Repairs and Maintenance

 Lost or misplaced keys

Due to the location of the properties, Dreamtime Housing does not keep spare copies of any keys; You are provided with 2 sets of keys when you sign the lease, it is up to you to look after these keys. if you lock yourself out of home or lose your keys, you will be charged to replace the locks.

Dreamtime Housing can arrange a locksmith in these instances.

You are not permitted to change the locks to any Dreamtime Housing property without written permission from the organisation.

You are also not permitted to add locks or devices to doors to lock them. Such as padlocks. The only internal doors allowed to lock are the bathroom and toilet doors.

Planned & Cyclical Maintenance

DH provides planned maintenance programs to keep its properties in good condition and extend their life. Planned maintenance includes major repairs, and upgrade or replacement of items that have reached the end of their usable life.

This includes:

• re-painting

• flooring

• fencing

• roofing

• kitchens

• bathrooms

• laundries

• Cyclical includes programs that keep properties safe and healthy for tenants such as:

• testing smoke alarms

• pest inspections

• gutter inspections

DH includes major upgrades in its planned maintenance program.  When considering whether to undertake the major upgrade of a property, DH considers the following factors:

• the total cost of the required upgrade;

• the cost-effectiveness of the upgrade in relation to the economic life of the property;

• alternative strategies such as disposal of the property

Vacated Maintenance

This is work that is completed on the property once a tenant has moved out,

As a minimum DH will ensure that the property is clean, safe and habitable for the next tenant.  This includes:

• Screen doors must be present and operational

• Security of the property, including exterior doors must be present, operational and lockable and locks will be changed if required

• Windows must be intact, able to opened (where applicable), have a latch attached, and are draft proof

• Hot water systems operational

• Electrical boards meet DH technical specifications

• Stove and cook tops operational

• Taps and drains are operational

• Heating/cooling is operational (where installed)

• Lighting is operational

• Toilet flushes and drains satisfactorily, with no leaks

• Bath (where present) is secure and watertight, with adequate drainage

• Hand basin is secure and watertight, with adequate drainage

• Any floor coverings needing replacement are done

• Any damage to walls has been patched

• Property has been satisfactorily cleaned

• Rubbish or belongings from previous tenancy has been removed

• Lawns have been mowed, grounds are neat and tidy, bushes, trees and shrubs pruned

• Ensuring all appliances are functional

• Working smoke detector, including replacing batteries (if required). 

Disability Modifications

DH provides minor modifications in its properties when a tenant or household member needs them to live comfortably in the property. Minor modifications are non-structural features such as ramps, mobility rails, easy turn taps and other aids to assist tenants with a disability, older tenants to live comfortably in their property.

Tenant must support their request for minor modifications with a report from an Occupational Therapist or other qualified professional outlining the modifications required and the need for them.

Major modifications are modifications that require structural changes to a property to accommodate disability aids. DH provides major modifications when there is a property suitable for modification.

The request must be supported by a report from an Occupational Therapist or other qualified professional outlining the modifications required and the need for them. If DH is not able to offer a suitable modified property it will help the tenant to find housing options with other providers that can meet their needs.

When deciding whether to agree to a request for modifications, DH will consider:

• the effect on the tenant or their household if the modifications are not agreed to

• whether there is an alternative property that can address the household’s needs

• the cost of installing the minor modifications and the implications for DH’s responsive maintenance program