Property Improvement Advice
We are working hard to ensure all our homes meet the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2010. The Standard ensures that properties are in reasonable state of repair, have modern facilities and services and offer a reasonable degree of thermal comfort.
Each year we typically spend over £3.0 million on improvement works, in addition to the £1.5 million we spend on cyclical maintenance, such as painting and ground maintenance.
Work carried out under our improvement programme includes:
. New kitchens
. New bathrooms
. Replacement UPVC double glazed windows & doors
. Full central heating (gas or electric installation)
. Upgrading existing partial heating to full
. Upgrading heating from solid fuel to gas or electric
. Cavity wall and loft insulation
. Resurfacing works
HomeZone Living's housing stock has been divided into five maintenance zones and each year a stock condition survey is carried out on all of the properties in one of these zones. If a property fails the Decent Homes Standard following the survey, we will try to include it in the improvement works contract for the following financial year.
Tenants will be advised when their home has been included in an improvement programme and details provided on the proposed work. You will also be given the opportunity to select colour schemes where appropriate, for example, new kitchens and bathrooms. To find out which zone your home is in and when a survey is due, please see our zone map.
Access a detailed zone list
Property Improvement Advice
Central Heating
It is our aim that all of our properties should have a full central heating system. If you currently have no central heating or a partial heating system please contact Customer Services for possible inclusion in an improvement programme.
Solid Fuel Heating
If you have solid fuel heating and want to be considered for inclusion in an improvement programme to receive either gas (where available) or electric central heating please contact Customer Services.
Where tenants choose to stay with their solid fuel heating we will undertake an annual inspection and service to ensure that the chimney (flue) is working effectively.
Gas Servicing
As a landlord we are legally required to ensure that all gas appliances which we own are checked for safety within 12 months of being installed and thereafter at minimum intervals of not more than 12 months. During this visit we will also service all HomeZone Living owned appliances to ensure that they are operating efficiently and safely. It is a condition of all of our tenancies that tenants allow us access to undertake these works. Our contractor, Walmotts Limited, will contact you in writing to arrange an appointment for a gas service visit.
If your gas appliances have not been inspected in the last twelve months please contact Customer Services so that a service appointment can be made at your earliest convenience.
Smoke Alarms
All of our properties should have at least one smoke alarm. In bungalows and flats there should be at least one alarm in the hallway, and in houses one in the hallway and one in the upstairs landing.
We will check the operation of your alarms on an annual basis, but you should also regularly check that the alarm is working effectively and know what to do in the event of a fire. It is the tenants responsibility to change batteries where fitted.
If you do not have a smoke alarm or your alarm is not working please contact Customer Services immediately.
Tenants Improvements
You are required to obtain our permission before carrying out any alterations or improvements to your home. You can do this by completing and sending us an application form. You must not start any works before receiving our written permission. You will be responsible for the ongoing repairs and maintenance of any alterations or improvements that you undertake. When you apply to us for permission we may attach specific conditions, such as the use of an approved CORGI registered gas fitter or the use of specific building materials. It will be a condition of the permission that you allow us access to inspect the works either in progress or on notification of completion.
If you leave the property we may require you to make alterations to return the property to a standard condition. You may also be entitled to receive compensation for improvements you have carried out. To qualify for compensation you must have complied with a number of standard conditions, for details of these conditions access the compensation for improvements leaflet.