Your tenants’ manual explains everything you need to know about living in a council home.
More and more of our rental properties are newly built homes. This page answers many of the questions we are asked about living in one of them.
Your home explained
Some building developers provide video guides to the properties they have built, to explain the features of those homes. We will add more as they are made available to us.
Many of the features highlighted in the video are common to all our newly built properties.
Sustainability standards
Our newly built properties offer a high level of sustainability. They are built in accordance with our Sustainable Housing Design Guide [PDF, 7MB].
All council homes designed since 2021 target Passivhaus certification and the targets in the Four Steps to Zero Carbon report. From 2030 they will also target net zero carbon.
They usually have a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system to improve air quality and energy efficiency. They also usually have underfloor heating, and properties in flats usually have an external balcony.
Safety
Every new block of flats has a plan to ensure that residents can leave the building quickly and safely in an emergency. The fire safety and evacuation procedures are displayed in the entrance.
Your building will have valid safety certificates for testing or servicing the fire system, electrical safety and water hygiene. If relevant, it will also have certificates for gas safety and the lift.
Damp
New properties are susceptible to damp as the building dries out. It can take a year for a newly built property to fully dry out. Read our guidance about reducing damp in your home to minimise the risk of condensation and mould.
Your home’s mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system will help to reduce moisture in the air. Keep it turned on to create the best living conditions for your home.
Defects
Contact our customer service centre or use our housing portal to report problems or faults in your home.
The building developer is responsible for fixing any faulty construction or workmanship for the first 12 months after the property is handed over.
At the end of this period, we will arrange to inspect your home with the developer. All faults reported or found during the inspection will form the final list of defects that the contractor must fix.
You cannot add to the list after the inspection – you should report any other problems in the usual way. Our council home repairs page lists everything we are responsible for – you must fix anything else yourself.
Communal parking
If you live somewhere with communal parking spaces, your housing officer can explain the parking arrangements to you.
If we have installed electric charging points, instructions for using them will be on the units. Costs vary – the unit will tell you the cost before you start charging your vehicle.
Satisfaction surveys
We regularly ask residents for feedback about living in newly built homes. Your feedback is important – we use it to deliver improvements and inform the design of new properties.
