Estate Services
Maintaining our estates is a priority area of work and this was confirmed at a recent conference by our tenants and leaseholders.
What is Estate Services
Middlefields Court, Letchworth Garden City – We provide a residential caretaker service that is responsible for the day-to- day cleaning and up keep of the communal areas, refuse room, reporting of repairs and liaising with contractors.
This service will cease during April 2008 and interim arrangements put in place until the new cleaning contract commences during autumn 2008.
Is provided to the internal communal areas of a number of flat blocks in Letchworth Garden City. The service provided includes:
- Sweeping and washing of internal communal areas
- Cleaning of handrails and window frames
- Sweeping of bin rooms.
Currently undertaken on an ad-hoc basis except for a limited service at Middlefields Court and some areas of the Grange Estate by the residential Caretaker.
The maintenance of public open spaces and communal grassed areas in the ownership of North Hertfordshire Homes. The Service provided incorporates the maintenance of:
- Grassed areas
- Hedges
- Shrub & Flower Bedding
- Hard Surfaces
- Clearance of litter and leaves
- Emptying and servicing of bins for the disposal of dog faeces
Neighbourhood Services manage their estate responsibilities by way of patches of estate and streets throughout the four Neighbourhoods of Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock & Royston. Neighbourhood Officers undertake regular inspections of their patch and residents are always welcome. There is also an annual estate walkabout where stakeholders are invited to attend as part of our efforts to encourage participation and to engage with our customers at a local level.
Neighbourhood Officers have access to a budget for small improvement works on their patches.
The Neighbourhood Improvement Budget is for local improvement and environmental projects that is customer led. Projects can be submitted by customers or any member of staff and will require a project brief and drawings where applicable. Projects that are viable will require the approval of the Tenants Forum.
This service is provided throughout the North Hertfordshire Homes estate and is currently the responsibility of the Home Ownership Team. The service standard includes:
- Wash and clean both sides of all glass to windows,doors and fanlights
- Wash and clean PVCU metal or painted panels, signs name plates, notice boards and shutters ground floor level
- Wipe down frames, rails sills, mullions, transoms and surrounds.
Neighbourhoods Service Working Group
Service working groups have been set up in 5 key areas. Members of the tenants panel will be provided with an opportunity to influence the way we deliver services by becoming experts in the areas of their choice. Estate conditions and services will form part of this working group. The inaugural meeting took place on 14 March 2008. Please contact your Neighbourhood Team if you wish to get involved.
Caretaking & Cleaning
The contract tendering process has commenced and the contract for flat blocks on the Grange, Jackmans and Westmill estates will commence during the autumn of 2008.
Estate Inspections
It is intended that Estate Inspections will be published in advance with residents and other stakeholders invited to attend the walkabouts. This will provide residents with an opportunity to raise the issues that matter most to them and influence the delivery of services in their locality.
Estate Services Manager
Is now in post and located at the Baldock Neighbourhood Office and will have responsibility for the mobile estate workers and estate services in general.
Mobile Estate Workers
This service will be in operation by end of May 2008 and will be responsible for a responsive service to the external areas of our estates that will include following:
- Parking bays
- Garage areas
- Sheds
- Drying areas
- Communal grounds
Mobile Estate Workers also monitor grounds maintenance, cleaning and other estate service standards.
NHH are committed to involving tenants and stakeholders at every opportunity, and all our Neighbourhood Teams would welcome any resident who wishes to join them on their regular walkabout and inspections of the estates. Everyone is welcome to participate including local councillors or the Police. The walkabouts allow us to identify areas of concern and prioritise maintenance and improvement for the environmental, physical and visual aspect of each neighbourhood.
If you are interested in joining us, please contact your Neighbourhood Officer at least 14 days before the inspection date to confirm it is going ahead. Click here for a full schedule of planned inspections. Tenants and leaseholders also receive a reminder leaflet prior to the walkabout. Inspections do need to start on time so we are unable to wait if you are late.
If you cannot attend but would like to raise any issues, please contact your Local Residents Group or Neighbourhood Officer.
