Providing Access
- If you have made an appointment/arrangements to allow access when reporting the repair, please make sure you keep to them.
- Please remember that Rykneld Homes' employees and contractors always carry identification. Please ask to see it before giving anyone access to your home.
- In some cases, the tradesperson will visit the property shortly before the work is carried out to finalise arrangements.
- You must provide access to the area in which the repair is to be carried out (e.g. by removing floor coverings, furniture or appliances) to allow the repairs to be completed safely and without causing damage to your property and personal items.
If no one is at home when the tradesperson calls to carry out the repair, they will leave a card asking you to make contact on 08000 121 621 within seven days to re-arrange another appointment, and this will be confirmed by letter If you do not make contact we will write telling you the repair has been cancelled and you will need to re-report it if it is still needed.
Carrying out the minor repair items listed below:
1) Replace any broken or external glazing other than that caused by a criminal act (for which you can provide a police incident number) and any broken internal glazing.
2) Maintain any alterations or improvements which you have made to the property, except where Rykneld Homes has agreed in writing to maintain the alteration or improvement.
3) Maintain any items fitted by a previous tenant for which the present tenant accepted responsibility for the maintenance.
4) Put right, or meet the costs of putting right, any damage to the property (or adjacent properties) caused deliberately or neglectfully by them, their family, visitors or lodgers (e.g. solid fuel boiler parts required due to mis-use of the appliance). Repair of replacement must be to standard acceptable to Rykneld Homes (for full details see the Rykneld Homes Rechargeable Repairs policy).
5) Replace any door locks and keys, where keys are missing or locks deliberately damaged.
6) Keep internal decorations in good order.
7) Replace or repair WC seats.
8) Carry out general housekeeping duties, which include but are not limited to the following:
- Replacing light bulbs, plugs and fuses
- Replacing re-wireable fuses in the main fuse box
- Resetting the circuit breakers on the consumer unit (see 'How to reset a trip switch' in the Repairs and Safety booklet in the Tenant's Handbook)
- Sweeping flues used by solid fuel appliances (Rykneld Homes sweeps them once a year but tenants need to have them swept more frequently depending on usage)
- Removing blockages from sinks and wash basins
- Repressurising a combination centrak heating boiler
- Relighting the pilot light to the boiler
- Renewing batteries to heating controls, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
- Setting heating controls, including times and programmers
Carrying out improvements or alterations to your home
If you want to make any improvements or alterations to your home, you must first ask permission in writing to your local Area Housing Office or One Stop Shop. Do not start any work unless Rykneld Homes has given written consent. To find out more about Improving your Home in the Tenant's Handbook.
Derbyshire County Council's Trusted Trader service 
Derbyshire County Council provide a service called Trusted Trader where you can find details of honest and reliable traders including plumbers, builders, roofers, decorators, joiners, electricians, gardeners, retailers and many more who provide a good service for a fair price. Click here to use this service.
