Repairs & Maintenance

Ashford Borough Council is responsible for repairs to the structure of the building and communal areas. Generally, Leaseholders are responsible for repairs and maintenance inside their premises.

Please refer to your individual lease agreement regarding repairs to the windows inside your property or the entrance door to your flat. In some cases, the windows and doors are still owned by Ashford Borough Council. When this is the case, the Council is responsible for repairing, replacing and maintaining, then recharging the cost to you.

Repairs to communal areas or the fabric of the building should be reported directly to the Repairs team by calling 01233 330 366 or reporting these online: https://www.ashford.gov.uk/housing/council-tenant/repairs-and-maintenance/report-a-repair

You can find out more about the progress of the repair you have requested by contacting the Repairs team directly on 01233 330 366 or if completed online checking on the tenant & leaseholder portal: https://digital-platform.ashford.gov.uk/ashford/www/dashboard

Leasehold services are provided a copy of any repairs from the Housing Repairs team that could be considered as rechargeable under the terms & conditions of the lease agreement. We further review these repairs and if correct to charge will be detailed in the service charge statement.

Payment will be requested in the final Calculation of Service Charges demand produced every August per tax year, payment will be due from 28 days from the date of the letter. The types of repairs included will be structural works on the building and any associated communal areas as demised on the lease agreement.

Communal repairs and repairs to the fabric of a building should not be carried out by Leaseholders. If you have a concern or are aware of any repairs required, please contact the Repairs Team directly on 01233 330 366.

Leaseholders have the right to carry out improvements or alterations inside their home if they are strictly limited to the interior of the property. Some works can be carried out without permission such as internal redecoration and renewing fixtures and fittings.

Leaseholders are not permitted to carry out works that could include:

• Removal of structural walls

• Undertake works that might damage or impair the structure of the building

• Cause damage or impair shared services

• Install new windows, entrance doors or remove walls without the Council’s formal consent

To carry out any other works or works requiring permission such as window replacement, leaseholders must complete the alterations form which can be found on the Council's website:

https://www.ashford.gov.uk/home-improvements

We ask detailed descriptions are stated for the proposed works and in some instances plans or drawings may be required. In most cases, the Council is unlikely to refuse permission, unless the work is likely to affect the safety of the building, cause a nuisance to neighbours, or is in conflict with the terms and conditions of the lease agreement. Additionally, advice may need to be sought from our Planning and Building Control team, to check if Planning Permission or Building Control approval is required before works are permitted. Leaseholders should also consider when undertaking any works that they may be required to pay associated fees. Initial advice can be obtained from the Council’s Planning and Building Control team, with further guidance available on the Council's website:

https://www.ashford.gov.uk/planning-and-development/do-i-need-planning-permission/

https://www.ashford.gov.uk/building-control/contact-building-control/