Lettable Standard

• Upon completion of void repair works all properties shall be presented in a clean, sanitised, secure and safe condition.
• All internal areas shall be free from any unpleasant odours, nicotine, mould, damp, dust, dirt, grease, graffiti, cobwebs, rubbish and debris.
• All bare floors will be brushed and all debris removed.
• All external areas including pathways, patio areas, driveways, gardens, garages and outbuildings shall be free of any debris and trip hazards.

• All of our properties shall have a decoration to a basic standard, i.e. all walls, ceilings and woodwork will be left with existing decoration from the previous customer if our technical officer believes it to be in good order.
• Wallpaper and wall coverings which are not considered by our technical officers to be suitable for example, having graffiti painted on it or other inappropriate material shall be removed and the area will be made ‘ready for decoration’- This means that where required, walls and ceilings will be stripped of wallpaper, minor holes/cracks filled and rubbed down and left in a condition that is ready for new customers to apply their decoration of either paint or wallpaper.
• We will only decorate rooms or whole properties where major works have taken place affecting the whole of a room or whole of the property.
• The Area Housing Team can use their discretion to issue decorating vouchers to new tenants to assist them in purchasing new paint/wallpaper and other decorating equipment.

• All woodwork shall be fixed and fitted securely to a good standard. This includes all skirting boards, architraves, window boards, curtain battens and door frames.
• Internal doors shall be fitted to a good standard and function correctly with no difficulty to open/close and latch.
• Wood/chipboard flooring shall be fixed securely with no gaps between joins.
• Solid floors shall be in good order with no cracks/holes or heaving.
• Window frames shall be fully sealed with a suitable silicone and with no signs of dirt/mould. Where fitted trickle vents must be operational.
• Window handles and opening sashes shall function correctly. At least two keys per property shall be supplied if the window handles have a lockable function.  Opening sashes on the first floor and above shall be fitted with a ‘sash restrictor’ if the opening sash has the potential for someone to fall from it.
• All glazing shall be in perfect condition with no clouding or cracks. (On occasion it may be necessary to carryout glazing replacement work after the customer moves into the property.)
• The living room shall have a connection for a standard television antenna.
• All internal light fittings will be fitted with energy efficient type LED/CFL bulbs.

We will carry out annual gas checks, and five yearly fixed wire testing, you will be contacted when this is due and you must allow our gas and electrical engineers reasonable access to your home to carry out testing.

You must not attempt to alter, repair or move any fixed electrical or gas fittings; any faults should be reported to us.

If you wish to use your own contractor to do any works in your home, you must first seek approval from us by completing a permissions form online or by post and await a decision in writing from us. 

Please note that any works you wish to have done must be by fully qualified electrician or Gas safe registered engineer.

• All empty properties shall have the electrical system tested and certified before being re-let to a new customer.
• All rooms shall be fitted with appropriate standard electrical fittings (white plastic) light switches, single or double sockets, pendant or batten light fittings.
• All electrical equipment (switches, sockets, light fittings, extraction fans, etc.) shall be securely fixed to walls/ceilings with no gaps between electrical equipment and wall/ceilings/surfaces.
• There will be a  minimum number of electrical outlets provided per room these will be as follows:

- Lounge: 3 double outlets or equivalent

- Bedrooms: 1 double outlet or equivalent

- Hallway/Landing: 1 single outlet

- Kitchen: 4 double outlets or equivalent.

*Where it has been necessary to install a new kitchen or rewire the property there maybe more than this.

*Where the property is a new build or recently built the number of sockets is likely to exceed the above. 

