Repairs and maintenance

To keep houses safe it is important that they are maintained and repaired, as quickly as possible, when required.

Territory Housing is responsible for repairs and maintenance.

In most communities, we will enter into a service level agreement with another organisation to deliver repairs and maintenance services. Where possible, job opportunities will be made available to local people.

Community housing officers

Territory Housing has community housing officers who are based in the community and, if possible, employed from the local community.

Community housing officers will conduct inspections of remote public houses, deal with maintenance issues and can help you to be a successful tenant.

Your house will be inspected four times a year. Inspections will allow Territory Housing to find out what repairs and maintenance need to be carried out immediately and other non-urgent repairs that can be completed over time.

Reporting repairs and maintenance

You can report repairs and maintenance issues to your housing officer.

If something breaks or stops working you should report it straight away. Some things will be fixed more quickly than others. Things that are dangerous will be repaired as a priority such as:

• blocked toilets, blocked drains, or sewage leaks
• leaking water mains and pipes
• exposed electrical wires
• gas leaks.

You should also report things like:

• dripping taps or taps that are tight to turn
• stove elements that are not working
• fans that are not working properly
• power points that are not working.

The sooner you report the item to your housing officer, the sooner it can be fixed.

Reporting intentional damage or damage caused by misuse

You need to report any damage that has been done to your house. You may have to pay for this damage if it was caused intentionally or by misuse.

How long will it take to get fixed?

There are three different types of maintenance - routine, urgent and immediate.

• Routine maintenance is attended to within a timely manner and may include problems such as a broken soap holder or a loose shower rail.
• Urgent maintenance is attended to within two days and may include a problem such as a power point not working.
• Immediate maintenance is attended to within four hours and may include a problem such as not being able to turn off a tap.