Tenant and Leaseholder Annual Report: We Think Forward
As part of our We Think Forward aim, we're:
Developing Open Housing
We want to improve the service we offer to our tenants and our ICT system is a big part of this. We're continuing to review our processes to find easier and more streamlined ways of working. We want to free up staff time so that we can spend more time contacting and supporting customers.
Our future developments are:
- improving how we schedule repairs so that we can deliver more housing repairs jobs each day and therefore get to you more quickly
- developing the system so that you can raise your own repairs through the online portal at any time of the day and book an appropriate time and date to have the repair fixed. We plan to make this available in the next 18 to 24 months
Reducing carbon emissions
We’re making your homes more energy efficient to help you keep warmer and reduce bills at a time of high energy prices. We’re also improving the quality of your homes, upgrading ventilation and reducing the amount of carbon they release.
This work is driven by our Retrofit Action Plan. Since this plan was agreed, we have secured over £1 million of government funding. An extra £1 million is being invested from the council’s own Housing Revenue Account.
The money is being used to upgrade insulation to walls, floors and lofts in over 113 homes. Good quality extractor fans are also being installed to help keep homes warmer and healthier.
Alongside this, Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels, insulation improvements and other measures have been carried out to 28 homes this year. And some homes are having new, A-rated double-glazed windows installed.
Homes that need this work most urgently and which have lower energy performance ratings are being improved first.
Additional government funding is expected during 2024 to improve as many homes as possible in coming years. We’re also funding the York Energy Advice service. This gives people advice on how to use less energy, lower fuel bills and release less carbon. More homes will be upgraded in years to come and we’re planning for the investments needed to do this. We’ll be holding events and tenant consultations in 2024 to talk with you about home energy and improvements to your home. Watch out for details if you would like to join the conversation.