• Every property will be fitted with fully operational systems to provide both heating and hot water, this could be gas, electrical, heat source pumps or a communal system as applicable.
• Any existing gas fires will be disconnected and removed from the property following the departure of the previous customer, with the fireplace and chimney area blocked up/plastered and fitted with a ventilation cover. (Electric fire suites may be fitted in certain independent living properties.)
• All rooms shall have adequate heating supplied by either a gas fired boiler and central heating radiators, including thermostatic radiator valves, or electric heating such as storage heaters or air source heat systems.
• Fully tested and working smoke detectors shall be in place to all floors of the property. These can usually be found to the ceilings of the ground floor living room or hallway and the first floor landing. A carbon monoxide detector will be situated near the properties heating boiler system as per the manufacturer’s instructions. CO2 alarms will be installed in all living accommodation where a fixed combustion appliance is present (excluding gas hobs and cookers).
• The mains gas supply shall be ‘capped’ for safety reasons during void works and will only be ‘uncapped’ by our heating engineers or Progress Housing Group approved contractor (for out of area properties) once ‘commission’ of the boiler is arranged.

Please note new tenants must arrange ‘commission’ of the boiler once they have signed up for the property by calling 0333 320 4555 to arrange an appointment with a heating engineer; this can take up 48hrs to be completed.

• All external doors to properties shall be fitted with a BS3621 lock with three keys to each lock supplied with the exception of a ‘night latch’ lock which will have two keys provided.
• If the property is within a building with a communal entrance at least one key or key fob will be provided for the new tenant to gain access through that entrance.
• All doors shall be in good functioning order, all door furniture securely in place, door frames sealed with an appropriate silicone/mortar, draught strips in good order and weather tight.

• Where it is possible to accommodate the installation on an outside wall, an infinity fan, or equivalent, will be fitted in the kitchen to combat levels of humidity and condensation that may be present. These fans are designed to operate 24/7 depending on the levels of moisture in the atmosphere with no user intervention required.
• All kitchens shall have provision for a washing machine space, freestanding cooker (gas/electric) space and under the counter fridge space as a minimum. The standard space size for these appliances is 610mm wide, although some existing spaces can be narrower for a slimmer appliance.
• All work surfaces shall be in good order with no scratches/gouges or staining, edging strips shall be in place and surfaces sealed with an appropriate water proof sealant.
• Kitchen units, shelving, door/drawer fronts, kick boards and end panels shall all be in good order with no scratches/gouges/staining or with any edging strips missing.
• As a minimum requirement the kitchen shall have 2 x1000mm base units (or equivalent), 1 x500mm drawer base unit and 1 x1000mm wall unit (or equivalent).
• A single bowl and drainer sink, hot and cold taps and plug shall be in place with plumbing connections for a washing machine and appropriate waste plumbing for the escape of water from the sink and washing machine.
• Tiling above work surfaces shall be in good order and all grouting shall be in place. Silicone mastic should be in good condition and form a good clean fit with other surfaces if not it should be replaced and applied so as to meet this standard.
• A suitable floor covering (polysafe/lino/vinyl) shall be in place with no rips or damage to the main floor area. Small marks/stains may be visible to the floor covering in free standing appliance spaces but these will not be visible once an appliance is in place.
• All electrical equipment (sockets, switches, light fittings, etc.) shall be fixed securely and a fully tested and working heat detector shall be in place to the ceiling.
• If the property has both a gas and electric mains supply there shall be a cooker outlet provided for both supplies. If the property has an electric mains supply only then there will be an outlet for an electric cooker only.
• It is the responsibility of the tenant to arrange connection of their own appliances by a suitably qualified tradesperson.

• Where it is possible to accommodate the installation on an outside wall, an infinity fan, or equivalent, will be fitted in the Bathroom to combat levels of humidity and condensation that may be present. These fans are designed to operate 24/7 depending on the levels of moisture in the atmosphere with no user intervention required.
• All properties shall be fitted with a fully functioning toilet and wash hand basin which shall be free from any leaks and blockages and in good, clean working order, with no visible damage.
• Depending on the type of the property it shall be fitted with either a fully functioning bath, shower tray or level access wet room with hot and cold water supply. These should also be free from any leaks and blockages and in good, clean working order, with no visible damage.
• All bath and wash hand basin taps shall be free from corrosion/damage and function easily. A working plug shall be provided for both the bath and wash hand basin.
• All waste plumbing for the escape of water shall be free from any leaks and function correctly.
• If an electric shower is in place it shall be tested and function correctly with a new shower head and hose supplied and fitted.
• A sealed light fitting shall be in place to the bathroom ceiling and a fully functioning extractor fan shall be fitted.
• All tiling shall be in good order with all grouting in place and both the bath and wash hand basin sealed with an appropriate water proof silicone. As a minimum requirement there shall be a row of three tiles above the bath and a single row of tiles above the wash hand basin. If a shower is in place, tiling will be fitted to the shower area and a shower rail and curtain supplied and fitted.
• A non-slip floor covering shall be fitted which will be in good order and free from any rips or damage.
• Any glazing to the bathroom window(s) shall be obscured for privacy.
• The door to the bathroom shall be fitted with a vanity lock.

