Planned maintenance

We do this work for many different reasons, they include:

• It’s been a while since the area has been decorated
• It’s in poor condition

What you need to do

• We may need to get into your garden and we sometimes need to use scaffolding to reach difficult areas and keep the people doing the work safe
• If we do, we’ll ask you to clear the area before we come and ask that you make sure the area is clear
• We may need to paint your front door, so you’ll need to allow enough time for it to dry before closing it
• But don’t worry, we’ll put up notices and we’ll let you know by letter or email giving you plenty of notice of when the work will begin

What work may be involved?

• We’ll look at the area where the work is being done to decide if it just needs a wash down or full redecoration. This will help us to decide whether we need scaffolding or not
• If a wash down is needed, we’ll clear the guttering and wash down all plastic on the outside of the building and put in new gutter guards, if they’re needed
• If we need to, we’ll also get a specialist contractor in to clean the rendering. Rendering is where a mix of sand and cement has been added to the walls and painted
• We’ll also check for any asbestos to make sure you’re safe
• If it needs a fresh lick of paint, we’ll do this and carry out any repairs needed at the same time

When the work is being done

We’ll try our very best to disturb you as little as possible. But, we’re sorry to say, sometimes the work will affect the normal things that happen to your home.

• Occasionally scaffolding can affect TV reception
• We may need to move aerials or satellite receivers. But don’t worry we’ll put them back as soon as we can (even before we finish the job, if we can)
• If we’re using scaffolding it may mean you won’t be able to open your windows fully until it’s removed again
• We might need to disconnect any lights which are on fixed parts of the building while we work and reconnect once the work is finished There may be some slight disruption to your garden. But don’t worry, we’ll make sure it’s neat and tidy again once the work’s finished
• Inspectors will make sure the work is completed properly and meets the correct standards. They will make regular inspections during the work and another one after it’s completed

Our Asset Management team keeps track of repairs and photos of roofs of the buildings we own. If any of them have any of the following problems, they’ll be added to the roof replacement programme:

• If they’re in poor condition
• If they’re likely to cost too much to repair
• If they’re old and likely to start having problems in the near future

What you need to do

• To make sure nothing gets damaged and to help us start the work on time, you’ll need to clear your loft before we start work
• We always need to put up scaffolding to do a reroofing job, so we’ll also ask you to move any garden furniture, parked cars or vans or anything that’s near the walls which will stop us putting it up
• If you need any help moving things, please get in touch with us as soon as possible
• It’d also help if you let us into your garden when we need to pop round the back. And keep any pets and young children from joining us
• Please remember – when we’re working in your home, we’ll need an adult (someone 18 or above) to be there too.

What work’s involved?

For all roofs: 

• We’ll check for any asbestos in all types of roofs, and remove if it’s damaged or dangerous
• Once the job’s complete, we’ll take the scaffolding down and make everywhere clean and tidy

For different kinds of roofs: 

• For a pitched roof (that’s roofs that have a point), we’ll replace all the parts of the roof (fascia, soffits, guttering, felt batten and tiles)
• For a flat roof above rooms that are lived in, we’ll replace the existing roof covering, including felt decking and insulation
• For a flat roof above rooms that are not lived in, we’ll replace existing roof covering with either a cement based or a polycarbonate corrugated roof sheet, and replace the guttering, if necessary

When the work’s being done

We’ll try our very best to disturb you as little as possible. But, we’re sorry to say, sometimes the work will affect the normal things that happen to your home.

• Occasionally scaffolding can affect TV reception
• We may need to move aerials or satellite receivers. But don’t worry we’ll put them back as soon as we can (even before we finish the job, if we can)
• If we’re using scaffolding it may mean you won’t be able to open your windows fully until it’s removed again
• We might need to disconnect any lights which are on fixed parts of the building while we work and reconnect once the work’s finished
• There may be some slight disruption to your garden. But don’t worry, we’ll make sure it’s neat and tidy again once the work’s finished
• Inspectors will make sure the work’s finished properly and meets the right standards. They will make regular inspections during the work and one after it’s completed

We replace the boiler systems in our homes when:

• They get too old
• They’re not in good condition
• They can’t be repaired

Boilers that need replacing are added to our yearly programme.

What you need to do

• So that nothing gets lost or broken, while the work’s being done, we’ll ask you to put away any valuables or personal belongings that are near the boiler
• Please remember – when we’re working in your home, we’ll need an adult (someone 18 or above) to be there too

What work’s involved?

