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Chester & District Housing Trust

CDHT customers have a say on everything including kitchen sink

Chester & District Housing Trust (C&DHT) invited residents to decide which companies should supply new kitchens and front doors for the coming 3 year Improvement Programme

From a selection of kitchens and doors on display, residents scored each product taking into account, price, selection of colours, style and quality. They put the doors and kitchens through a very rigorous examination before making their final selection

The consultation process was made up of a broad mix of more than 25 residents, some new to and some well established in their properties. Maureen Clarke-Tilston of Plas Newton moved in eight years ago and is set to have a new door fitted in April, with a kitchen planned for 2012. Maureen said:

“I appreciate being involved in the process. The experience is enjoyable, informal and there’s no pressure. Having come to this session I appreciate how complex decisions like this are for the Trust and what an improvement they are making.”

Peter Newman, from Cairns Crescent, Blacon has received new heating and double glazing from The Trust within the last two years. A new kitchen and bathroom are due this Spring. Peter said: “I’m really grateful – it makes a real difference. I appreciate the focus group that’s relaxed and easy. TrustWorks is also more flexible with kitchen plans. It’s good to know someone from the Trust and be involved face-to-face.”

Stella Lee, Purchasing & Performance Manager at Chester & District Housing Trust, said: “We value the views of our residents and aim to include them at every opportunity. Who better to decide which products to use? All the residents involved took their responsibility very seriously and were very thorough in their examination. We are very grateful for their help in making these decisions. These consultation sessions are also an opportunity to show that finding the best product from the right supplier can be a complex task and the Trust invests a lot of effort to make sure it delivers value for money to its customers. All the evaluation forms have been collected and the next stage of the consultation process will inform residents which suppliers have been chosen. The new door programme will commence 1st April and kitchen installations will commence 1st May.”

The consultation session is part of a broader multi-million pound programme of investment in residencies and services the Trust is carrying out in 2008. This includes £900,000 spent on new lifts in the Trust’s Blacon and Newtown tower blocks. New central heating is also scheduled for this year, with further consultations to follow.

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Notes to Editors:

For more information and photos please visit: <a href=”http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/admin/clients/chester-district-housing-trust/articles ”>http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/admin/clients/chester-district-housing-trust/articles INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE.

Chester & District Housing Trust (C&DHT) was created in November 2000 to acquire the housing stock of Chester District Council and now owns and manages over 6,200 properties in and around Chester, employing 275 staff. The Trust’s homes fall in to six neighbourhoods – Blacon North; Blacon South; Chester City Area; The Rurals; Lache and Handbridge; Upton, Hoole, Newton and Plas Newton.

C&DHT provides a range of services to tenants and residents in Chester and surrounding areas. These include ChesterCare, a telecare alarm service for C&DHT tenants, other association tenants and private customers and the management of the specially designated Community Intervention Budget. This improves facilities and allows changes, which are felt by tenants to be vital to their community. C&DHT also manages the housing waiting list and homelessness agency service on behalf of Chester City Council.

Current projects for C&DHT include the £12million regeneration of the Treborth Road area of Chester, to include 200 new homes for rent, sale and shared ownership, as well as a village green and wildlife habitats.

“TrustWorks’ is the Direct Labour Organisation (DLO) to C&DHT. In 2007, it successfully won C&DHT’s tender to provide a repairs and maintenance service to the Trust’s properties. This includes carrying out the necessary repairs to meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard, delivering the Improvement Programme for kitchens, bathrooms, external doors and re-wires, as well as the providing a customer focussed responsive and void repairs and maintenance service.

TrustWorks employs over 75 Maintenance Technicians from all trade backgrounds, including multi-skilled tradespersons to enable the effective delivery of services to the Trust’s residents. It seeks to recruit at least 3 Apprentices a year from the Trust’s housing estates, and is recognised in the market sector as being a top performing DLO.

For more details please visit www.cdht.net

Press Contacts: Phil Brotherhood E: phil@marketingprojects.co.uk M: 07884 493370 Jane Harrad-Roberts E: jane@marketingprojects.co.uk M: 07785 395705

T: 01244 330000 W: www.marketingprojects.co.uk also www.ziggurat.co.uk

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