'No Access' Policy

1.1         As a landlord, Gateshead Council is responsible for repairs and maintenance to our homes, communal blocks, and other properties we own and manage.

1.2         The key objective of this policy is to ensure our Cabinet, Senior Management Team, employees, partners, and tenants are clear on our legal and regulatory obligations.

1.3         This policy provides the framework our staff and partners will operate within to ensure our homes are improved, inspected, and maintained.

1.4         In line with tenancy and lease agreements, tenants and leaseholders are required to give access to Gateshead Council, in order that we can carry out our functions as a landlord. This includes allowing reasonable access to Gateshead Council staff and its contractors for essential repairs and maintenance including safety checks.

1.5         This policy outlines our approach to gaining access to tenants' homes to carry out the necessary landlord services to ensure that properties we own and manage are safe, healthy and free from hazards. This includes the completion of reactive repairs, cyclical and planned maintenance, medical adaptations, void repairs and servicing of heating and electrical systems.

1.6         We have a moral and legal duty to ensure that we:

• have an efficient and effective repairs and maintenance service
• have a clear and reasoned approach to planned maintenance and repairs to tenants' homes and communal areas
• establish and maintain good relationships with tenants that are based on trust and that take into account individual needs and financial factors
• ensure that we achieve ongoing compliance with all applicable legislation
• have in place an effective complaints process which is compliant with the Housing Ombudsman's Complaint Handling Code (opens new window). this provides tenants the opportunity to have their voice heard and receive appropriate redress
• allow tenants to be supported by a representative or advocate in interactions about landlord services

1.7         This policy aims to ensure that Gateshead Council:

• puts the wellbeing and safety of its tenants first
• complies with its legal obligations as a landlord
• provides the best quality service to tenants
• maintains tenants' homes to a high standard
• seeks to identify, understand, and learn from issues that prevent tenants from allowing access and to minimise any legal action
• ensures a robust escalation process is in place to provide the tenant with the opportunity to give access at a mutually convenient time, while advising that it may lead to forced entry where no access is provided
• provides a fair and transparent process to gain access to the property where the tenant has either not agreed to give access or ignores any contact requesting access