Major works investment programme

Our delivery teams or our contractors will write to you once we’ve finished validating our programmes and contractors. This is currently still ongoing.

Once contracts have been agreed and if your home is included in this first year, we’ll write to you to let you know what to expect and when. As we develop the programme, we’ll continue to update you through our website. We’re sorry that this information isn’t available yet as we are finalising the plans for this year and next.

When we spoke to residents at the Customer Focus Committee in January 2024, they highlighted the importance of local information sharing, accountability and transparency.

The works are being funded from the income we receive from rent and service charges, which we set aside and recycle to carry out planned investment and improvement works.

In the future, we may receive funding from Government grants for energy efficiency works.

All areas of work where we need to replace the following are included in the programme:

• Internal works including kitchens, bathrooms, electrics, heating and doors
• External works including windows, roofs, external doors and works in communal areas
• Mechanical and electrical works including lifts, electrical rewires and fire systems

The contractors we appoint will carry out all building and fire safety works in accordance with the Act, any residents living within high rise buildings will be communicated with as per the specific building Resident Engagement Strategy. Where those works are extremely specialist in nature, we’ve reserved the right to seek additional specialist contractors.

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) tells us how energy efficient your home is. An EPC is a graph a bit like the sticker you get on a new fridge or freezer which tells you about the appliance’s energy performance.

Typically, an EPC contains:

• Information about a home’s energy use and typical energy costs.
• Steps to improve a home’s energy efficiency and save money.

Around 74% of our homes have a current EPC, but we’re planning on having 100% over the next 12-18 months. 

You can find more information about our EPC programme here.

A stock condition survey is where a surveyor looks at our homes to check what condition they are in.

The survey will involve a visual inspection of all of the key areas and building components in your property. As this is visual only, no items of furniture or any other items need to be moved and no special arrangements need to be made. The full survey should take no more than 1 hour.

The data gathered from the surveys will be used to plan for repairs and future investment programmes.  

You can find out more about our stock condition survey programme here.

The Decent Homes Standard sets the minimum standard for social housing in England and Northern Ireland (excluding shared ownership or leasehold properties). If your home does not meet the standard, then Plymouth Community Homes is required to act.

The Decent Homes Standard is made up of four parts:

It meets the current statutory minimum standard for housing

This means that if your home has any serious hazards, it will not meet the standard. This covers things that are written into law as hazards such as damp and mould, trip and fall hazards, excessive cold, and fire risks.

It is in a reasonable state of repair

This means that if your home has parts that need replacing or major repairs, it will not meet the standard. This covers parts of the building (roofs, chimneys, windows, doors, walls) as well as internal amenities (kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems).

It has reasonably modern facilities and services

This means that if your home has older amenities that are not fit for modern living, it will not meet the standard. This covers things like the space and layout of kitchens and bathrooms, adequate sound insulation, and the location of bathrooms and toilets.

It provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort

This means that if your home has inadequate insulation or heating, it will not meet the standard. This covers things like loft insulation, external or cavity wall insulation, double glazing, and efficient gas or electric heating.

What are Plymouth Community Homes doing to ensure homes are of a decent standard?

Plymouth Community Homes has a surveying strategy to monitor the condition of our homes. The Stock Condition Survey team assess the condition of our homes on a rolling basis, with a service level agreement to survey all homes every 5 years. By monitoring the condition of the outside of our homes, and internal facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms, we gain valuable information that can help shape our investment plan and ensure we keep our homes decent.

The investment plan is designed with the Decent Homes Standard in mind. The plan contains:

• Maintenance and repair programmes to keep our homes in a decent condition
• Refurbishment programmes that are aimed at modernising energy efficiency measures to keep up with developments in this sector
• Renewal programmes to ensure all of our homes components are of a reasonably modern standard

If you are contacted by our Stock Condition Survey team, please allow them to conduct a survey at your home.

Where can I get more information?

If you believe your home does not meet the Decent Homes Standard please email asset.datateam@plymouthcommunityhomes.co.uk to notify us. In most cases we will arrange a survey to assess your concerns. If your home does not meet the standards outlined above, we will take steps to improve the condition of your home.

Over the course of the next two years, Plymouth Community Homes plans to ensure we have a recent survey for all our properties, to make sure all of our homes are up to standard. If you are contacted by our Stock Condition Survey team, please allow them to conduct a survey at your home.

For more information on the Decent Homes Standard, please read the government advice and guidance here.