Initial Repair Period

If you’re a Shared Owner, this section is home to lots of useful information for you.

What is an Initial Repair Period

If you buy a shared ownership home built leased from 2021 onwards, it might include something called an Initial Repair Period. It is an allocation of funds that is only available to eligible shared owners in the restrictive circumstances set out in your lease and is approved by the landlord before any works take place.

You still need to pay service charges if your home has an initial repair period.

Copy-Area-Image-50

During this time:

  • You are still responsible for arranging and dealing with repairs inside your home
  • But there is a limited repair fund provided by your landlord (e.g. Town & Country Housing/ Love Living Homes) to help with certain essential repairs.

An initial repair period usually lasts for 10 years and only applies if you own less than a 100% share of your home.

During the initial repair period, some repairs are eligible and Love Living Homes cannot:

  • use the reserve fund (‘sinking fund’) to pay for repairs that are our responsibility
  • use the service charge to pay for communal repairs
  • External Structural repairs would be considered under the build warranty

 

After the period ends, all repairs are your responsibility.

The initial repair fund is not refundable and remains on a two-yearly rolling account if required. The max total for roll-overs is £1000.

For example, every year £500 is allocated to a property. If it is not used, then this rolls over to the second year and  thereafter up to a maximum of £1000

Screenshot 2026-06-25 123314

If you use the ‘initial repair period funds, the remaining total is carried over

Screenshot 2026-06-25 124736

What repairs are included

During the initial repair period, the landlord is only responsible for the cost of essential repairs in internal/external communal areas. Essential structural repairs are covered by 10 year build warranties on houses and flats.

You can claim up to £500 a year 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 e.g. a boiler or radiator IF they have been serviced annually

 

If you break the terms of your lease, we will not need to pay for repairs that we are 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 such as a defect period, check the warranty or guarantee documents to find out how to claim for the repairs.

It does not include:

 
Installing other fixtures (e.g. kitchen cabinets) and fittings (e.g bed or sofa) Installing appliances that use gas, electricity or water (e.g washing machines
Redecoration and cosmetic repairs Repairs covered by the building warranty or any other guarantee

What is the process?

Step 1

Ensure that you have checked that the repair is not covered under any of the following:

  • Buildings Insurance
  • Build Warranty
  • Defect Period

Contact the Homes or New Build Defect Team if you are not sure.

Step 2

Choosing a Contractor

Repairs must be carried out by a Trustmark-approved tradesperson or one approved by your landlord. You can find local tradespeople on the Trustmark website or contact the Homes Team if none are available in your area.

If there are no Trustmarked providers in the area, TCH will consider contractors that are Registered with Companies House and Attain sufficient Public Liability Insurance.

Please inform the Homes or New Build Defect Team and provide your alternative contractors details before commencing any works. We will confirm to you in writing before proceeding.

Step 3

Contacting Us

We may arrange an inspection of the property / repair and will write to you with our decision if the repair does/ does not meet the restrictive circumstances.

Step 4

If approved, you’ll need to arrange the repairs yourself and claim a repairs allowance from your landlord, usually up to £500 per year depending on your balance.

Any costs above this amount must be covered by you. You must supply a receipt/invoice to activate the refund.

Once the repairs have been actioned...

Only once you have completed the four steps above, you can use our online form to reclaim the costs.

document-icon

Complete your Initial Repair Form

Let's Go

Contact Love Living Homes Today

Please use our contact form below to help us direct your enuiry to the most suitable member of our team. To assist with your enquiry please include as much detail as possible.

    Contact Love Living Homes








    What are your partnering agents?

    We partner with estate agents to help us manage the sales and rent process of our properties. They
    will only get in touch regarding the specific property/development you have enquired about. Your information will not be sent onto any other third parties.




    What are your partnering agents?

    We partner with estate agents to help us manage the sales and rent process of our properties. They
    will only get in touch regarding the specific property/development you have enquired about. Your information will not be sent onto any other third parties.





    Max file size 8MB






    Max file size 8MB

    Looking for more information?

    We have included helpful advice and frequently asked questions on our website to support our customers.