- Why you need it: Home contents insurance helps protect your personal belongings from damage or theft. It's especially important in case of unforeseen events like floods or fires.
- How to get it: MKCC has teamed up with Thistle Tenant Risks to offer the Crystal Insurance Scheme, which provides coverage for items such as furniture, carpets, curtains, clothes, and more.
Tenant responsibilities
Repairs you as a tenant are responsible for:
- Damage to the property caused by you, your family or visitors, including broken glazing
- Smoke alarms - cleaning and weekly testing
- Making sure your extractor fans are clear of dust or anything else so they keep working
- Additional door, window and shed locks
- Small patch repairs to ceilings or walls. Such as where a light fitting has been changed or shelves taken down
- Internal decoration – papering and painting
- Light bulbs, light shades and light fittings
- Fuses, electrical plugs
- Cooker connection and your appliances
- Pelmets, battens and curtain rails
- Sink and bath plugs and chains
- Toilet seats – refix or replace
- Carpets and flooring
- Gardens - landscaping and cutting back of shrubbery and grass
- Television aerials and satellite dishes other than communal aerials erected by us
- Clearing gutters (except blocks)
Repairs and Maintenance Policy
Leaseholder responsibilities
It is the leaseholder’s responsibility to maintain and manage repairs within their own home. MKCC is responsible for keeping the communal parts of the blocks looked after.
All information about roles and responsibilities can be found in your leasehold agreement. MKCC does not have a singular leasehold agreement that covers all the properties we own. These are on an individual basis and reflect the contribution on service charges or other fees and this is what we follow in each case.
Disrepair claims
A housing disrepair claim is when a tenant takes legal action against their landlord to fix issues that make the property unsafe or unliveable. Typically, you must go to court within six years of first notifying your landlord about the problem.
If you need any repairs for your Council home, please use our repairs service. Allow us a reasonable amount of time to address the issue, which includes providing access to your home and informing us if the problem recurs. Failure to use the repairs service and submitting a claim may result in charges for processing an invalid claim.
If you feel that your concerns are not being properly addressed, you can raise a complaint with us. This allows us the opportunity to investigate and resolve the issue together.
If you make a disrepair claim, we will inspect your Council home. Any alterations made without permission from MKCC will be considered breaches of your tenancy and included in our response to the claim. You will need to restore the property to its original condition to the required standard, or we will do so and recover the costs from you, including through your claim.
Going to court can be costly. You may need the assistance of a specialist adviser or solicitor, and you may also have to pay court fees. The court will review all the evidence provided by both you and your landlord.
We encourage you to report your repairs first. If you are not satisfied with the response, please make a complaint. This approach helps us address the issue more quickly.
Repair information and advice
Home Contents Insurance
Water leak and blockages
If you find a leak, here’s what you should do:
- Turn Off the Water Supply: Use the stop cock or isolation valve, depending on the nature of the leak.
- Catch the Water: If you can’t find the stop cock, place a bucket under the leak to catch the water.
- Temporary Fix: For minor pipe leaks, wrap a towel around the pipe to soak up the water.
- Report the Leak: Contact Mears to report the issue.
- Turn Off Taps: Ensure all taps are turned off to prevent flooding when the water supply is restored.
How to stop a leak - DIY Tips | Mears Group PLC
If you find a blockage, here’s what you should do:
No power
If you experience a power outage, here’s what you should do:
Immediate steps
- Pre-payment Meter: Check if you have credit. If you do and the meter seems faulty, contact your energy supplier.
- Fuse Box: Check if a fuse has tripped. Appliance Testing - DIY Tips | Mears Group PLC
- Power Cut: If it appears to be a power cut, call 105 for free. They will connect you to your local network operator for help and advice.
During a power cut
- Switch off appliances: Turn off all electrical appliances that shouldn’t be left unattended, so they’re ready when the power returns.
- Leave a light on: This will help you know when the power is back.
- Stay warm: Wrap up to keep warm.
Heating
Here are some tips and advice to get the most from your heating systems:
- Set Your thermostat: Keep your thermostat at a comfortable but energy-efficient temperature. Lower it when you’re not home or at night.
- Use timers: Set timers for your heating to come on only when needed.
- Bleed radiators: If you have radiators, bleed them to remove any trapped air, which can improve efficiency.
Central Heating Checks - DIY Tips | Mears Group PLC
Storage Heater Systems - DIY Tips | Mears Group PLC
Get set for winter
Preparing your home for winter is essential to ensure it can handle the colder temperatures and potential storms. Here are the key steps to take:
Winter Preparation Checklist
- Gas Boiler Servicing: When contacted about servicing your gas boiler, book the appointment to ensure it's safe and working.
- Test Your Heating: Turn your boiler on for at least 15 minutes and check that all radiators are heating up. Report any issues to Mears.
- Bleed Radiators: If radiators are not hot at the top, bleed them using a radiator key.
- Energy Tariff Check: Ensure you're on the best energy deal by comparing prices from different suppliers. For financial help, visit the cost-of-living support page.
- Clear Gutters: Make sure your gutters are clear to prevent blockages (except if you live in a block of flats).
- Loft Use: Do not use the loft for storage. It is insulated to keep your home warm and ventilated to reduce damp.
- Report Repairs: Report any repairs to Mears as soon as possible.
Further help
Check out Mears' selection of handy videos and factsheets to help you perform basic repairs in your home.