We’re required to make sure that your home meets the standards set out in the Government’s Decent Homes Guidance, but we’re setting our standards higher.
You’ve told us that the priorities for your home are affordability, safety and security. You also told us that the standard of your kitchen and bathroom are important too. Based on this we have put together the ‘Plus Dane Standard for Homes’ which sets out how regularly we will replace things like kitchens, bathrooms and boilers.
We’re required to make sure that your home meets the standards set out in the Government’s Decent Homes Guidance, but we’re setting our standards higher.
We’ve put together a plan for how we’ll deliver this over the next 5 years and we will give you advance notice of any work that is scheduled for your home, with an approximate timescale for when it will take place.
Component |
Government Recommendation |
Plus Dane Standard |
Wall structures |
80 years |
80 years |
Roof structure and covering |
30 to 50 years |
30 to 50 years depending on roof construction |
Windows and External doors |
40 years |
30 years (better than Government recommendation by ten years) |
Kitchen |
30 years |
20 years (better than Government recommendation by ten years) |
Bathrooms |
40 years |
30 years (better than Government recommendation by ten years) |
Boiler |
15 years |
15 years |
Radiators and heating pipes |
40 years |
30 years (better than Government recommendation by ten years) |
Electrical wiring |
30 years |
30 years |
Passenger Lifts |
n/a |
30 years |
Windows in all homes will be double glazed, and loft insulation will be improved as much as possible to help reduce your energy bills.
We’ll install and maintain carbon monoxide monitors in all homes with an open flue, solid fuel or where the boiler is located in a bedroom/living area. All gas heating systems, cookers and other gas appliances that have been provided by us will be serviced annually. All domestic and communal electrical wiring will be tested every 5 years.
We’ll install smoke and/or heat detectors to current building regulation standards in all homes and service these annually.
We’ll respond to all requests for adaptations from occupational therapists and install level access showers as a replacement to baths in all older person accommodation.
We will aim to identify health and safety issues through estate inspections, and scheme visits by our officers, but welcome you to contact us and report anything you see too.
External painting and internal communal areas will be repainted every 7 years, (unless lease agreements specify earlier or the condition of individual schemes requires a different timescale).
We will carry out surveys and maintain an asbestos register which will record the presence of any asbestos in internal and communal areas. We will repeat this survey according to best practice guidelines. These guidelines differ depending upon the type, location and condition of any asbestos found.
The approach to replacing all major building components (such as windows, doors, kitchens and boilers) will depend on budget availability and their current condition. Stock condition surveys and individual inspections will take place to determine whether replacement is required. This will identify where a component needs to be replaced earlier than scheduled, or where replacement works can be rescheduled due to the component not needing to be replaced.
Where we identify willful damage or neglect that requires us to replace items (such as kitchens and bathrooms) ahead of their expected renewal date, we will recharge customers for a proportion of the cost associated with the early replacement, in line with our Chargeable Repairs Policy.
