Improving Homes

Welcome to our new look improving homes brochure!

Below you will be able to download a copy of the 2011/12 improving your home brochure.

In this summer's copy you will be able to see in which areas we are working in this financial year. It will also give you some helpful information on what to expect if you are due for any major improvement works soon as well as energy saving advice tips and some insight into some of our more unusual improvement works like external wall insulation and air source heat pumps.

We hope you enjoy the new look brochure; we value your feedback so if you have any pointers for us on future brochures please get in touch.

Download your copy of our brochure here. (1.4 MB)

What have we achieved so far….

In October 2010 we celebrated our achievement of meeting the Decent Homes standard and well before our target of December 2010.

This significant milestone means all Wherry owned properties are considered decent under the Government’s standard for social housing. However Wherry likes to work above the minimum standard of Decent Homes and we are consistently working hard to ensure all our homes are in the best possible condition by planning well in advance where we plan to do improvement works.

What is our plan for the next Three years?

We are planning to spend over £20 million on major improvement works over the next three financial years. Works include new kitchens, bathrooms, heating, insulation, doors, roofing and external repairs and painting.

We want to share with you all where we plan to spend the £20 million, therefore we will be publishing our three year improvement programme to you all by March 2012.

How do we decide who should be in the programmes?

We have a database which stores all the information on the condition of your home from your doors, kitchen, bathroom, heating and even your roof, wall and windows.

This database is regularly updated when surveyors or operatives visit your home and repairs, maintenance or improvements are carried out.

The database estimates the life span of all the elements within your home; therefore we can foresee when we need to offer you a replacement as things in your home come to the end of their lifespan.

If your home has been identified as in need of major improvement works, we would always require a pre-survey to be carried out before any works begin. This initial survey can sometimes be with a property surveyor from Wherry or an operative from the contractor who we have instructed to carry out the works. The pre-survey enables us to inspect the condition of your home to confirm that works are indeed required or if additional works are needed before we start.

If you are not down for any improvement works, but you feel that you need repairs to your home then please get in touch with us so we can arrange repairs or an inspection.

What is included in each of our programmes?

Kitchen Replacements

The main works include:-

Choice of six kitchen unit styles, six worktop colours, five kitchen cupboard handles & three choices of kitchen sink tap styles including lever handles
New white wall tiles and a choice of six different coloured wall paints
Choice of five floor coverings

Bathroom Replacements

The main works include:-

Installation of a new white bath, over bath shower, sink and toilet
Tiling and redecoration of walls
Fitting of new flooring

If you feel that a standard bathroom replacement would not suit your needs if, for example, you have difficulty in getting in and out of the bath, please inform the contractor so that an assessment can be made. Alternatively you can contact our Wherry Care team to discuss the matter further, please call Sue Atkins on 01603 703533 or Frances Willgress on 01603 703885 or email them by clicking this link: wherrycare@circle.org.uk

Boiler and Heating Replacements

The main works include:-

Boiler replacement and repairs or replacement of any old radiators
Replacement of electric heating systems

Insulation

Loft and cavity wall insulation work will include topping up your loft insulation to 300mm if it is required and installing cavity wall insulation if you haven’t already got it.
A survey carried out by our contractor will decide on exactly what works need to be carried out.

External wall insulation works are slightly more complex and you will be advised on what exactly is involved by the contractor on their initial visit to your home if you are offered these works.