Press Release

Meeting the Decent Homes standard early

18/06/2004
Ref: pr 0050

CHP selected for the "success they represent"

Chelmer Housing Partnership was recently chosen by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) to contribute to the 'Positive Steps towards Decent Homes' publicity event because of the 'success we represent'.

CHP nominated Iris Miles, Chelmsford resident for 41 years, as a case study to demonstrate how the Decent Homes initiative can make a real difference to people. "It's absolute heaven, it's like living in a different house, my heating bill has reduced from £35 per week during the winter to £8 per week all year round. It's improved my lifestyle and my health, my chest infections have completely gone," said Iris.

Since 2002, CHP has made improvements to approximately 5000 properties including Iris's who has benefited from a new kitchen, bathroom, central heating, double glazed windows, loft and cavity wall insulation. The massive investment programme to improve the standard of accommodation and meet the Decent Homes standard has delivered affordable warmth and modern facilities. CHP have also recently started to remodel five of their retirement schemes in the borough.

ENDS

Editor's notes:

To date, CHP has spent approximately £6.5m on central heating, £8m on modern kitchens and bathrooms, and £2m on external wall insulation.
The government set a challenge for all social housing to meet the Decent Homes standard by 2010. CHP is already well into their massive investment programme bringing real benefits to tenants and it's our intention to have all properties reach the Decent Homes standard by 2007.
A Decent Home is one that is affordable to heat, in good state of repair, weatherproof and has reasonable modern facilities. In 1997 there were 2,100,000 houses owned by housing associations and local authorities that did not meet the Decent Homes Standards. By the end of 2004, non-decent homes will have been cut by 1 million with £18 billion of investment.
For more information contact Victoria Norton on 01245 613111 or Stuart Stackhouse on 01245 613112.

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