Decent Homes
It was great news for Berneslai Homes when we passed our government inspection in 2003 with flying colours. It meant we were awarded £149 million to spend on our homes throughout the Borough in order to bring them up to the Government’s Decent Homes standard. On 24th June 2004 an exciting programme of housing refurbishment began across the borough of Barnsley to bring council owned properties up to this standard by 2010.
Berneslai Homes have recently completed works to the 10,000th property in this programme and properties due to be refurbished in near future can be viewed by downloading the Decent Homes Programme 2007 - 2010 list.
To help you understand the process of how we have selected properties for the programme so far and what works are to be undertaken, we have provided answers to a number of questions.
Does this mean that all homes will be fully improved?
This is not an 'everything for everybody' programme. The Berneslai Homes Board, working on your behalf, needs to make this money goes as far as possible so that all our homes are in a reasonable state of repair. This means the range of work that will be done will vary depending on what sort of condition your home is in at the moment. The government says that we must spend the money on things like windows and doors, central heating, electrical rewires and insulation, kitchens and bathrooms. Whilst it may be that your property needs to have works or repairs carried out, only properties which constitute a full Decent Homes failure are included in the programme at this point. Should you require repairs to your property, these should be reported through the usual channels.
We will be surveying identified properties to find out just exactly what we need to do. Some homes will need more work than others and we have to do what is needed to bring each home up to standard.
What does Decent Homes mean to you?
Read on to find out the straight talking answers to the questions you have frequently asked us since the programme began.
Why did Berneslai Homes get this extra cash?
The Government realises that not enough money has been spent on council housing over the past 25 years and a huge backlog of work has built up. To make sure that you have a home that is fit to live in they have set a standard called the Decent Homes Standard and Berneslai Homes must make sure that all its houses meet this standard by 2010. The award of £149 million was time limited to the period of April 2004 to March 2007. The programme is now funded by Berneslai Homes annual Major Repairs Allowance which for 2007/08 is £16 million.
I've heard everyone will get new kitchens, bathrooms and double-glazing - is this true?
No this is not true. The Government has stated that we can only carry out works that are identified as failing the Decent Homes Standard. However, even on those properties indentified, we need to undertake a survey on your home so we can tell you what work, if any, needs doing. What we can tell you is what the Decent Homes Standard says.
If your kitchen is less than 20 years old and in decent condition it won't be replaced. If your bathroom is less than 30 years old and in a decent condition again we probably won't replace it. The standard set by the Government does not insist on double glazing or plastic windows. But if your doors and windows don't meet the standard we will replace them. If you haven't already got cavity wall insulation, loft insulation or central heating that meets the standard, then we will do this work if we can.
When the work starts who will be doing it?
As well Berneslai Homes Construction Services we also have Inspace Partnerships carrying out the works.
Useful information
- A Decent Home - Government definition and guidance for implementation
- Decent Homes Customer Satisfaction Results
- Decent Homes - A guide to what you need to know