Modernising your home
This section describes when and how we
will modernise your home. We modernise council homes on behalf of your
landlord, the London Borough of Waltham Forest. We work with three main
partners: Apollo London Limited, Mulalley, and Breyer Group PLC.
Parts
of homes such as roofs, windows, bathrooms, kitchens, and heating
systems need to be modernised when they become worn out or
outdated. We modernise homes in a planned way through the Decent
Homes programme. Funding is limited and the need for modernisation is
greater in some areas than in others. Priorities for modernisation are
based on the results of a large-scale survey of the housing which
looked at the condition of 30% of homes and estimated the amount and
type of work needed to bring them up to a good standard. We give
priority to homes most in need of modernisation. We also give priority
for modernisation to properties and estates where staff, residents and
councillors have identified particular problems.
We
publish the Decent Homes programme on our website at
www.aschamhomes.org.uk and you can get a paper copy by calling Ascham
Direct on 020 8496 4197. The Decent Homes programme describes work that
will be carried out to homes to bring them up to a decent standard
between now and 2010. At the moment, there is a large gap between the
money provided by the Government for decent homes in Waltham Forest and
the amount that is actually needed to provide decent homes. We expect
that the funding needing for decent homes will become available in
2006.
Contract
Panels, led by residents, have two roles in modernisation.
Firstly, they receive regular updates on progress on the Decent Homes
programme. Secondly, they have authority to decide which major
repairs take place in their contract areas. The Major
Repairs Allowance is provided by the Government for major repairs to
homes and estates. For information about where and when your Contract
Panel meets, please call Ascham Direct on 020 8496 4197 or check the
Ascham Homes website.
When
homes become worn out or outdated, they need more and more minor
repairs to keep them fit for people to live in. By modernising
homes, we will reduce the inconvenience and disruption experienced by
residents as a result of disrepair.
When
we modernise homes we can put right design faults in your home and on
your estate. We will work with you to identify problems and design
solutions. We will take account of your concerns and preferences. We
will make sure that good design, such as good lighting and secure
shared entrances, reduce opportunities for antisocial behaviour
and vandalism.
We
will consult Contract Panels and Tenant and Resident Associations and
individual residents before work starts. We will involve residents in
site meetings with the contractor, and site inspections. When
work has been completed, we will ask all residents whether they are
satisfied with the work. We will get feedback from at least 80% of
residents and speak directly to any who have said that they are not
satisfied.