Initial Repair Period Guide
What is the Initial Repair Period?
The Initial Repair Period (IRP) helps Shared Ownership customers with the cost of certain repairs to their home.
If your home is covered by the IRP, Pathways may contribute towards certain repairs inside your home and cover certain external and structural repairs.
All new-build homes sold by Pathways include IRP cover. If you’re unsure whether IRP applies to your home, you can check your lease or contact Pathways for help.
Key things to know
The IRP only applies where the repair is not already covered by a warranty, insurance policy or guarantee.
The IRP usually lasts for 10 years from the start of the lease, or until you own 100% of your home, whichever comes first.
Any remaining IRP period transfers to a new Shared Owner if you sell your home.
The IRP can contribute up to £500 per year towards eligible repairs inside your home. Any unused allowance can roll over to the following year, giving you up to £1,000 towards eligible repairs in any one year.
You can make multiple claims up to the full allowance available in the year, you must pay the difference between the cost of Qualifying Repair (see below) and the allowance available for the year.
Qualifying Repairs
Covered repairs include essential water, gas, electrical, sanitation, heating and hot water systems.
The IRP does not cover routine servicing, decoration, improvements, upgrades or repairs needed due to misuse or neglect.
Please see the qualifying repairs guide for examples of what is and isn’t covered.
Qualifying repairs guide
We set out below what is eligible and ineligible to claim under the IRP allowance. This list doesn’t cover every possible repair, so if you can’t find the repair you need or you’re unsure whether you can make a claim, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
- Basin taps
- Bath taps
- Baths and/or shower trays
- Boilers
- Consumer units (fuse boards/box)
- Expansion vessels
- Fixed electrical supply systems
- Fixed electrical wiring
- Gas isolation valves
- Gas supply connections
- Heat interface units (HIUs)
- Heat pumps
- Heating controls
- Heating pipework
- Integrated sink/basin plugs
- Internal gas pipework
- Internal water supply pipes
- Kitchen sink taps
- Kitchen sinks
- Motorised valves
- Original fixed electric heaters
- Programmer units
- Radiators
- Shower valves/mixers including hose and head
- Soil stacks serving the home
- Stop taps and isolation valves
- Thermostats
- Toilet cisterns
- Toilet flush mechanisms
- Towel radiators
- Traps and connections
- Underfloor heating controls and manifolds
- Wash basins
- Waste pipes
- Water pressure regulating valves
- Water tanks and cylinders and associated pipework
- WC pans
- Zone valves
- Blinds
- Carpets
- Cookers
- Curtains
- Decorative covers and panels
- Decorative finishes
- Dishwashers
- Fridges/freezers
- Furniture
- Hobs
- Kitchen cupboards/cabinets
- Laminate flooring
- Microwaves
- Ovens
- Tumble dryers
- Wardrobes
- Washing machines
- Worktops
- Any additions and improvement made by customer
- Any utility installation which is the responsibility of the utility supplier
- Redecoration unless needed to make good Qualifying Repairs
- Servicing and maintenance of any heating system
Before arranging a repair
- You must use a TrustMark-registered contractor or tradesperson
- Obtain Pathways approval before work starts unless it is an emergency
- Keep photographs, invoices and supporting evidence
- Submit claims within 28 days of completion.
If you’ve already had work carried out without getting pre-approval from us, you may still be able to make a claim under the IRP. The work must be a Qualifying Repair and must have been carried out by a TrustMark-approved contractor or tradesperson.
To make a claim just follow the route to claiming for the cost of emergency work.
Emergency repairs
Urgent repairs can be completed without pre-approval, but you must still use a TrustMark-registered contractor and provide supporting evidence when making a claim.
External and structural repairs
During the IRP, Pathways remains responsible for certain external and structural repairs.
Such issues may also be covered by a warranty, guarantee or insurance policy, so it is important to tell us about them as soon as possible.
External and structural repairs are defined as works done to:
- the load bearing framework of the Premises*;
- the external fabric of the Premises*; and/or
- the Service Media forming part of (but not exclusively serving) the Premises*
- all other structural parts of the Premises*, including the roof, foundations, joists and external walls of the Premises*.
*Premises is a term defined in your lease describing very specifically what you have bought.
Important responsibilities
- Let us know about any structural or external issues as soon as you become aware of them. It’s important to tell us about anything that could affect a claim under an insurance policy, guarantee or warranty (and/or other relevant third party), as not doing so could affect or invalidate the claim
- Provide reasonable access where inspections are required
- Contact Pathways before arranging structural or external repairs yourself, unless urgent work is needed to make your home safe in an emergency.
Making a claim
Before making a claim, there are a few things you’ll need to check: that the repair is eligible, you have enough allowance remaining, you’ve received approval where required and you’re using a TrustMark-registered contractor.
Email hellopathways@lloydsliving.co.uk with the details of what you intend to do with the supporting information attached for pre-approval. Please include the best number to contact you if we need to talk to you before we give approval.
Once the work has been completed, please email hellopathways@lloydsliving.co.uk with the supporting information to claim your refund.
Have a
question?
If you have a question about Pathways, take a look at our Pathways FAQs section. If you’d like to talk to a member of our team, email us at pathways@lloydsliving.co.uk or call us on 0345 030 6546 and let us know how we can help.