The Council

Swindon Borough Council is responsible for the maintenance of most items that were part of the premises when your tenancy started, but only if their repair or replacement was due to fair wear and tear.

The exceptions to this are the following:

• Bathroom/basin plugs and chains
• Fuses to appliances and the consumer unit
• Light bulbs, fluorescent tubes and starter units (except in communal areas)
• Battery-operated smoke detectors
• Sweeping chimneys (except if used by council-owned gas appliance)
• The connection and disconnection of tenant's own gas or electrical appliances
• Internal decoration (except in sheltered accommodation)
• Loose floor covering or carpets (unless provided by the council)
• Hat and coat rails/hooks
• Frost damage to outside toilets, taps and pipework
• Gully grids
• Gardens
• Any item identified at a mutual exchange as the incoming tenant's responsibility

The Tenant

The tenant is responsible for:

• The repair or replacement of all items if this is due to wilful neglect and/or accidental or deliberate damage caused by you, members of the household, visitors to the property or your pets.
• Acts of vandalism or criminal damage, unless you report the incident to the police and obtain a police log number. You must co-operate with the police during their investigation of the incident, if not you will be held responsible for the repair or replacement.
• Any modifications you make to the property.