Questions over liability for injury or damage are threatening to derail a government scheme to reward social tenants who carry out their own repairs. The government is arranging last ditch meetings between insurers and housing providers in a bid to ensure its tenant cashback scheme launches in April as planned. The scheme, due to be rolled out across England, allows tenants to commission or carry out repairs on their homes and keep savings made by their landlord. Housing minister Grant Shapps believes the scheme will empower tenants by allowing them to keep a proportion of the average £1,000 per property spent by landlords annually on repairs and maintenance. But pilot projects have been delayed or scaled down as insurance companies raise concerns about liability in case of accidents, such as falls, and home contents insurance in case of water damage or breakages. The insurers’ concerns have led to confusion about the insurance status of tenants who carry out repairs and whether new policies need to be arranged by landlords or tenants. Read more on Inside Housing.
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