DO IT yourself is the message to tenants faced with vital repair work to their council property.

Hillingdon Council has drawn up a list of jobs that it is no longer prepared to do and expects householders to attend to themselves or pay to have done.

The tasks include repairing broken wall tiles, replacing keys and locks, fixing skirtings, doors and making sure that fences stay erect.

And any householder caught short while doing these household tasks is now also responsible for replacing their own toilet seat and lid.

The only tenants exempt from doing their own repairs are the disabled and those suffering from victimisation.

The proposal has been slammed by Frank Stone, Unison branch secretary, who said: "From the tasks identified, it is clear that there will be threats to jobs. Carpenters and floor layers are at immediate risk as they are the group of workers whose duties are reflected in this section of the report. In the long run we believe the whole of the housing repairs section will be at risk to privatisation as the workload diminishes for employees.

"Unison will oppose compulsory redundancies and look to the council to reconsider its actions and the detrimental effect this will have on its ability to provide quality services to its tenants.

"The council has a multi-agency poverty strategy which they are not meeting if they are expecting tenants in the borough who are living on the breadline to pay to repair their homes."

However, Hillingdon Tenants' and Residents' Federation refused to either welcome or condemn the move.

Chairman John Waylett said: "We don't welcome it but we accept it, as it has to be done. If savings don't come from repairs they have to come from rent or Council Tax."

A full list of jobs that would become tenants' responsibility will be discussed by councillors on March 13.

The proposals are part of a strategy to keep the housing revenue account in balance. It is seeking to make savings of £1.5m in the annual repairs budget during a four-year period.

A council spokesman said: "The amendments to tenants' repairing responsibilities are in the initial stages of change and if approved by councillors will be subject to further consultation with tenants and councillors.

"At present, there is a proposed list of what tenants will be expected to be responsible for. This list is at a draft stage and may be subject to change."