |
| Painting and decorating | You |
| Smoke alarm | Waltham Forest |
| TV aerial, points or satellite dishes you’ve fitted | You |
Outside areas
| Type of repair | Who's responsible for repair? |
|---|---|
| Boundary walls | Waltham Forest |
| Front doors (excluding letter boxes) | Waltham Forest |
| Doorsteps | Waltham Forest |
| Drains, gutters and outside pipes | Waltham Forest |
| Fencing works will be carried out if the fencing provides an estate boundary, is adjacent to a public highway, footpath, open park/ grounds, cemetery or allotment | You |
| Garages and stores (excluding sheds) | Waltham Forest |
| Overall structure of your home | Waltham Forest |
| Paths and walkways (main access) | Waltham Forest |
| Roof | Waltham Forest |
| Walls | Waltham Forest |
| Washing lines or rotary dryers | You |
| Windowsills, catches, sash cords and window frames | Waltham Forest |
If you're unable to do repairs yourself
You might not be able to do repairs yourself because of your health or age. If you can’t get a friend/ family/ contractor to help you, then you can ask us.
This is called a discretionary repair.
To get assessed, you’ll need to contact your housing officer or tenancy officer first. They’ll ask you some questions and assess whether a contractor can do out the work on your behalf.
To report a repair, call: 020 8496 3000