In 2001, Government set a minimum criteria of repair for social housing to meet the Decent Homes standard.  A decent home is one which is wind, warm and weathertight and has reasonable modern facilities and one which:

• Meets the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System
• Is in a reasonable state of repair.  Dwellings that fail this criteria are those elements such as roofs, rewires, boilers, etc, which are old (age exceeds life cycle) and in poor condition (identified by survey as needing replacement or repair)
• Has reasonable modern facilities
• Provides a reasonable degree of thermal comfort

We will only carry out work which is required to bring your home up to the Decent Homes Standard.  As each property is individually surveyed this could mean that you and your neighbour have different work done even though you live in the same type of property.

Decent Homes Criteria

Your kitchen will not meet the Decent Homes standard if:

• Your kitchen is 20 years old or more
• Your kitchen is less than 20 years old but is a risk to health and safety
• Your kitchen layout lacks adequate storage and worktop space

Where your kitchen fails, we will refurbish the complete kitchen.

Your bathroom will not meet the Decent Homes standard if:

• Any item in your bathroom (bath, toilet or wash hand basin) is 30 years old or more
• Two or more items in your bathroom (bath, toilet or wash hand basin) are less than 30 years old but require major repair or replacement
• Separate WC and bathrooms in your home will be treated as one.

Where you bathroom fails, we will refurbish the complete bathroom.  An exception will be if one item in the bathroom has been replaced recently as a repair, where we will only replace the failing items.

Your windows will not meet the Decent Homes standard if:

• They are single glazed with wooden frames
• They are over 40 years old

Where your windows fail we will replace with white internally beaded PVCu double glazed windows.

Click here to view the Government's publication - A Decent Home: Definition and guidance for implementation.

Stock Profile

The total council housing stock managed by Rykneld Homes Ltd as at 30th December 2009 is 8,193 dwellings.  The percentage of stock defined as non traditional is 33%.

Traditional Stock

The Stock Condition Survey carried out by Savills Consultants in 2007, identified that 53% of stock was non decent.  The survey helped us inform the local investment needs of the stock and the Estate Delivery Plans.

Non Traditional Stock

Structural condition surveys were commissioned by Rykneld Homes in April 2008 to assess the full repair requirements and when structural improvement work needs to be carried out.  Rykneld Homes Ltd, working with North East Derbyshire District Council, has developed the Long Term Housing Regeneration Strategy

Estate Delivery Plans

Rykneld Homes Board of Directors has approved the Estate Delivery Plan to show which properties will receive works, in what work package and in which year.  The Estate Delivery Plan is based on anticipated resources from NEDDC, government and ability to maximise our own resources and the drawdown of ALMO funding.

The estate delivery programme will improve your home and achieve the Decent Homes standard by carrying out, if required, one or more of the work packages as set out below:

• Internals - Replacement of kitchens, bathrooms, electrics, boilers and other internal elements
• Externals - Repair or replacement of roofs, brickwork, pointing and other external elements
• Windows and Doors - Replacement of windows and doors

Click here to view information about what to expect from the Decent Homes process and also the Tenant Information Booklets from our Decent Homes partners, Apollo Group and Ian Williams Ltd.

Click here to view the Estate Delivery Plan which will tell you when improvement work is due to start in your neighbourhood.

In the event of a decrease in funding, Rykneld Homes will review the work programmes with tenants and will continue to proactively seek funding from all other alternative sources.  We are no different from any other ALMO or Authority delivering work programmes over a medium term future.

Our estate delivery programmes are delivered by our decent homes partners, Apollo Property Services Group and Ian Williams Ltd. Our Tenant Liaison Officers based on site, support the needs of all tenants when preparing for the decent homes programme, especially those considered vulnerable.

We have developed Service Standards to inform tenants what major repairs works and service delivery they can expect from Rykneld Homes.  These have been devised and agreed with tenant involvement.

If you require any further information, contact the Decent Homes Team on 01246 217670.