Improvement works programme
We launched our £70m homes improvement programme in 2007 and over the past year it has continued to go from strength to strength.
We met the Government's deadline of bringing homes up to the Decent Homes Standard by the end of 2010. Now we are working on further improvements to residents' homes to bring them up to the Merlin standard. Since February 2007 we have installed:
- 4,730 new kitchens
- 3,270 new bathrooms
- 3,932 central heating systems
In addition:
- 3,104 properties have had high security external doors fitted
- 1,533 properties have had their windows replaced
- 780 properties have been rewired
- 45 roofs have been replaced.
What is the Merlin Standard?
Having met the Decent Homes Standard we are now working to bring all our homes up to the Merlin Standard by 2013.
A Merlin Standard home will have:
• a kitchen less than 20 years old
• a bathroom less than 30 years old
• external doors that provide high levels of security and insulation
• modern energy-efficient heating
• UPVC or aluminium-framed double-glazed windows (expect in the rare cases where this is not permitted by planning restrictions)
• modern regularly-inspected electrics
To do this, in the period 2007 – 2013 we will install:
• new kitchens in 4,000 homes
• new bathrooms in 2,800 homes
• high security UPVC/composite external doors in 5,300 homes
• new central heating systems, including modern energy efficient storage heaters where appropriate, in 2,350 homes,
• new energy-efficient boilers in 2,600 homes
• UPVC-framed doubled glazed windows in 1,690 homes
• parking and charging facilities for electric scooters at our sheltered schemes, where this meets the future needs of residents and where it is possible to do so
• Lifts in sheltered schemes with more than two storeys that do not currently have them.
• security and parking improvements in consultation with residents
Who’s at the door?
All our employees and contractors have identification badges complete with photograph.
You must ask to see an identification badge before you let someone claiming to be from Merlin Housing Society into your home. If you are unsure who someone is do not let them into your home. Instead ask for their identification badge, close the door and call our freephone repairs line number, 0800 953 0340, to get their details checked.
If you call out of normal office hours, and no-one is available to check the details, tell the caller that it is inconvenient and that you will re-arrange the visit after speaking to our offices.
Your safety is our priority. None of our employees will be offended if you feel you need to do this.