Home Management and Maintenance

Find essential information on maintaining and caring for your home, from repairs to energy management.

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Paying Your Rent

We want to make it easy for you to pay your rent, so we offer a choice of payment methods.

Pay Online

You can now pay your rent online on Lambeth Council’s website. Just scroll down till you see “Pay Online”.

Repairs

Cowley RMO staff aim to provide you with the best possible repair service to your home and communal areas.

The repair service forms part of your tenancy agreement, and this charter contains clear information regarding the level of service you can expect from us.

Cowley values your opinion and strives to provide you with the best possible service; we can do this with your help. Please ensure that you complete our Customer Satisfaction Survey, which will be presented to you by our operative upon completion of your repair.

How to Request a Repair

• Click here to complete the repair request form.
• Contact the repairs teams over the phone at 0207 9260690
• Come into the RMO office to request a repair in person.
• If you prefer, you can email the repairs team at CRMORepairs@lambeth.gov.uk – Please remember to include your contact details.

Repair Request Form

Tenant Repair Responsibilities

You are responsible for keeping your home clean, internal decoration, repairing any damages caused by you or anyone living or visiting your homes, the upkeep of anything not provided by the council and for minor repairs.

Cowley Repair Responsibilities

We are not responsible for all the repairs in your home. Below is a list of some of the most common repairs the council is responsible for:

How Our Staff or Contractors will Work in Your Home

• Have the appropriate qualifications and/or experience to execute the required work
• Be polite and courteous
• Show identification before entering your property
• Be clean and tidy
• Not to start work outside your property without letting you know
• Arrange appointments with you if access is required
• Keep safe all materials and equipment used
• Clear up after the work is complete
• Not to use audio equipment without your prior permission
• Not smoke in your property
• Use dust sheets and protective covers to protect your possessions
• Ensure that at the end of each day you have working gas, water, electrical, heating and cooking services or an alternative
• Respect your cultural priorities or personal circumstances
• Take meal and comfort breaks away from your property.

Gas & Electricity in Your Home

Energy bills are not included in your rent. Once you accept your tenancy, you will need to contact the property’s energy supplier to arrange service. If you wish to change energy supplier, you must arrange your utilities connection.

You will need to take a reading of your current meters and pass this information on to the new suppliers. You must show a copy of the tenancy agreement you signed at the office. You should allow seven working days for the supplies to be connected.

Gas servicing and maintenance

By law, we must check all our gas appliances and pipe work for leaks that could cause an explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning. We do this by carrying out a yearly safety check through a contractor on the Gas Safe Register.

After the safety check, you will be sent a copy of the gas certificate will be sent to you in the post. The contractor will offer an appointment when the annual service is due. They will make the appointment to suit you where possible, but please try to be flexible as well.

We may take legal action against you if you do not let us complete your annual gas safety check. This may mean a court order requiring you to let the contractor into your home or allowing us to force entry into your home to carry out the safety check.

To stop us taking legal action, you must let us know if you are going to be away
due to holidays or sickness for any length of time.

Please note – you are responsible for safety checks on any gas appliances you own, such as a gas cooker.

Tips for Tackling Damp and Mould in Your Home

Welcome to your essential guide for tackling damp and mould in your home. Here, you’ll find practical tips and expert advice to identify, prevent, and address these common household challenges, ensuring a healthier, more comfortable living environment.

Understanding Damp and Mould

Have you noticed stains or white tidemarks on your walls or ceiling? Perhaps your home feels unusually damp, or you’ve spotted mould on walls, furniture, and even clothing. These issues often arise from water leakage, possibly from pipes or the roof, or due to a faulty damp-proof course. The white marks you see are typically salt residues from the water.

Mould on ceilings and walls, particularly in corners or behind furniture, is usually a sign of condensation. This happens when warm, moist air meets a cooler surface, like a wall or window, transforming into water droplets. It’s crucial not to ignore this. By following the practical advice in this guide, you might be able to resolve the issue independently.

Strategies for Combatting Mould

Act swiftly at the first sign of mould! Regular household activities, including cooking, washing, and even bathing, can produce a surprising amount of moisture. Double-glazed windows can trap moisture inside, so it’s essential to keep trickle vents open and unobstructed. Mould thrives in areas with poor air circulation, such as behind cupboards or in north-facing walls, which are cooler and more prone to condensation.

To eradicate mould, clean affected areas with a fungicidal wash, available at local hardware or DIY stores. Consider dry cleaning clothes affected by mildew and shampooing your carpets. To prevent future occurrences, redecorate with a fungicidal paint once the mould is treated.

Reducing Moisture and Enhancing Ventilation

Cooking

Cooking for 3 hours can release 3 pints of moisture into your home’s air. Keep the kitchen door closed to contain this moisture, and open windows briefly to release steam.

Doing Laundry

When using a tumble dryer, ensure it’s vented outside or the room is well-ventilated. If you lack outdoor space for drying clothes, open a window or use a fan. Drying clothes indoors can add approximately 10 pints of moisture to the air. Avoid drying clothes on radiators; if necessary, ensure a window is open.

Bathing and Showering

Start with cold water in the bath before adding hot to minimise steam production, which equates to around 2 pints of moisture. Be mindful to avoid water splashes on non-tiled surfaces, and always use a shower curtain. If you don’t have vents or extractor fans, opening a window briefly during and after bathing can help with ventilation.

Improving Ventilation in Your Home

Improving ventilation in your home is key to preventing damp and mould. If your home lacks built-in vents or extractor fans, a simple yet effective method is to open windows briefly during and after activities like cooking or bathing. This helps expel moisture-laden air.

For homes equipped with vents or extractor fans, it’s crucial to regularly check and ensure they’re in proper working order and not obstructed. When arranging furniture, try to place wardrobes and similar items against internal walls instead of external ones, as internal walls tend to be warmer and less prone to condensation.

Efficiently Heating Your Home

Proper heating plays a vital role in reducing dampness and mould. Avoid blocking radiators with furniture or curtains, as this restricts heat circulation. Utilise timers and thermostats to manage your heating effectively. Keeping doors closed helps retain heat and reduces moisture spread.

Maintain a comfortable and healthy indoor temperature, ideally between 18-21°C, especially when active. Turning off your heating can exacerbate condensation issues, so keep your home consistently warm. If you’re facing difficulties with heating bills, seek advice from our Energy Advice Team.

Further Information

As a council tenant, managing condensation and preventing damp are part of your responsibilities. We’re here to support you with advice, and where feasible, we can install extractor fans and vents to aid in moisture control.

For more tailored advice on energy saving and managing heating expenses, contact our Energy Advice Team at energyvice@www.lambeth.gov.uk or visit www.lambeth.gov.uk/energy for further resources.

If you have any questions or for more information, feel free to reach out to the Cowley RMO office at 020 7926 0690. We’re committed to assisting you in maintaining a healthy, damp-free living environment.

Pest Control

Cowley Estate Pest Control service is completed annually by Pestforce Ltd.

The estate is covered by a block program which includes wasp nests, mice, rats, bedbugs and cockroaches. Pigeons and ants are not included in the program.

If you have a pest problem, please complete the form below or contact the estate office on 020 7926 0690/0697 for further assistance.

Pest Control Form.

Household Insurance

Cowley RMO does not provide household contents insurance for its residents.

It is recommended that you arrange your own insurance. Lambeth Council does operate competitive insurance cover through Housing Insurance Services for both Tenants and Leaseholder’s.

For further information, please contact 01962 844 454.