Assisted housing maintenance schemes are designed to assist elderly or disabled people to maintain and repair their homes to enable them to continue living independently. These services may include minor repairs, adaptations for accessibility, and safety improvements.

The local authority deals with repairs to communal areas within council accommodation such as communal lighting in a block of flats, or the communal drainpipes to a block of garages.

Improvements to local authority owned and run properties to bring them up to current acceptable living standards. The improvements should include double-glazed windows, replacement kitchens and bathrooms, updated heating systems. All Councils were set a target of raising the standard of all its properties by the year 2010 (Decent Homes Standard) by the Government in England and Wales.

Where the demolition of nearby property may pose a risk to tenants in council property the authority may offer the tenant alternative housing either temporarily or on a permanent basis.

Where the demolition of nearby property causes disturbance to tenants in council property the authority may pay a disturbance allowance in compensation for the disruption while the demolition work is taking place.

The tenant is responsible for arranging for meter reading and disconnecting of supplies of gas/electricity and for handing in the keys of vacated property. The council provide advice and support in these circumstances.

The local authority operates an emergency repair service to deal with essential repairs outside of normal working hours where there may be risk to tenants, the public or the environment if the repairs are not carried out immediately or where the property may not be secured.

Businesses providing services to maintain your home and garden. This includes cleaning and laundry services, garden maitenance, decorating etc.

The local authority is under a duty to gain access to properties to undertake surveys for number of reasons such as major repairs and to carry out specialist surveys.

For council owned properties which are particularly old the council may implement a modernisation scheme to bring the property up to acceptable standards. This may involve rewiring, new windows, new doors etc.

The council are generally responsible for structural repairs to council property, for repairs to essential supplies (water, gas, electricity etc.) or any repairs where they may be a risk to health or safety. Where the damage has been caused by the resident they may be asked to pay for the repairs.

Where a property requires repair as the result of damage or negligence caused by the tenant the local authority will charge for the cost of work to rectify the problem.

Provision of temporary accommodation to tenants who are being disturbed by major works carried out in their own or neighbouring properties.