Repairing your home

We're proud to have an inhouse Eastlight team of more than 100 skilled tradespeople committed to helping you keep your home safe and in good condition. We also use a team of trusted contractors for specialist work, such as gas servicing.

Two Eastlight staff members walking past an Eastlight van

We have four types of repairs, each with different timescales. They are:

1. Emergency

A serious risk to health, safety or security to you or your home. Includes a total loss of heating or electricity, a gas leak, a flood or a collapsed ceiling. We'll visit within 24 hours. Please call us on 0330 128 0330 to report emergencies.

2. Urgent

Faults and incidents which require prompt attention and which may cause inconvenience but do not pose an immediate risk to you or your home. We'll visit within seven calendar days. Please report through the form below.

3. Routine

No risk to you or your home. The issue may cause an inconvenience but not adversely affect the use of your home. We'll visit within 28 calendar days. Please report through the form below.

4. Planned

Fencing and larger building works where there is no risk to you or your home. We'll visit within 90 calendar days.

Report a non-emergency repair here.

Read our Repairs Policy here.

HOME MOTs

Just like a health check for your car, a Home MOT is a health check for your home, to make sure everything is in good shape. See more about this service below. 

You are responsible for keeping your home clean and in good order. This could mean you face a charge for damage not caused by normal wear and tear. To see what you are responsible for, please refer to Appendix 4: Obligation to Repair under our Repairs Policy.

We will discuss any recharges before beginning any work.

Examples of rechargeable repairs include:

  • An electrical repair caused by a defective appliance
  • A drain blockage caused by something you or visitors have done, such as flushing inappropriate materials down the sink or toilet
  • If you get locked out of your home and need help to gain entry.

Eastlight is responsible for the majority of the repairs in your home, but you are responsible for some, also. Click here to see who is responsible for what (Section 11, Appendix A). 

Report a non-emergency repair here.

Our handyperson can carry out additional small jobs in your home to make life easier for you.

The type of work they carry out includes:

  • Fitting/refitting curtains and nets
  • Fitting bolts and chains to gates and doors
  • Fitting battery-operated doorbells and key safes
  • Connecting washing machines to existing water supplies
  • Picture and mirror hanging
  • Putting up shelves and blinds
  • Putting small flat pack furniture together
  • Changing lightbulbs.

All residents are eligible for the service, other than those in arrears, with outstanding debt or with a tenancy breach.

The service is charged at a rate of £12 per hour.

To book this service or to make further enquiries, please click here to contact us.

DIY tips to keep your home warm in winter

It’s not always necessary to call out an engineer to fix your boiler and heating issues, or just to keep your home warmer for less. Sometimes an issue can be solved with a quick DIY fix that you try yourself if you wish to. See our guides below and please do contact us if you don't feel comfortable doing them yourself, there is an additional cost you are unable to cover, or they simply don't work. 

Unfreeze a frozen condensate pipe

Many households have external condensate pipes that are vulnerable to freezing in the winter. A frozen boiler condensate pipe can prevent your boiler from functioning properly, leaving you without heating and hot water. There is also a risk of frozen pipes bursting and causing flooding, so we recommend turning your water off if you are away from home for more than 24 hours during freezing cold weather (see how to locate your stopcock/stoptap below).

Providing you have safe access to your condensate pipe, you should be able to unfreeze it with hot water.

To do this:

  • Heat water in your kettle or microwave (make sure the water isn’t boiling as you could accidentally burn yourself or crack a frozen pipe)
  • Transfer the water to a watering can or jug for easy pouring
  • Slowly pour the water over the frozen section of the condensate pipe
  • Pay attention to any flat surfaces or elbows where ice is more likely to form

If pouring hot water on your boiler condensate pipe doesn’t work, you could try using a hot water bottle instead. Leave it on the frozen section for a longer period. When you see water leaving the pipe or hear a trickling sound, you’ll know that the blockage has cleared.

Repressurise your boiler

If you’re having issues with your boiler taking it’s time to heat water, or not at all, you may need to top up your boiler pressure:

  • Check the front of your boiler for pressure gauge (may be a digital or an actual gauge)
  • If this is at 0 then you need to top up the pressure
  • This needs to be done when the boiler and radiators are cold
  • Please check your radiators and pipework for any signs of water leaks before doing anything else
  • If leaks are found, please book a repair immediately
  • If not, find your filling loop - it is a silver metal hose connected to two pipes
  • Open the valves one at a time. You will hear a whooshing sound as the fresh water enters your heating system and boiler
  • Keep an eye on the pressure gauge and stop when it reaches 1.2 bar, then shut off the filling loop.

