Recharging Policy

This policy is to provide a procedure whereby the Housing Management and Maintenance groups, together with the Co-op worker, can implement a recharging policy in accordance with tenancy agreements for such circumstances as:

a. Damage caused by the tenant
b. Costs incurred by the tenant
c. Lock and key replacement

Housing Management and Maintenance make every effort to circulate information to tenants about their responsibilities and will continue to do so.

Procedure

a. When damage is reported to Maintenance, if the sub-group think it may be a re-charging issue, they report it to the MC.
b. If the MC agrees it is a re-charging issue, they refer it to Housing Management. HM then consider any welfare issues, before charging the tenant/s who caused the damage.
c. Recharging tenant/s will be arranged on a confidential basis between the tenant and Housing Management.
d. Recharging arrangements will be made in writing and signed by the tenant for administrative purposes. Details will be kept confidential.
e. Difficulties that may arise will be reported to the Management Committee for debate and supervision. The tenant/s’ identity will remain confidential in such circumstances.
f. In the case of default, if there are no welfare issues, the Co-op will initiate recovery procedures.

Lock and Key Replacement

This section of the policy is intended to reduce costs to the Co-op for replacing key and locks in the case of loss or reasons other than key theft or extraordinary circumstances as defined by the Maintenance group.

a. Keys and locks will be replaced by the Co-op in the event of theft, or extraordinary circumstances as defined by the Maintenance group.
b. In the event of key theft the Co-op will require a crime report number from the tenant otherwise the matter will be dealt with as a key loss.
c. Key loss and its consequences are not the Co-op’s responsibility to rectify.
d. When a tenant calls out a Co-op contractor to replace keys and locks other than when it is a key theft or extraordinary circumstances, the Co-op will seek to recharge the tenant/s for costs incurred.
e. In the event of key loss affecting the security of a shared front door, the Co-op will take responsibility for the other tenants in the house but will seek to recharge a percentage of the invoice to the tenant causing the security risk to the rest of the tenants.
f. As above, recharging arrangements will be made between Housing Management and the tenant involved.
g. Tenants are required to get copies of keys made to leave with Maintenance for emergencies. The Co-op will reimburse costs of this.

At the end of a tenancy

The tenant shall at the end of the tenancy give the premises back with vacant possession and leave the premises in good lettable condition and repair. The tenant must make good any damage caused by the removal of any installations.
The tenant shall be liable for any money the Co-op has to spend as a result of any breach by the tenant of any part of this agreement. Any money due under this clause shall be a debt due to the Co-op even if the tenancy granted by this agreement has ended.

The recharging policy is designed to give the Co-op a structure to regain costs incurred by tenants. Costs incurred by the Co-op as a breach of the tenancy agreement are met in rent increases.