Recharges
You may be recharged for the cost of items or works which are not Darlington Borough Council’s responsibility.
Most people treat their homes with care and respect because they want to live somewhere pleasant and safe. Unfortunately, some people damage their home, either deliberately or accidentally. When repairs are needed as a result of this kind of damage, you may have to pay.
If we think that you have damaged your home, or altered it without permission, or your visitors have caused the damage, we’ll ask you to explain what’s happened. If we have to put things right, we will recharge you.
We will recharge current and former tenants.
If there’s work that needs doing to your home when you move out, or furniture and belongings left behind, we will send you a bill to cover the cost of repairs and removal.
To avoid getting a bill whilst you are a tenant:
- Report repairs as soon as you notice them.
- Take care around your home and surrounding areas (including communal hallways, gardens and shared spaces).
- Keep your property tidy and the garden maintained.
- Don’t make any alterations without written permission from your Housing Management Officer.
- Ensure if you carry out small repairs that are your responsibility they are completed to a good standard.
The items we recharge current tenants the most for are:
- Replacing external door locks when keys have been lost.
- Replacing broken windows.
- Replacing damaged internal doors.
- Removing unauthorised adaptations in the home and garden.
- Removing fly-tipping from communal areas.
- Repairing damaged communal doors.
To avoid getting a bill when you move out of a Council home you should:
- Take all your items and rubbish from inside your home, your garden, and any communal areas. You can arrange for a collection of bulky items from our StreetScene team.
- Make sure your bins are empty – don’t leave a full bin.
- When you hand in your keys, hand in copies of permission letters for any alterations you’ve made. If you don’t, you may be recharged for the alterations.
- Make sure you’ve given your final meter readings to gas, electricity, and water (if applicable) companies.
- Return cable or satellite TV kit to the relevant provider – you may be recharged for the removal of any old aerials that can no longer be used.
- Before you leave, make sure you’ve cleaned the bathroom, toilet and kitchen, the floors are swept, and surfaces are washed down.
If you’re not sure, ask for advice from your Management Officer at your pre-termination visit.
The items we recharge former tenants for most are:
- Replacing or removing non-standard items like laminate flooring, light fittings, dimmer switches, doors, electric showers or cookers.
- Unauthorised alterations.
- Unauthorised patios, decking, fishponds and structures such as sheds.
- Holes in walls, ceilings and doors or door frames.
- Stickers on doors and walls.
- Graffiti, inside and outside.
- Carpets including underlay and grippers.
- Cleaning properties before the new tenant can move in.
Examples of what we will recharge you for (not exhaustive):
- Repairs that are a tenant’s responsibility.
- Repairs that are caused by damage, negligence or alleged criminal damage.
- No access for pre-planned repairs.
- Changes to a property that have not been approved.
- Damage to safety features such as fire doors and frames.
- Repairs to be carried out which are caused by a Police warrant, where access has been refused and if charges are brought against the tenant or household by the Police.
- Tenants who vacate their property leaving items that must be removed, or cleaning is required or other repairs such as overgrown gardens or damage to fixtures.
- Misuse of the callout service.
If you are a current tenant, we will add any recharges onto your rent account. You will be able to view these through your digital tenancy, Darlington Home Online.
If you are a former tenant any recharges will be consolidated with any recovery action for debts owed to Housing Services and external debt collection agencies may be used for recovery of outstanding debts, or they may referred to Legal Services.
If you are a current tenant, you would be expected to clear any balance owed to us before we would make you an offer. Your Housing Management Officer can give you more information around this.
If you are no longer a Council tenant and owe Housing Services money for rent or recharges, this can affect your ability to register on Darlington HomeSearch for a Council home. Please see our Allocation Policy [pdf document] for more information.