If the drop in pressure was not due to an ongoing component fault, the pressure should remain at the normal level. If the pressure continues to drop, then the system may have a leak somewhere and needs to be inspected by an engineer.

Reset your boiler

Resetting your boiler can be relatively simple, and may kickstart your boiler back into shape. In order to reset your boiler, please refer to your boiler’s manual (by finding your hardcopy of the manual, or a quick search online) to find the reset button.

Usually, you will have to hold the reset button for 10 seconds. After a few minutes, the boiler should start working again. If it doesn’t work the first time, you can attempt the reset for a second time. However, please refer to the manual before you do this.

Bleed your radiators

If a radiator is not getting hot when the central heating is active, this may be a tell tale sign that your radiators need bleeding.

Due to the simplicity of bleeding a radiator, you only need a selection of household items before starting the process, such as a dry cloth and a large bowl. The only specialist kit that is required is a radiator key - a small and cheap tool available on Amazon or at most DIY stores. To bleed your radiator correctly, you just need to follow a few simple steps:

  • If your radiator is hot at the bottom, and cold at the top, then it is most likely filled with air and needs bleeding.
  • You can easily bleed the radiator yourself but will need the few basic items mentioned above
  • Before doing this make sure your radiators and boiler are cold as hot water expands and will leave more air in the system
  • The bleed valve will be at the top of the radiator, as air will rise to the top of the radiator
  • Hold your cloth under the valve and insert your key into the square point
  • Turn anti-clockwise and you will hear a hiss as the air is forced out by the water pressure
  • Once water starts coming out, you can close the bleed valve.

After you complete these steps, we recommend that you check the pressure gauge on your boiler, as the process of bleeding radiators can cause pressure to drop. If this is the case, you can ‘top up’ the pressure (see above).

Change thermostat batteries

If your home feels too hot or too cold, there may be a problem with your thermostat. Take a look at the most common problems and their solutions below, to see if they help.

First, we recommend making sure your thermostat is sufficiently powered. If it’s battery-operated, you may find that the batteries need changing. You can usually tell if the battery is low as the LED screen will have faded and some of the info on the screen may be missing. Changing the batteries in your thermostat is very straightforward (depending on the model of your thermostat). In most cases, you will only need to remove the front cover and swap the old batteries for new.

Fit draught excluders

Cracks, gaps and cold winter snaps do not mix well. In fact, a house can lose 25% of its warmth through draughty doors and windows. Draught excluders are widely available for under £10 and can be attached to the bottom of doors, windows, letterboxes and chimneys.

What you'll need

  • Draft excluder
  • Scissors.

How to fit a draught excluder

Self-adhesive foam strips of draught excluder are ideal for using on casement (has one or more hinges) windows and interior doors.

  • Use a damp cloth to clean all dirt and any loose paint from the surface you’re sticking to
  • Once dry, peel off the backing paper and press it onto the frame, where the opening will press against it when the window or door is closed
  • You should aim to cut the ends of each length at a 45-degree angle, to form a neat joint at each corner
  • Close the window and press the strip firmly in place. Some draught excluders require drilling in place, but please request consent from Eastlight before drilling into a door or window as you may cause damage. You can request consent here.
  • Do not block ventilation designed to remove damp from your home.
Fit radiator foil/reflectors

You can prevent heat loss through exterior walls by using heat reflective foil. Attach it behind any radiator to reflect heat back into your home.

This low-cost and easy-to-install solution will help your radiators to heat to their maximum potential.

What you’ll need

  • Radiator foil (also known as radiator
    reflector)
  • Scissors
  • Tape measure.

How to fit radiator foil

This job can be made easier by purchasing the correct size for your radiator. However, the sheet you buy can also be cut to size.

Radiators fixed to exterior walls (where heat can escape) should be priority. Measure between the brackets fixing the radiator to the wall, apply self-adhesive tape (normally supplied) and ensure the silver side is pointing into the room.

Radiator foil is not suitable for element or flame heaters.

Fit pipe insulation/lagging

Pipes need to be protected in winter to prevent freezing and bursting. The most cost-effective way of achieving this is a foam lagging/cover.

What you’ll need

  • Pipe insulation (also known
    as lagging)
  • Scissors or a stanley knife
  • Tape measure.

How to fit pipe lagging

  • Buying the correct size of insulation is important, so measure your pipe’s width and the length you need to cover
  • Simply use the pre-slit opening to slide it around the pipe. If your pipe has a bend, cut the insulation to ensure a close, tight join.

Don’t forget unheated areas like the garage or boiler room, where covering the pipes will keep hot water flowing properly throughout winter. Lagging costs around £10 but will save you more, and requires no expert fitting.