• The roof space shall be free of any debris and shall have continuous loft insulation fitted throughout to a depth of between 250mm and 400mm. This space should not be used for storage.

• Internal doors should allow air to flow through the dwelling by providing a minimum free area equivalent to a 10mm undercut if the floor finish is fitted 20mm if not.
• Where it is thought to be required, to improve the ventilation throughout a property, and in addition to measures already detailed, consideration will be given to the installation of a positive ventilation system to ensure that the property is able to be kept free of condensation and moisture that can lead to the growth of mould.

• All roofing tiles shall be intact and in good order to prevent any water ingress.
• All dry verges should be intact with plastic capping’s or sealed with mortar and with no gaps showing.
• All fascia boards and soffits shall be intact and in good order.
• All pointing, render and flashings shall be in good order with no holes or gaps in order to protect the property from weather damage.
• Guttering shall be fixed securely and be clear of any foliage and obstructions with all joints sealed correctly with no leaks.
• All downspouts should be free of blockages, intact and fixed securely with brackets.
• All drainage gully’s shall be free of any blockages, foliage or debris and have a correctly fitted grate in place.
• Concrete or paved driveways, pathways and patio areas shall all be in good order, level and free from any trip hazards.
• All grassed areas shall be as even as possible to prevent any trip hazards. Any uneven areas will be levelled off with top soil and seeded. All grass shall be cut back to a manageable length of no longer than 50mm (5cm) in preparation for the new tenant to be able to maintain.
• All brambles, bushes and overgrown hedgerows shall be cut back neatly to a manageable condition in preparation for the new tenant to maintain.
• Most perimeter boundaries shall be marked by either a tree line, hedgerows, chain link fencing, timber fencing with concrete or timber posts and in some instances concrete base panels. All these examples should be in a good safe order and without any gaps or damage where pets or small children could potentially escape through. There are some properties, such as some independent living properties which do not require fencing to mark boundaries as they have open communal garden areas.
• A concrete or aluminium washing line post shall be in place to the rear garden but the new tenant may have to provide their own washing line. In some instances a rotary washing line will be in place.
• All garden areas shall be safe, clear of rubbish, debris and ready to maintain for the new tenant.
• Any existing gates should be in good functioning order with all fittings working correctly.
• Ponds installed by the previous tenant will be filled in and left levelled off and seeded were appropriate.

• All garages and outbuildings shall be water tight and in good structural order with pointing and/or render in good condition.
• Any guttering/downspouts shall be clear of any blockages and leaking joints.
• Any electrical equipment within the building shall be in good safe working order.
• These will be swept clean and clear of any debris and rubbish inside.
• Outbuildings shall have a lockable door in good functioning order.
• Garages shall have a good functioning ‘up and over’ lockable door with a minimum of two keys provided.

• The water system will be flushed through for a period of 10 minutes upon completion of all void works by the technical officer whilst carrying out the post inspection and sign off of the property.

• We will ensure that all works are completed prior to the new tenant signing up. However, there may be occasions when there are works that cannot be completed during the void period, but do not impact on the tenants' ability to have full use of the property. This may be caused by supply line or timing issues, in which case we will agree with the incoming tenant that these will be completed once they have moved in and that they are happy to move in under these circumstances.

• Any works above and beyond what is stated in this document must be requested to the relevant area housing manager and voids team manager, who will discuss the request and make a decision as to whether the requested works shall be able to proceed or advise on any reason why the request has been declined.