Wealden District Council
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Our Letable Standards

This sheet (lettable standard) describes the standard of safety, comfort and cleanliness properties must meet before they are let. Before you move in we will have completed as much of this work as possible; however, so that you are not waiting too long to move in, we may do some work after you have moved in. This work will be explained to you.

  • Have useable water, electricity and gas supplies (if provided) and adequate drainage
  • Be secure, with replacement locks and at least one key for each external door, including brick built sheds where provided
  • Have useable windows
  •  Have safe paths leading to each door
  • Have a working hot water system
  • Have a working, clean, usable toilet with a new toilet seat
  • Have a clean, usable bath or shower
  • Have all internal doors in place
  • Have clean and useable kitchen cupboards
  • Have clean, hygienic kitchen work surfaces
  • Have all floors in good condition with no loose, dangerous or missing floorboards
  • Have a bannister or handrail to the staircase and landing
  • Have smoke detectors in place
  • Have taps and waste for a plumbed in washing machine
  • Have provision for a response alarm system, if the property is within a retirement living scheme
  • Any gripper rods will have been removed (In retirement living courts rods in good condition will be left).
  • Handrails will be secure and gaps in the banisters will be no more than 100mm wide.
  • The treads and risers of the stairs will be safe and secure.
  • Hard wired smoke alarms (and heat sensors where applicable).
  • All windows will open and close, and will fasten securely.
  • All cracked or broken glass will have been replaced.
  • Any damaged uPVC windows or double glazed units will have been replaced.
  • The glass in bathroom windows will be frosted.
  • Cupboard doors and drawers will open and close correctly.
  • There will be at adequate kitchen units.
  • The kitchen worktop will not be damaged.
  • There will be an electricity or gas supply for the cooker.
  • The space for the cooker will be at least 600mm wide.
  • Cracked or broken tiles will have been replaced with matching or similar tiles.
  • The stopcock will work properly and be easy to get to and will be labelled.
  • There will be space for a fridge-freezer and washing machine each will be 620mm wide.
  • The washing machine space will have connections to the water and waste pipes.
  • There will be hot and cold running water and the taps will work properly.
  • A plug and chain will be fitted to the sink.
  • There will be no rust in the sink or on the kitchen taps.
  • The bathroom will be fitted with a hand wash basin, toilet and bath or shower.
  • Taps will be in working order and will not drip.
  • Sanitary fittings will not have cracks. Chips in the bath will have been repaired or the bath will have been replaced.
  • Any over-the-bath shower will be working properly.
  • If there is a shower over the bath, the area around it will be tiled.
  • The toilet seat will have been replaced and the shower head and hose if there is one.
  • There will be no significant damage to ceilings and walls.
  • There will be no loose wallpaper.
  • There will be no polystyrene (‘Poly’) tiles or coving in the property.
  • Any Artex on the ceiling will be in good condition. (Any Artex that was in poor condition will have been removed and the ceiling will have been skimmed and painted with two coats of emulsion).
  • Homes with our retirement living courts will have been redecorated. 
  • Floorboards will be fitted, even and secure. No nails will stick out.
  • If tiled the kitchen floor will be in good condition but they may not match.
  • Your gas supply will be safe and will have been disconnected at the mains. The supply will be reconnected when you contact our gas contractor to arrange for a service and gas safety check.
  • There will be either electric, gas, solid-fuel heating or an air source heat pump.
  • The electricity supply and wiring will have been tested as safe.
  • Electrical sockets will be safe to use and will be our standard fitting.
  • Each room except the bathroom will have at least one electrical socket.
  • The kitchen will have at least two double electrical sockets and a cooker socket. (Note: we do not provide TV aeriels or TV sockets in the kitchen or bedroom).
  • All our properties are rated E of above.
  • You will be given an energy performance certificate which explains how energy efficient your home is.
  • Any wooden garden sheds left at the property will be gifted to you. You will be responsible for maintaining or replacing any shed left at the property.
  • Brick sheds provided by us will be in safe condition.
  • Any conservatory left on the property, will be in a safe condition. However, if it is not fit for purpose and requires repairs, it will be removed.
  • All rubbish will have been removed.
  • All hard floors will have been swept and vacuumed.
  • All tiled, concrete and hard floors would have been swept and moped and dried.
  • Any built-in storage cupboard (Pantry) will have been swept out and mopped.
  • All fixtures, fittings, window sills and ledges, radiators,pipes, door frames, door handles, picture rails, skirting boards and fire surrounds will have been washed.
  • Cobwebs will have been removed from walls, ceilings and cupboards.
  • There will be no graffiti inside or outside of the property.
  • Blu Tack, sticky tape, drawing pins, chewing gum and labels will have been removed.
  • The inside and outside of the kitchen cupboards and draws will have been washed.
  • Kitchen sinks, taps, plugs, worktops, wall tiles, grouting and sealant will have been washed.
  • The shower, bath, wash bin, taps, toilet and pipes will have been washed.
  • All electrical sockets and switches will have been cleaned.
  • The council holds an asbestos register and undertakes regular surveys to assess the condition of any unknown asbestos materials. Remedial works will have been carried out where appropriate. For further information contact the repairs desk.
  • We do not decorate properties unless they are in our retirement living courts. We may provide decorating vouchers where considered appropriate.
  • We may carry our improvements after you have moved in, you will be advised of what these are and the timescales for completion.

For more information contact:

Post: Property Services Section, Wealden District Council, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX

Phone: 01323 43322

Email: Repairs@wealden.gov.uk 

Website: www.wealden.gov.uk