Your Tenancy

Tenancy Services

Caretaking

Homes for Islington supply a caretaking service for the estate properties of Islington Council.

Caretaking Quality Assurance Manual (pdf file 1.09Mb)
Caretaking Leaflet (pdf file 314Kb)

Do it online: Estate Services Team Quality Control Online Form

How the service is paid for

Leaseholders through their service charges and tenants through their rent pay for the service. In keeping with our role as social housing managers we aim to pitch the level of service at a level affordable to all our residents whilst providing a decent environment to live in. Homes for Islington regularly examine the service to ensure that it provides the best possible value for the money.

Caretakers are assigned to particular estates

Caretaking is carried out on a patch basis, the caretaker for each patch being responsible to and monitored by the estate services team based in the area housing office. Some, but not all of the caretakers are resident on their patches.

Cover is supplied during short periods of leave, sickness or other absence for daily duties only.
All our caretakers wear a uniform to identify themselves as Homes for Islington staff and if you are a new tenant will introduce themselves to you during the first four weeks of your tenancy. (Remember to ask to see their identity badge)

The duties of the caretaker

The duties of the caretaker include:

Daily Tasks

Replace dead bulbs in low lights, and also clean the fitting. Report high lights which are not working.
Reporting signs of antisocial behaviour eg drug paraphernalia graffiti or improperly disposed of rubbish
Reporting abandoned or illegally parked vehicles
First attempt at clearing blocked rubbish chutes (if badly blocked a specialist contractor will be called)

Rota Tasks

What caretakers do not do?

Cleaning communal balconies, walkways and corridors
Work inside your property
Gardening and grass cutting– these are dealt with by Greenspace (qv)
Treeworks – these are dealt with by Greenspace
For information about Greenspace services click Grounds Maintenance
Pruning and trimming shrubs
Removing abandoned motor vehicles
Parking matters
External windows (but Homes for Islington is evaluating machines which will allow caretakers to clean communal windows to 4th floor height)

Keeping estates clean and tidy is a partnership between the residents and Homes For Islington,

If you have lumber to be collected proper arrangements should be made through contact with your caretaker, litter should not be dropped and accidental spills should be cleared up. It is not the job of the caretaker to clear up after residents.

Inspection and Monitoring

The inspection and monitoring of caretakers' duties are conducted by quality assurance officers on a fortnightly basis. Quality assurance officers check,report on standards of cleanliness and liase with caretakers when correct action needs to be taken.

Please contact your Estate Services' Support Manager, if you want to: