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£5m worth of
healthier homes
MORE than £5m worth of
improvements has been carried out by landlords to their properties
as a result of inspections by Liverpool City Council's Healthy Homes
team.
The Healthy Homes programme aims to prevent ill health and injury
because of poor housing conditions. In the last 5 years
environmental health officers from the team have carried out health
and safety inspections at more than 4,000 properties leading to
private landlords improving their premises. Work ranges from
removing the causes of mould to eliminating life threatening
structural defects. Landlords who fail to act will be
prosecuted.
Councillor Ann O'Byrne, cabinet member for housing, said;-
"Reaching £5m of improvements is a milestone for Healthy Homes. It
means that money has been spent in allowing tenants to live in
healthier, warmer and safer homes. But it is also money which
improves the local neighbourhoods and keeps up market values.
That, however, is secondary to making sure people are housed in high
standard properties the effect of that on their wellbeing is
incalculable."
Dr Sandra Davies, Director of Public Health, said:- "We know
that there is a large and growing body of evidence linking adverse
health effects with poor housing conditions. Research based on
various sources of housing and health data suggests that poor
housing is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular
diseases, respiratory diseases and depression and anxiety."
The Healthy Homes team can be contacted on Freephone:- 0800 0121 754
Here are 2 examples of the work carried out by the Healthy Homes
team:-
Case Study 1
An elderly man who had been living in his rented home in Wavertree
since the 1950's was recovering from a foot injury/infection at a
care home when his social worker notified the Healthy Homes team of
her concerns about the condition of his home. He had been expressing
a strong desire to return to his home but there were concerns over
its safety.
An inspection by an environmental health officer found a number of
serious hazards including:-
► Floor joist ends rotted through causing suspended wooden ground
floor to move by approximately 9 inches and at risk of collapse.
► One small gas fire in ground floor meaning the house was
excessively cold. There was no fixed heating in any other part of
his home which had single glazed timber windows w which had no loft
insulation.
► Carbon monoxide . No available gas safety report for gas fire
► Food safety - insanitary and inadequate provision for storing or
preparing food. Most appliances/fittings were more than 40 years old
and there was an Insanitary and porous kitchen floor.
An attempted forced entry had left the door with a poorly made
repair increasing likelihood of entry by intruder.
A notice was served compelling the letting agents to meet the
officer on site to discuss safety and health issues.
The landlord agreed to remove all hazards before the tenant's return
and all the works were completed within 7 weeks including: the
suspended timber floor was rebuilt; a combi boiler and central
heating system supplied and fitted; the loft insulated; UPVC double
glazing installed throughout; a new fitted kitchen with new flooring
and cooker; a new bathroom suite installed; the front entrance door
and frame were renewed and the entire property redecorated.
Case Study 2
A woman who was born at a house in Anfield and returned following
the death of her parents in the 1980's, having only moved a few doors
away when she married. She was on a regulated tenancy with a low
rent. The property had not received any attention for many years
with:-
► No gas central heating system,
► Original sash windows rotten and draughty,
► One of the gas fires did not work,
► No handrails
► Kitchen was in a dilapidated condition, the lean to was
collapsing,
► Electrical installation was dated.
However, she did not want to be rehoused.
The owners and agent did not agree to carry out the remedial works
on an informal basis saying that the condition of the property was
reflected in the low rent, and the tenant was responsible for some
of the repairs.
As a consequence, statutory Improvement Notices were served.
An
appeal was lodged with the Residential Property Tribunal to dispute
the notices and the property was also put up for sale in an auction.
The property was purchased at auction and the appeal to the
Residential Property Tribunal did not proceed.
The new owner acknowledged that remedial works were required at the
property and agreed to carry them out.
He could not end the tenancy to proceed with the remedial works as
this was a regulated tenancy.
He did not have another property in
the vicinity to relocate the tenant but found a rental property in
the next street and that landlord agreed to let it on a temporary
basis.
The improvements included:-
► Full double glazing and UPVC doors fitted front and back.
► Internally, stripping back to the brick and new stud partition
walls were constructed.
► Full rewiring and re-plastering from top to bottom.
► Fitting of a brand new kitchen as well as a bathroom to include a
walk-in shower
► An intruder alarm being fitted and a hard wired fire detection
system.
► The removal of the lean to.
► A handrail fitted to the stairs.
► A gas central healing system and loft insulation installed via a Warmfront grant applied for by the officer.
Overall, the property was fully renovated from top to bottom, with
the new landlords investing £25,000 in it and is now free from
serous hazards.
The workers also helped by taking the woman's post to her every day
and kept her updated.
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Local apprentice
joins the fast track to a career in government
MAXWELL Dixon from
Liverpool was among 200 talented school leavers welcomed to
government last week as Civil Service Fast Track Apprentices by
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Francis Maude.
Launched in 2013, the Fast Track Apprenticeship scheme offers
18 to 21 year olds who don't want to go to university a credible
alternative to the Civil Service graduate Fast Stream. They are
placed in Executive Officer roles with real responsibility and
genuine career prospects; working on the Government's digital
agenda in Newcastle, helping people into work in Birmingham, or
working with ministers in Whitehall.
Maxwell recently began an apprenticeship at HMRC as a Front Line
Manager in Benefits and Credits, looking at Childcare claims. He
found out about the Fast Track Apprenticeship scheme while still at
school, and applied the year afterwards, and is delighted to have
the opportunity to begin a career in the Civil Service.
He says:- "I would definitely recommend Fast Track Apprentices
to other young people. It is a great opportunity. I didn't want to
go to university, and after leaving school I worked at Aldi for 10
months but then I applied for this apprenticeship and was
successful.
I have only recently started the job and am still going through the
tasks and processes – I am the youngest in the office at the moment
but everyone is very friendly and helpful.
The Deputy Prime Minister's reception was a brilliant experience. I
got to meet lots of the other young apprentices and will definitely
keep in touch with them."
The apprenticeship scheme is part of the Government's drive to
increase opportunities in the Civil Service for people of all
backgrounds and create a Civil Service fit for 21st Britain. It
gives apprentices the chance to earn as they learn and develop their
skills at the heart of government.
Applications for the 200 places on the scheme this year – twice the
number available in 2013 – rose by 30% to almost 3,000.
For the 3rd intake, in 2015, the number of Fast Track
Apprenticeships on offer is set to double again to 400. The aim is
to increase the places available to 500 each year, making the scheme
comparable in size to the long-established Civil Service Fast Stream
graduate programme, and as well-respected.
You can register your interest in applying for the 2015 scheme here.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:- "It's important that
schemes like this get the recognition they deserve, marking a clear
step away from the barely concealed snobbery around vocational
education. Apprentices make a fantastic contribution to our
society and I want young people from every background to know that
if they choose to pursue their career in the Civil Service, work
hard and prove themselves, nothing should stop them from making
their way right to the top."
Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said:- "The
Civil Service already employs some of Britain's most talented
people, but this Government launched the Fast Track Apprenticeship
scheme to attract those who have chosen not to go to university.
This year's 200 new apprentices will be joined next year by another
400. The scheme opens the door to a challenging and rewarding Civil
Service career."
Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service Sir Jeremy Heywood
said:- "With the Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme we want to
provide the same high-quality opportunities for school leavers that
we offer graduates through our Fast Stream. The Fast Track also
allows us to draw on a broader talent pool for the future leaders of
the Civil Service. For the apprentices we are welcoming today, this
is the start of an exciting journey on which they will develop the
skills and experience they need for a career in the Civil Service
and a chance to make a difference. If you want to join them,
register now to avoid missing out on the opportunity."
Fast Track Apprentices benefit from a structured, 2 year training
programme and are expected to develop a range of skills. At the end
of the scheme, they will have the opportunity to apply internally as
permanent employees for other Civil Service career opportunities.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Francis Maude congratulated this
year's successful applicants at an induction event in central
London, on the theme "Understanding the Civil Service."
Last chance to
nominate Merseyside volunteers for Queen's Award
MERSEYSIDE residents are
being encouraged to nominate local volunteers for a Queen's Award
for Voluntary Service before the deadline at the end of this month.
The prestigious award for volunteer groups across the UK recognises
their outstanding work in local communities. Any group of 2 or
more people can be nominated that has participated in voluntary work
for more than 3 years.
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service was created in 2002 to
celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Winners are announced each
year on 2 June, the anniversary of the Queen's Coronation. This
year there were 111 winners representing a variety of inspiring
organisations.
Brooks Newmark, Minister for Civil Society, said:- "Every day
across the country, fantastic voluntary groups work with their
communities to make a real difference to people in their local area.
If you know of a voluntary group that has gone above and beyond to
help people, I would like to urge you to nominate them for a Queen's
Award for Voluntary Service."
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service Award Committee Chair,
former BBC newsreader Martyn Lewis CBE, added:- "At grassroots
level in communities across the land, there are millions of people
identifying and tackling issues and problems that affect our society
in all kinds of ways.
They give selflessly of time and effort to make our country better
for everyone. It is people like these who deserve to be recognised
by the Queen's Award." Winners receive a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive
commemorative crystal. These are presented by Her Majesty's Lord
Lieutenants at special ceremonies arranged by the Lieutenancy
offices. Representatives of award recipients may also be invited to
one of the Royal Garden Party events in the summer of 2015.
The closing date for nominations for the 2014 Awards is Tuesday 30
September 2014. More details are available
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