Issue - items at meetings - Repairs and Improvements Handbook

Report of Director of Place & Head of Housing & Social Inclusion (copy attached).

95.1    The Committee considered a report of the Director of Place and Head of Housing and Social Inclusion which presented an updated proposal for a new “Repairs and Improvements Handbook”.  The handbook gave details and advice to all tenants on the repairs service and improvements to their homes and had been designed to complement the existing tenant handbook.    

95.2    Members were informed that the Property & Investment Team had involved residents in a number of different ways whilst developing, producing and agreeing the revised Repairs and Improvements Handbook.  Further to recommendations made at a previous HMCC meeting on 19 December 2011, the draft handbook was discussed at all Area Housing Panel meetings and the Repairs and Maintenance Monitoring Group.

95.3    David Murtagh recommended that the handbook be accepted.  John Melson reported that Hi Rise Action Group welcomed the revised handbook. 

95.4    Councillor Robins mentioned that the advice about condensation was often contradictory.  For example, people were advised to keep a constant level of heat throughout the home, and to open windows. Councillor Robins thought that washing mould off with bleach was not a good solution.   Councillor Peltzer Dunn suggested that the reference to bleach should be re-worded.

95.5    The Head of Property & Investment explained that tenants were advised to keep windows open for short periods to deal with condensation.  The Condensation and Damp Working Group would be revived to discuss this matter. 

95.6    RESOLVED – (1) That the new updated version of the Repairs and Improvements Handbook as attached at appendix 1 to the report be agreed.