Fit a chimney balloon

Open or unused chimneys are ready-made escape routes for heat to flow out of your house. Snow or ice can crack and crumble mortar inside a chimney, leaving more space for air to leak out.

You could fit a cap over the chimney pot on the roof. However, this should be done by a professional. A chimney balloon, which blocks the airway, can be bought from any DIY store for around £15 and is easy to install yourself.

What you'll need

  • Chimney balloon (also known as
    a chimney draft excluder)
  • Tape measure.

How to fit a chimney balloon

  • An inflatable chimney balloon will fit a range of sizes, but, as chimneys vary so much, you need to purchase an appropriate size system, so measure first
  • The chimney balloon should fit snugly and be somewhere you can easily reach with the pump or mouth inflation tube
  • Make sure the tap is open, and pump some air into the balloon so that it starts to inflate. Once it is partially inflated, put it in position to inflate it fully
  • If you have a cast iron fire surround, make sure you can push it through the small gap before positioning it in the chimney to fully inflate.
Use your thermostat and timer

You can use your thermostat and timer to save energy.

Keep the heating on a low constant temperature while you’re out of the house; we recommend 17-19°C. Once you’re home, 19 22°C is recommended.

If you have a routine, setting your timer will do the work for you and save both money and energy.

Locate your stopcock/stop tap

Ensure you know where your stop tap/ stopcock is, in case of emergencies. We recommend turning your water off if you are away from home for more than 24 hours during freezing cold weather, in case a pipe freezes and bursts, causing flooding.

If your central heating is damaged by poor weather, you need to turn off the water mains to stop potential flooding, if you are able. To do this, you need to find the stopcock or stop tap (a valve that looks like a tap without a spout), which is normally found under the sink.

If that isn’t the case, check the cupboard under the stairs or any utility rooms. 

Turn the tap clockwise to shut off water. It’s a good idea to turn the tap regularly to stop it from sticking.

Clear your gutters

If you can do so safely and feel comfortable doing so, clear your gutters of leaves and debris to ensure water can flow freely. Otherwise, the water may build up and freeze, risking moisture and damp creeping through cracks and damaging the roof or walls.

Home MOT

Our Home MOT service is a way of making sure everything in your home is working well and limits the amount of times we have to visit. Find out more below.

20230823 Eastlight Office And Halstead 159 Steve Brading
What is a Home MOT?

Like a health check for your car, a Home MOT is a health check for your home to make sure everything is in good shape.

Experts from our Repairs Team will carry out your Home MOT, usually in teams of two.

What happens during a Home MOT?

Whilst in your home, our team will go through an online worksheet assessing the condition of your home.

They will check for things like:

  • Signs of damp and mould
  • Indicators of asbestos or other risk factors
  • Whether there is a safe escape route in the event of a fire
  • The condition of front and rear doors
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms – and the dates they were installed
  • Toilet cisterns
  • The condition of the flooring
  • Bathroom sealant
  • Cracks and damage to tiles which, if left untreated, could cause more serious issues.

Our experts will fix any issues they can there and then. If a return visit is required, they will arrange a suitable date before they leave.

The team can also remind you of useful information about your home, such as where your stopcock is located and how to use electric breakers on a fuse board. They can also pass on skills such as how to tighten door handles, if you need it.

Why do Eastlight do Home MOTs?

Ultimately, it is to make sure your home is safe and secure.

It is also a good way to reduce the number of repairs we need to make and replace things before they go wrong.

In addition, Home MOTs also make things more convenient for you by reducing the amount of different appointments we need to make and you need to be at home for!

When will my Home MOT take place?

We will contact you when your Home MOT is due, but you can also contact us if you feel a Home MOT would be useful. Click here to get in touch

They are also carried out as part of the Mutual Exchange process (if you want to swap your home with another resident).

In addition, we may do a Home MOT if we are concerned about the overall condition of your home, or if you have made a particularly high or low number of requests to our repairs service.

How should I prepare for a Home MOT?

Ahead of your Home MOT, please consider the following to ensure the appointment is completed as quickly and easily as possible:

  • If you know where key service points are located – like meters and stop valves – please ensure access to them is clear
  • Where possible, please try to keep pets out of the way whilst the team is working
  • Please be aware that our team may need to take photographs of your home
  • As outlined in your appointment confirmation, the Home MOT is likely to take two hours to complete, so please ensure this time is set aside
  • Should you have a list of repairs, please have these available 
  • It is possible that two Eastlight vehicles may need to attend your home for the Home MOT. If you can offer assistance with parking, that would be appreciated.

Report a Repair

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