When your boiler is due to be replaced:

• We’ll get in touch and arrange to come along to carry out a site survey to check what type of boiler you need and if the radiators need changing too
• We’ll also decide if radiator thermostats are needed and if the system needs new heating controls
• We’ll set a date with you to come and do the work. It could take a day or two and we’ll try and offer you a time that’s best for you

We regularly check the kitchen in our homes to make sure:

• The kitchen’s condition, we expect your kitchen to last a minimum of 16 years
• It has enough space and the layout’s good

If your kitchen needs, or is due, to be replaced, we will be in touch to advise you of the process.

Please note we have the whole financial year (April to March) to replace your kitchen, so you may have a survey completed early on in the year but we work to a programme and have the whole year to complete.

What you need to do

• You’ll be able to choose the style and colour of the kitchen units, worktop, wall tiles, vinyl flooring and wall-paint colour from the samples we offer. Howdens Joinery will come out a design your kitchen with you. If you want to purchase extra units you will be able to and you can arrange this directly with Howdens
• Once you’ve made your choices, the kitchen will be made, and a we’ll agree on a date with you for work to begin – please dont panic if you havent heard from us after a few weeks following your survey. We will be in touch with a fitting date soon.
• By the time we come to do the work, you’ll need to have cleared all your work surfaces, cupboards and moved your fridge, freezer, washing machine etc out the way, into another room
• Please remember – when we’re working in your home, we’ll need an adult (someone 18 or above) to be there too.

What work is involved?

We will:

• Replace your kitchen units
• Replace your worktop, kitchen sink/taps
• Replace the vinyl floor covering
• Replace the wall tiles
• Replace electrical sockets
• Patch repair the wall plaster, if needed
• Paint your walls, ceiling and woodwork
• Replace or add in an extractor fan

If you want to, you’ll have the chance to buy extra kitchen wall units too.

Work will take around two weeks. Having a kitchen replaced can be quite disruptive. You don’t realise how much you use the kitchen until it’s not there! We will make sure your sink is reconnected at the end of each day, and your cooker is reconnected in the same place at the end of the work.

We regularly check the bathrooms in our homes to make sure:

• The bathroom’s condition. We expect our bathrooms to last a minimum of 26 years
• The toilet is in a suitable place
• You have a shower as well as a bath

If your bathroom is due to be replaced, one of our team will be in touch to book in a time to come and talk about it.

What you need to do

• You’ll be able to choose the style/colour of the wall tiles, vinyl flooring and wall paint, out of the samples we offer
• Once you’ve made your choices we’ll agree a date with you to start the work
• To help us, we ask that you clear your bathroom of all personal things and let us in to do the work
• Please remember – when we’re working in your home, we’ll need an adult (someone 18 or above) to be there too.

What work is involved?

• We’ll install a new white bathroom suite including taps, waste, bath side panel, bath end panel and shower (where necessary)
• We’ll replace the vinyl floor covering and wall tiles
• We’ll patch repair the wall plaster where necessary
• We’ll paint your walls, ceiling and woodwork

But don’t worry, we’ll leave your toilet in place, right up to the point that we need to change it, and we’ll reconnect it at the end of each working day.

We regularly check the windows and outside doors in our homes to make sure:

• The windows and doors have been in less than 30 years. We expect our windows and doors to last a minimum of 30 years
• The windows and doors cost less to repair than to replace

If your windows or doors need, or are due, to be replaced, one of our team will be in touch to book in a time to come and talk about it.

What you need to do

• We can’t offer you a choice of windows as they’re all white UPVC, unless you live in a listed building or a building that has planning conditions against it for the colour or type of window
• And your back door will be a white UPVC glazed door too
• But you do get a choice of colours and styles, from our available range, for your front door
• Once you’ve chosen your front door, we’ll agree a date with you to start the work. Please be aware though it usually takes around six weeks to make the windows and doors
• Once you have a start date, to help us please make sure the area is clear for us to carry out the work
• Please remember – when we’re working in your home, we’ll need an adult (someone 18 or above) to be there too.

What work’s involved?

• We’ll remove your old windows and/or doors
• We’ll make good any surfaces we disturb
• We’ll install new windows and/or doors and fit white UPVC trim, if needed

You’ll be given a key for every lockable handle on a window and two or three keys for each door.