New Council Tenants
The Totteridge House Management Committee members hope to have introductory meetings with all new tenants to tell them about Totteridge House and the services we provide. When you signed the tenancy agreement, you will have been informed of the start date of your tenancy. This is the date you became the legal tenant.
From this date you are responsible for the property and for payment of rent.
You are responsible for arranging the connection of electricity and gas to your home. You should give the gas and electricity companies as much notice as possible of your moving in date. London electricity usually requires at least 3 days notice to connect your supply.
Paying your rent
The Totteridge House office will issue you with a paying-in book, which you can use to pay your rent. Rent must be paid weekly on a Monday. Rent can be paid at all branches of Barclays Bank. The nearest branch is located o St Johns Hill, Clapham Junction.
Repairs and Maintenance
Please note Totteridge House is not responsible for replacing any units, work tops, basins or other furnishings that have been damaged by the tenant. Any windows that are broken due to the fault of the tenant will be boarded up and made safe but will not be replaced. Totteridge House is not responsible for repairing tenants own improvements.
Reporting a repair?
Repairs can be reported either by telephoning the office between working hours of 9:30am – 5:30pm (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) and 11:00am – 7pm (Wednesday); or alternatively, by visiting the office located on the ground floor of the block. These hours may change from time to time. Please check on the notice boards located in the lobby and on the office door.
Our telephone answering service is available 24hours a day. All repair requests will be logged and we will arrange mutually convenient access. An initial inspection will take place to determine the nature of work and likely cost.
Wandsworth Council’s repair time scales provide a minimum standard for the Totteridge House Repair requests will be dealt with as per the table below.
| Code | Target Action Time | Examples of type of repairs |
|---|---|---|
| A | Within 2 hours of notification | Major bursts etc., unable to isolate supply danger to person |
| B | 1 Day | Emergencies, burst pipes, loss of power |
| C | 3 Days | Total or partial loss of power, heating or hot water |
| D | 7 Days | Repairs to water supply installations, services to elderly |
| E | 10 Days | Work to vacant properties or re-letting |
| F | 20 Days | Repairs to windows, doors and minor leaks |
| G | 60 Days | Routine, e.g. brickwork, re-pointing, fence repairs |
Emergency Out of Hours Repairs
If you have an emergency repair such as a major pipe burst or any repair that presents a danger to persons, you can contact Wandsworth Housing Patrol service on 020 8871 7490.
Housing Patrol will arrange for a contractor to ‘make safe’ the problem until the Totteridge House office is open when staff will carry out the repair during normal working hours. Please note this service is for emergencies ONLY.
Totteridge House will be charged by Wandsworth Council for this service. If you call the Housing Patrol for what is not an emergency, you will be charged for this service.
What is not an emergency?
A blocked sink, a toilet that will not flush or a containable leak. Please do not call the emergency number for repairs of this sort. This is not an emergency and will be attended to the next working day by Totteridge House staff.
Decoration
Unfortunately we do not receive any allowance for the re-decoration of any homes. However the Council may have a redecoration policy if you meet, certain criteria i.e. have a disability or are elderly. Please contact the Totteridge House office or the Council for more information.
Tenant’s Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of tenants to report to the Totteridge House office any defects as soon as possible. It is also the responsibility of the tenants to take care of their home and not allow negligence or abuse, either by members of the household or by their visitors. Any alterations or additions to the property or its fixtures must have the written permission from the Totteridge House Co-op or the Council.
If any defect arises out of such negligence or abuse, the tenant will be liable to be charged the full cost of any materials and labour used to remedy any defect or damage caused. This would include any damage to the property by third parties.
Totteridge House Repair Responsibilities
- The plumbing including cold water systems beyond the main stopcock in each dwelling including pipes, valves, stopcocks, cisterns and overflows.
- The Council’s plumbed fittings including baths, sinks, basins, WC suites, taps and waste fittings but excluding plumbing installed for washing machines, dishwashers etc.
- The electrical services from the Electricity Board’s meter including internal wiring.
- The Council’s internal fixtures and fittings.
- Re-glazing of broken windows to dwellings where break has known cause and the co-op is liable
