New Tenants
When a new tenant is offered a tenancy of one of our properties, an introductory meeting will be held with up to three committee members to tell them about the Co-operative and the services we provide.

When a tenancy agreement is signed, the tenant is advised of the start date of the tenancy. This is the date from which the tenant is responsible for the rent and all utilities.

The tenant is responsible for arranging the connection of electricity, gas and water to the property. The tenant should give the gas and electricity companies as much notice as possible of the moving in date. London electricity usually requires at least 3 days notice to connect a supply.

Paying  rent

The Battersea Tenants office will meet with all new tenants ahead of the start date of the tenancy to provide them with the full rent breakdown and details of how to make payments. If an existing tenant has a query, they may contact the office during normal working hours.

Bulk refuse

If you have any bulky items that you need help disposing of, please contact the Battersea Tenants office and we will be happy to assist you. Do not leave any items of rubbish around your property. This is a fire hazard and a danger to children. Dumping rubbish is a breach of your tenancy conditions and is considered fly tipping for which there is an on-the-spot fine of £400 plus the possibility of prosecution which could lead to a fine of £10,000 and up to five years imprisonment.

Dogs

All dog owners must keep their pets on a leash in communal areas of the properties and prevent them from fouling the common areas including the gardens. It is a requirement that pets do not cause any form of nuisance to the neighbours.

Leaks

If you notice that water is leaking in your flat or that the sanitary equipment is leaking please call the co-op office during working hours in the case of a severe flood, please use the out of hours emergency phone number.

Balconies

If you have a balcony, you must clean it regularly and make sure that the drain is not blocked. Please call the office if you think that there is a problem with the drain. Balconies should not be painted by tenants under any circumstances.

Plants

Plants put on balcony walls and window sills are welcomed but they must be secured to prevent them from falling. The cooperative staff will need to check pots for safety from time to time and can help with securing them if required.

Stopcocks

You regularly need to check the state of the stopcocks in you property. They should be turned anticlockwise and back again at least once a year, to prevent them from seizing up. Most stopcocks can be found in kitchen or toilet, occasionally they will be in the communal store on the ground floor of the property.

Residents database

Please ensure you provide the co-operative with your up to date contact information to allow us to keep our database up to date.

Dogs and other animals

You, your friends, relatives, visitors or other people living in or visiting the property, including children, must not do any of the following:

• keep any animal, which is unsuitable, such as wild, dangerous or poisonous creatures or livestock
• cause a nuisance by breeding any animals or birds at the property
• allow any animal you keep at the property to cause a nuisance to anyone in the local area, including our employees, agents or contractors
• allow animals to foul in the communal areas of the property or on footpaths or in the play areas in the local area. You must remove and dispose of faeces hygienically
• feed pigeons, squirrels and other vermin either at the property or in the communal areas
• allow your property to become unhygienic

If any animal causes a nuisance we will ask you to remove it from the property.