Improving
Your Home
Tenants have the right to improve their homes, however there are certain exceptions and guidelines we ask people to follow.
We advise tenants not to paint kitchen cupboards and drawers as this makes it extremely difficult to match the units if repairs are required. Also we ask people not to paint wall tiles.
Before any structural alterations (such as building a conservatory), knocking down walls, window alterations or loft conversions are carried out, permission must be granted by Tees Valley Housing. This will ensure all building regulations are kept to and work is approved accordingly. If you receive permission, the work must be carried out by qualified tradesmen who are registered with a governing body. You will be given a certificate, please make sure you keep hold of it.
Please make sure you get permission before any gates or fences are erected. We advise people not to lay patios as this causes a problem when manholes or drain covers are covered over.
Fire fronts and storage heaters should never be painted for health and safety reasons as the paints could be toxic and this also makes any repairs extremely difficult.
Electrical Works
From 1st January 2005, building regulations now apply to electrical work in homes. Under these laws, any new installation works carried out in kitchen, bathrooms and external areas require a qualified electrician to carry out the repairs and issue a minor works certificate.
If you use a qualified electrician you don’t need to inform building control as the registered body will do this on behalf of the electrician. A qualified electrician should have BS 7671 qualifications and be a member of a registered body such as NICEIC, ELECSA, ECA, BSI or GAS SAFE.
Following any work, the electrician should leave a minor works certificate. This certificate should be kept in a safe place as proof the work was carried out safely and by a competent person.
Replacement or renewal of showers, cooker hoods, additional lighting and sockets in kitchens or bathroom would require minor works certificates following completion of works. Additional security lights and sockets installed outside would also require certificates.
New wiring and cabling to any parts of the dwelling would also require a certificate to be completed.
