Tenant Repair it Youself (TRY)
| Published: 8th March 2007 00:39 |
The project explored practical ways to increase tenants' ability to carry out their repairing responsibilities, either by learning how to do the work themselves or by finding reliable sources of help. The repairs which are a tenant's responsibility include items such as unblocking a sink, replacing a toilet seat and replacing shelves.
The project involved four key stages:
·a postal survey of four estates to find out what repairs tenants can and can't manage; ·progressing the main suggestions: running workshops, providing leaflets on how to carry out repairs and finding reliable contractors; ·evaluating the success of the initiatives; ·publishing the good practice guide on the TRY project.
For vulnerable people unable to do the work themselves, and too young to access the local Age Concern handyperson service, another part of the project developed a Hillingdon Homes Handyperson service . The project also looked at local lists of reliable contractors available to people who cannot do their own repairs.
A survey conducted after the project's completion showed that tenants on the pilot estates were:
·on average, 20 per cent were more confident in managing repairs (especially younger tenants). Where they showed no change the reason stated was often age or ill health ·most of the tenants had heard about the workshops, while just over half had heard about the handy leaflets ·a telephone survey of people who had attended the workshop showed that a quarter of them had used a skill they had learnt while 87 per cent thought they would use the skills ·76per cent of people who had seen the handy leaflets had used them to carry out a repair or considered them useful or very useful.
Hillingdon Homes advice to landlords wishing to carry out similar projects is to:
·find out what tenants need help with and why ·research what local services are already available, and seek to complement not duplicate the existing service ·tailor the initiatives to your community ·evaluate how effective each initiative has been in relation to initial costs, numbers of people reached, and the value for each individual and the landlord ·continually advertise the sources of help that are available, so tenants are aware of it.
Tim Price, Chief Executive Officer of Hillingdon Homes, said "We're very pleased that we've been able to support tenants to build their confidence and learn valuable skills at the same time. We know this will save tenants money in the long run, while ensuring our repairs service stays focused on the types of repairs we need to carry out as landlord."
Cllr Philip Corthorne, Hillingdon's Cabinet member for adult social care health and housing, said "We support the development of practical skills that benefit individuals and families within the community. We're proud that Hillingdon Homes has identified an innovative way to foster skills development within these sometimes vulnerable communities."
*PEP: PEP is an independent "not for profit" organisation specialising in housing, regeneration and training consultancy. Its work with residents, social landlords, regeneration organisations, tenant management organisations, other service providers, and with communities as a whole. PEP is committed to creating cohesive, sustainable communities and tackling social and economic exclusion. PEP has a national team of consultants across England and Wales, and PEP specialises in:
·Innovative community and resident engagement ·Professional impartial advice ·Hands on project work ·Training - bespoke, off-the-shelf and National Programme ·Strategy and policy development
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