|
Membership No.3632 |
The Government's
Decent Homes Initiative 2010
|
|
|||
Our 'Group has long argued that 'planned works' put upon us by our landlord are thinly disguised a being part of the 'Governments Decent Homes' initiative 2010. Indeed in many conversations with Orbit staff regarding their 'planned works' they have often defended their stance by using the this, that they must comply and get the work done by 2010. We highlighted the 'planned works' programme last year and everything is geared to this date. It is difficult for Orbit to defend or indeed justify what part of 'Artwork' on the Lower Picardy Estate the 'Decent Homes initiative this comes under? Which after long argument from individual 'Leaseholder's and our 'Group with our landlord, we understand that this has been re-classified as an 'Improvement' and will not now be rechargeable to 'Leaseholders. We have linked Government's Decent Homes' initiative booklet in a PDF file here for your perusal so that there can be no misunderstanding as to what the the 'Government really wants Social landlords' to do for their tenants, which is essentially to bring their homes to a decent condition by today's standards. New kitchens, bathrooms, replacement electrical wiring etc. not landscaping, children's play areas, and certainly not roof's, rewiring, pathways that did not need replacing! Essentially the decent homes standard ensures that all social tenants have access to and what they should expect as a minimum standard of housing. Interestingly the booklet explains... 'When planning for improvements to your home your landlord should be able to take into account work which falls outside the decent homes standard that might be of importance to you and your neighbours. … and it is important that tenants are involved from the outset'. Whilst encouraging ‘tenant involvement’ the Government’ does offer an opt-out for those tenants who do not wish to have any work done on their properties … 'If you do not want work carried out to your home to bring it up to the decent homes standard, then your landlord can postpone the work until you leave your home, at which point the necessary work will be undertaken. The exception to this is where works are required to maintain the structural integrity of your home or to prevent it from deterioration'. So if a landlord can postpone works until a tenant leaves, then why is there such a rush to upgrade communal areas with ‘Leaseholders expected to pay without too much (if any) proper consultation? Take an opportunity to read the booklet it is very interesting, it makes good, simple reading and we defy anyone to argue that most of the 'planned works' so far undertaken on many 'Orbit' estates have anything to do with the 'Decent Homes' initiative. It really is a case of Orbit taking advantage of this situation, taking advantage of 'Leaseholders in beautifying their properties to improve their portfolio, regardless of the financial impact on 'Leaseholders!
|
. |
||||
