EIGHTY-ONE ALCESTER HOMES TRANSFERRED TO RURAL SPECIALISTS
18/06/2008
The homes, on the Crooks Lane Estate, are now owned by Warwickshire Rural Housing Association (WRHA), which bought them from Mercian Housing Association in a £3.1 million deal.
This means WRHA now owns and manages 91 homes in Alcester – it owned 10 already – boosting the association’s asset base in the area.
Craig Felts, secretary of WRHA, said: “We are delighted to be taking on the ownership of these homes.
“Having so many homes in one location will give us the opportunity to encourage residents to get more involved through initiatives like our residents’ sounding board and scheme surgeries.”
The move also means the association can begin a planned maintenance programme of major repairs over the next five years to include the installation of kitchens, boilers, front and back doors and bathrooms.
In addition to this, the testing of domestic electrical appliances will take place also every five years and external windows and doors will be painted as part of a four year, cyclical maintenance plan.
WRHA is investing in its communities and has set aside a pot of money to be spent improving the area. Tenants are invited to put forward ideas for work and suggestions approved will be funded through the tenant-led improvement budget.
On June 20 the association will take to the streets for an estate tidy-up day. Skips will be provided free of charge for families to dispose of unwanted items with the aim of sprucing up the area.
WRHA, which has managed the homes on behalf of Mercian since they were built, consulted residents through letters and door knocking and found tenants were positive about the change of ownership.