Decoration and Flooring

We want our properties to feel like home to the tenant and understand they want to put their own touch on decoration.  We try to give as much freedom as possible for tenants to make their own spaces theirs, and choice in any changes to communal areas.  Internal communal areas are those shared with and accessed by multiple tenants, such as:

  • Sitting rooms/lounges
  • Dining rooms
  • Utility rooms
  • Halls, stairs and landings
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms

Issues with flooring

We may be responsible for the repair or replacement of some flooring within the home. A service charge is collected towards covering the cost of flooring in communal areas. If flooring becomes a trip hazard it is important you let us know so we can assess how we can help as quickly as possible.

Frequently asked questions - Issues with flooring

To respond to your issue quickly we will need to know the following information:

• Full details of the issue with the flooring including location and type
• Property address
• Telephone number
• Access arrangements

You can report the issue in whichever way is easiest for you:

• Use the Live Chat function at the bottom of this page
• Email us at rwprepairs@progressgroup.org.uk
• Phone us on 0333 320 2675

We will assess what action is needed and if a repair or replacement is required, we will arrange for a contractor to contact you directly to make a suitable appointment. If we are not able to resolve the issue with the flooring, we will contact you to discuss it further.

The tenant pays for the cost of the internal redecoration of their communal areas in their service charge.

All tenants are responsible for paying the costs of decorating their own self-contained flat or bedrooms or any other room(s) that is for their exclusive use.

We will routinely note the condition of internal decorations at the time of carrying out the review visit to properties. In most cases we are responsible for arranging the decorating of shared internal areas.

If the care provider is responsible for this budget on behalf of tenants, then it is up to the tenant(s)/ support provider to instruct a contractor of their choice to carry out the work.

Internal redecoration is carried out as and when required, rather than every set number of years, subject to there being sufficient budget available.

To respond to your request quickly we will need to know the following information:

• Full details of the issue with the flooring including location and type
• Property address
• Telephone number
• Access arrangements

You can report the issue in whichever way is easiest for you:

• Use the Live Chat function at the bottom of this page
• Email us at rwprepairs@progressgroup.org.uk
• Phone us on 0333 320 2675

On receiving a request your housing officer will first check if the budget available, if we cannot carry out the work due to budget we will add it to the programme for the following year.

We will then:
• Obtain a quote for the work
• Ask you to discuss choices of decorating materials with tenants
• Instruct the contractor to carry out the work

Tenants may wish to ‘top up’ the shortfall in budget available themselves, especially if they want an alternative type of decoration or a higher quality wallpaper. If tenants require wallpaper, they need to purchase this themselves. Once they have done so, they need to advise the housing officer so they can arrange for the contractor to hang it when they carry out the rest of the decoration.

Can existing built-in furniture/ fireplaces be removed?

Sometimes tenants want to remove existing built-in items before decorations are undertaken. Most often these are built-in cupboards, or an unused fire or fire surround.

It is important that the tenant, or yourselves acting on their behalf, contacts us for permission before this work is done. We can arrange for the work to be carried out but the cost will be recharged to either the internal decorating budget or to the tenants themselves, if there are insufficient funds available. Similarly, if a wall surface is damaged as a result of removing the item, the internal decorations budget may be used to make good the damage, again only so long as there are sufficient funds. If there are not and the tenants still want to go ahead with the work, they will have to pay the cost themselves.

If tenants/yourselves arrange for the work to be carried out by an independent contractor, please contact us when the work is completed so that it can be inspected to make sure that it has been done to a satisfactory standard.

Can existing gas/electric fires be upgraded before decorating takes place?

We will only fund the upgrading of an existing fire if it is broken and needs renewing.

Otherwise, tenants will have to fund the cost of the work and they must obtain permission before the work begins.