Repairs and maintenance

What is 'The Welsh Housing Quality Standard' (WHQS)?

In 2002, the Welsh Assembly Government introduced the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS). This new standard was set to ensure that homes provided by Councils and Registered Social Landlords, such as Tai Calon Community Housing, met a specified standard.

The Welsh Assembly Government set a target that all of our homes should meet this standard by 2015.

The specific criteria set out in the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, state that all our homes must:

  • Be in a good state of repair
  • Be safe and secure
  • Be adequately heated, fuel efficient and well insulated
  • Contain up to date kitchens and bathrooms
  • Be well managed
  • Be located in attractive and safe environments
  • As far as possible suit the specific requirements of the household, e.g. where adaptations are needed because of a disability

Tai Calon is working very hard to ensure that all its homes meet the WHQS by 2015, which will mean a £111million investment over the next 5 years.

The improvements programme will include installing new kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems, as well as external insulation,  roofs and windows, to make sure that your homes are wind and watertight.

Meeting this standard will also require us to improve and enhance the external communal areas around our homes, and will mean spending in the region of £14 million on environmental and external improvements during our first 5 years post transfer.

So what is our WHQS commitment to you?

A 100% stock condition survey was carried out in 2010, largely in the lead up to transfer. These finding will drive our investment programme forward to ensure we deliver on our commitment to meeting the WHQS.

It was highlighted that he following improvements would be necessary:

Out of the 6,200 homes;

    • 5000 need new kitchens
    • 4,400 need new bathrooms and the remaining properties need new showers fitted in existing bathrooms
    • 3,750 need rewiring, with more electrical sockets provided
    • 3,600 need new more efficient/cost effective heating systems and/or boilers
    • 2,700 need new roofs
    • 1,350 need works to external walls
    • 1,000 need new windows

 

Our initial Pilot project to work in up to 300 properties delivering new kitchens, bathrooms and rewiring between July 2010 and March 2011 is now complete and was carried out with two local and one national major contractor. In addition, Tai Calon is also undertaking roofing and central heating renewal.

The amount of funds required to bring Tai Calon’s homes up to the required standard by 2015, and to then keep them at the required standard for the next 30 years, was calculated by independent experts.

Initially we will be spending in the region of £111million to bring our homes up to the WHQS.

Overall investment in our homes to achieve and maintain them to WHQS standards, and to meet ongoing repairs, will see us spending in the region of £375million over a 30 year period.

Funding is in place to cover this level of expenditure.