Decent Celebration for Decent Homes!
Birmingham-based Mercian Housing Association has raised the game for housing associations across the Midlands as it celebrates completing a massive multi-million pound refurbishment project three years ahead of the Government's 'Decent Homes Standard' 2010 deadline.
Mercian Housing owns and manages 1800 affordable homes in Birmingham and further 1500 in the West Midlands and has carried out an extensive refurbishment programme over the past 18 months to ensure it meets the Government's Decent Homes deadline well ahead of schedule.
The Decent Homes Standard was launched by the Government in 2001 to make sure every social housing home across the country provides people with a safe, warm and weatherproof home to live in.
Chief Executive, Laurice Ponting commented: "It's great to see that the substantial investment we've made in the homes we own is really improving the lives of our tenants. But just because we've achieved our goal three years ahead of schedule doesn't mean we're stopping here. We'll continue to invest in all our properties to make sure Mercian Housing continues to provide excellent affordable housing across the Midlands."
Laurice joined Mrs Margaret Maybury, 73, at her home in Pinfold Court, Darlaston, and presented her with flowers to celebrate the completion of the Decent Homes programme.
Mrs Maybury, a carer from Walsall, showed off her newly refurbished kitchen and bathroom to the head of the association and said: "I'm over the moon with how my home now looks, the standard of the refurbishment is as if I'd paid thousands of pounds to have it done. They've even put in new central heating, which I never thought I'd be using in July but with all this weather I certainly have!"
Mercian Housing offers a wide range of affordable housing accommodation across the West Midlands for rent as well as home ownership options for first time buyers. It is also part of the Government's HomeBuy initiative that provides a helping hand to those wanting to get a foot on the property ladder but cannot afford to buy outright.