Top inspection of Haringey’s Decent Homes

Friday 14 March 2008

Two Haringey tenants whose homes are being refurbished under the decent homes ‘pilot programme’ played host to an inspection visit led by the leader of the council, Cllr George Meehan and Isidoros Diakides, Cabinet Member for Housing Services.

The group, including the chair of the Board, Mike Jones, visited the home of Zeka Enver in Northumberland Park and Nihat Yilmaz of Progress Way, Wood Green to see how works have progressed.  The properties are two of 40 units across the borough selected in January for early refurbishment in advance of the main £198.5 million decent homes programme, starting in April.

The property in Northumberland Park, North Tottenham, is now complete.  The 10 week programme in Progress Way, Wood Green will finish on 25 April. Under the decent homes programme, Homes for Haringey will carry out improvements to all council homes which do not meet the required standard.

Upgrading works include the replacement of some kitchens and bathrooms, electrical rewiring, installation of new windows, new external doors, and smoke alarms. Some roofs are also being repaired or replaced and insulation improved where needed.

Mr Nihat Yilmaz, of Robert Owen House, Progress Way, said:

“I’m happy with the work so far, it hasn’t been disruptive and I have my cooking facilities back on by the afternoon. It’s great that I had a choice too when it came to selecting both the kitchen and bathroom packages. It’s fantastic that my home is getting a makeover with these brand new units.”

Cllr Diakides, Cllr Meehan and Mike Jones with a tenant and contractor, inspect the decent homes work at Robert Owen House

Councillor Isidoros Diakides, cabinet member for housing services, added:

“This is the biggest investment programme ever for council housing in Haringey.  We must get it right.  We have selected the best contractors for customer care, but we want to make sure that our tenants are happy with the process.  That is why we have these pilots, to test them.

“I am pleased with the quality of the work but above all else to see how happy the tenants were with the contractors.”

Ends

Notes to editors

The four 10 week ‘Pilot Programmes’ were started across the borough in South Tottenham (Colsterworth Road), North Tottenham (Northumberland Park), Hornsey (Ennis Road)and Robert Owen House, Progress Way (Wood Green) during January/February.

Up to 7,000 council homes will be improved under the programme.  The government funding for decent homes is the largest discretionary award in Haringey’s history.

Four contractors are in place to deliver the programme boroughwide from April. In Haringey 6 out of every 10 council home is already classified as decent so the remaining properties will get some type of work to replace or repair worn items under the decent homes programme.

Homes for Haringey is the Arms Length Management Organisation managing Haringey Council’s housing stock since April 2006.

It is responsible for:

  • Meeting the Decent Home Standard
  • Services to approx 21,000 council owned properties: 16,700 tenanted and 4,500 leasehold
  • Tenancy and estate management
  • Housing management of supported housing
  • Rent collection and arrears management
  • Repairs and maintenance
  • Leasehold management
  • Resident involvement

To talk to someone about this news item, please contact us:

Email:communications@homesforharingey.org

Tel: 020 8489 2998

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