Planned Maintenance
As well as responding to repair requirements for our Housing stock as they arise, the Housing Landlord Service also run a regular programme of planned works to keep our properties in good condition.
External Repair and Repainting
The External Repairs and Painting programme operates on a five-year cycle. This means that around one fifth of the houses owned by the Council have work carried out on them each year.
During the winter months the Council's Clerk of Works will have inspected and assessed the repairs needed to the properties on this year's programme. Some of these will already have had repair works carried out ahead of the painting contract. Others will have the repair works carried out just before the painting starts, probably by the same contractor.
Painting will include all external elements previously painted by the City Council, such as gutters, fascias, and soffits, down pipes, windows, doors and frames. Where applicable communal staircases, common rooms and corridors in blocks of flats and in sheltered accommodation will be included, together with any work to outbuildings belonging to each property. However this is not a definitive list and elements will vary from property to property.
Please note that any element suspected of containing asbestos material will not be painted at this time. Winchester City Council is currently reviewing its asbestos policy with an independent consultant and any such element requiring further works will be addressed once the review has been completed.
Tenants will be given the name of the contractor and the contract start date beforehand and notified when the work on their homes will begin. The contractor will offer a choice of paint colours for the front, back and shed doors except where front and back doors are stained, where we cannot offer a choice. External decoration to all homes should be complete by October, weather permitting.
OAP Redecoration Programme
As with the external repairs and painting programme, the internal redecoration scheme for our older tenants is programmed around a five year cycle. We will look at approximately one fifth of the housing stock each year and we will be approaching any residents of pensionable age to decorate one room during the winter months free of charge.
New Kitchens and Bathrooms
This year's programme focuses on homes built between 1950 and 1963 that have not previously had any kitchen or bathroom refurbishment work.
They are at:
- Imber Road
- Winnall Manor Road
- Firmstone Road
- Trussell Crescent
We intend to provide modern facilities with adequate storage space and work surfaces, bearing in mind the size of the room and the appliances that need to be included. An officer from our Contract and Property Services team will contact tenants of the included properties to arrange an appointment to discuss the proposed work. After consultation, if works are to be carried out, a plan will be drawn up with a copy for tenants. Work should then start within approximately three months of the consultation.
For further information, contact Gaynor Bromley, Senior Customer Liaison Officer, on 01962 848 141.
