Issue - meetings

Report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care and Housing

Cabinet Member:     Councillor Beck

Commissioner:         Myers (in advisory role)

Recommendations:

1.1         That Option C, the new Rechargeable Repairs Policy be adopted, which will enable RMBC to fairly recharge tenants for wilful damage, neglect and misuse of property.

1.2         That the Council reserve the right to commence appropriate legal action to recover the cost of the recharges against tenants for non-payment or defaulting on a payback agreement.

1.3         That a standard set of charges be used for recharge purposes, based on current contractor schedule of rates items, which have been identified as the most common type of rechargeable repairs raised.

1.4         That the Council reserve the right to refuse some basic repairs in tenant’s homes. This may only occur if repairs are deemed rechargeable, have no security or safety implications for residents or their family, the resident has an existing debt caused by previous recharges and a poor history of making agreed payments to RMBC for the debt.

1.5         That approval be given for all urgent health and safety repairs, including gas and electrical repairs and those completed by RMBC to be recharged back to the tenants if deemed rechargeable.

1.6         That the Council reserve the right to exercise discretion in rechargeable repair cases where tenants or family members are vulnerable or are experiencing mental health or other domestic issues.

1.7         That the Council recharge tenants for unproductive time for trade operatives, where the tenants have failed to allow access for an appointment which has been mutually agreed to carry out a rechargeable repair.

Consideration was given to a report which sought approval of a new Rechargeable Repairs Policy to fairly recharge tenants for damage, neglect and misuse of council owned housing.

It was reported that the purpose of a new Rechargeable Repairs policy was to promote and help enforce the Council’s Tenancy Agreement. It was anticipated that this will ensure that the Council adopted a proactive approach to reducing the volumes of rechargeable repairs and would be reimbursed from residents who cause damage.  It would also help to achieve a reduction in the value of aged debt caused by unpaid recharges. 

It was noted that the policy would ensure that there was a consistent, fair, transparent, simple but targeted approach to recharging residents for genuine damage caused by wilful and knowing neglect, misuse or abuse.

Resolved:-

(1)  That the new Rechargeable Repairs Policy be adopted, which will enable RMBC to fairly recharge tenants for wilful damage, neglect and misuse of property.

(2)  That the Council reserve the right to commence appropriate legal action to recover the cost of the recharges against tenants for non-payment or defaulting on a payback agreement.

(3)  That a standard set of charges be used for recharge purposes, based on current contractor schedule of rates items, which have been identified as the most common type of rechargeable repairs raised.

(4)  That the Council reserve the right to refuse some basic repairs in tenant’s homes. This may only occur if repairs are deemed rechargeable, have no security or safety implications for residents or their family, the resident has an existing debt caused by previous recharges and a poor history of making agreed payments to RMBC for the debt.

(5)  That approval be given for all urgent health and safety repairs, including gas and electrical repairs and those completed by RMBC to be recharged back to the tenants if deemed rechargeable.

(6)  That the Council reserve the right to exercise discretion in rechargeable repair cases where tenants or family members are vulnerable or are experiencing mental health or other domestic issues.

(7)  That the Council recharge tenants for unproductive time for trade operatives, where the tenants have failed to allow access for an appointment which has been mutually agreed to carry out a rechargeable repair.