Initial repair period
What is an initial repair period and what does that mean for your home?
Initial repair period
You will need to pay for repairs and maintenance no matter what share you own.
Some costs might be covered by the building warranty, or by Westward if your home has an ‘initial repair period’. Check the ‘key information document’ for the home to see if it has an initial repair period. We will give you a copy of this document before you reserve your home.
If your lease includes an ‘initial repair period’
If you bought a shared ownership home in 2021, it might have an ‘initial repair period’ in the lease.
During the initial repair period, we are responsible for the cost of some repairs and cannot:
- use the reserve fund (‘sinking fund’) to pay for repairs that are our responsibility
- use the service charge to pay for external and structural repairs
You’ll still need to pay the service charge if your home has an initial repair period.
An initial repair period usually lasts for 10 years and only applies if you own less than a 100% share of your home. After the period ends, all repairs are your responsibility.
What repairs are included
During the initial repair period, we are responsible for the cost of:
- essential repairs to the outside of the building
- essential structural repairs to walls, floors, ceiling and stairs inside your home
You can also claim up to £500 a year from us to cover repairing, replacing (if faulty) and maintaining fixtures and fittings that:
- supply water, gas or electricity - for example sinks, baths or pipes
- heat your home, for example a boiler or radiator
It does not include:
- installing other fixtures (such as kitchen cabinets) and fittings (such as a bed or sofa)
- installing appliances that use your gas, electricity or water supplies, such as ovens or washing machines
- repairs covered by the building warranty or any other guarantee
If you break the terms of your lease, we will not need to pay for repairs we're normally responsible for. For example, if you:
- cause damage on purpose
- do not arrange routine servicing and maintenance, such as regular boiler servicing
If the repairs are covered by the building warranty or another guarantee, check the warranty or guarantee documents to find out how to claim for the repairs.