Accessing your home

If you live in a Regenda Homes property, we may need to come into your home from time to time. This helps us keep your home safe, secure and in good condition.

Your tenancy agreement says you must let us, our staff or contractors into your home so we can:

  • Check the condition of your home

  • Carry out repairs or improvements

  • Service or fix gas, electric or water systems

  • Make sure you’re safe and well

  • Offer support if needed

We will always try to give you at least 24 hours’ written notice before we visit. This is part of the law under Section 11 (6) of the Landlord and Tenant Act.

Accessing your home in an emergency

Sometimes, we may need to come in without notice. This could happen if there’s an emergency or a risk to safety. If you’re not home and we need to act quickly, we may enter your home to fix the problem.

Essential works

Sometimes, we need to do important work that keeps you safe or protects the building. If we can’t get access and the work is urgent, we may need to take legal steps to enter your home.

We will always write to you first. The letter will explain why the work is needed and the legal reason we have to take action.

What counts as essential work?

Essential works are jobs we must do to keep you safe and protect your home. These include things like:

Safety checks and repairs

  • Health and safety inspections

  • Fixing problems found during safety checks

  • Repairs for serious health and safety risks (Category 1 or 2 HHSRS)

Water and damp problems

  • Fixing leaks from outside the building

  • Fixing leaks inside your home or in neighbouring homes

  • Treating damp and mould

Structural and weather protection

  • Repairs to the structure of the building

  • Making sure your home is wind and weather tight

  • Major roof repairs

  • Replacing windows and doors

Fire and asbestos safety

  • Fire safety work, including fire alarms and fire doors

  • Fire risk assessments and related repairs

  • Removing or sealing asbestos

  • Asbestos surveys before work starts

Heating and power

  • Installing central heating if no other form of heating is present

  • Rewiring

  • Gas and electric safety checks

If we need to carry out a Refurbishment and Demolition Survey or a Management Survey before starting work, this is also classed as essential. We’ll follow the same steps to get access to your home.

If any of these works are needed and we can’t get access, we’ll follow the same legal process to enter your home and carry out the work.

What happens if we can't get into your home for essential works?

If we need to carry out essential works and can’t get into your home, we’ll follow this process under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act:

  1. First appointment
    We’ll send you a letter with a date for the work. This could come from us or a contractor working for us.

  2. Second appointment
    If we can’t get in the first time, we’ll send another letter with a new appointment date. This could come from us or a contractor working for us.

  3. Third appointment
    If we still can’t get in, you’ll get a letter from our solicitor. This will explain that we plan to take legal action if access is refused again.

  4. Neighbourhood Team visit
    If there’s no response, someone from our Neighbourhood Team will visit your home. At this point, it becomes a legal case.

  5. Further contact attempts
    We’ll keep trying to reach you by phone, email and other ways for a reasonable amount of time.

  6. Legal action begins
    If we still can’t reach you, we’ll put together a record of all our attempts to contact you. This will include your tenancy agreement (if available). We’ll then send this to our solicitor to start legal proceedings.

  7. Court Order and final steps
    If the court gives us permission, you’ll have 7 days to let us in. If you still don’t allow access, we may take further legal steps to enter your home and carry out the work.

 

If you have any questions or feedback about this process, please get in touch.