Two tenants from Bishop Auckland have become the 3,000th customers to benefit from a £40m investment programme by their landlord. Billy and Lynn Jardine are delighted with their new bathroom and central heating system.
Dale and Valley Homes upgraded the couple’s home as part of the Decent Homes programme. Mrs Jardine has lived in the property for almost half a century and for the last thirty-three years with her husband. She was presented with a huge bunch of flowers and chocolates by the contractor Esh Property Services, to mark the 3,000th milestone. Dale and Valley Homes have 4,300 properties, mostly former council houses and all protected by buy to let property insurance, they hope to have their remaining homes upgraded by the end of next year.
Claire Hauxwell, of Dale and Valley Homes, said “We have been steadily working our way through all the council properties in Wear Valley to make sure they meet the Decent Homes standard, a national standard to ensure the quality of council homes. The 3,000th home means we are well over half way through the properties and the end is in sight. Customers are really pleased with the quality of work carried out by our partners at Esh, and we have had some brilliant feedback.”
Dale and Valley Homes have praised tenants whose home life has been disrupted while having so much work done in their homes. The feedback has been excellent and it seems tenants appreciate the upgrades that are being done. Dale and Valley Homes was established five years ago to manage, repair and improve all of the council owned housing in the Wear Valley district. They are proud of the work done so far and are looking forward to completing the huge job.