Repairs

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Council housing repairs

It is the council's responsibility to repair the structure and outside of your home and make sure fittings for water, sanitation, gas and electricity are safe and in working order. We are also responsible for maintaining communal areas and facilities such as lifts, entry systems, boilers, stairs and lighting. Tenants are responsible for all other fixtures and fittings, the internal decoration and for any improvements or alterations you have carried out.

The council is committed to improving homes to the Brighton & Hove Standard, based on the government's Decent Home Standard with addtional items agreed with tenants to meet local priorities.

See the new Repairs & improvements handbook [PDF 906Kb] for more information and guidance about repairs.

How to report repairs

Tenants can report repairs 24 hours a day.

• complete our online repairs reporting form
• ring freephone 0800 052 6140 
• call our local number (01273) 294409
• e-mail BHCC.repairs@mearsgroup.co.uk

For suspected gas leaks, please phone the National Grid on 0800 111 999.

Please note that our estate services team deal with issues on estates such as graffiti removal, fly-tipping, broken windows or doors, lights out of order and clearning in common ways.  Report these issues online.

Repairs priorities system

All repairs are given different priorities on how urgent the job is. When you phone to report a repair, the time it will take for the work to be done will vary according to its priority. The different priorities are:

• Emergency - within 24 hours
• Urgent - within three working days
• Routine - within 20 working days

Major repairs

If we need to carry out major works to your home, we try to arrange them so you can remain in your home while the work is being carried out. In the unlikely event that you would need to leave your home temporarily, we will arrange temporary accommodation according to your needs and charge you the same rent you would have paid if you remained in your home.

Find out what works are happening in your area by visiting our investing in your homes page.

Lift replacement programme

Find out more about the lift replacement programme taking place across the city.

Surveys

Occasionally the council may need to gain access to your home to carry out surveys. This could be:

• prior to major repairs being done
• to update our records on the condition of our housing
• to carry out specialist surveys, for example to identify the presence of asbestos containing materials etc.

Should we need to gain access to your property to undertake survey work, the surveyor will carry identification or should have a pre-arranged appointment. Do not allow any person into your home if they do not carry the relevant identification. If you are in any doubt, please contact the repairs helpdesk on 0800 052 6140.