Improvements delight for Carmarthenshire tenants

Hundreds of Carmarthenshire Council housing tenants have benefitted from a multi-million programme to upgrade housing stock.
Carol Edwards, of Hendy, and Iona Davies, of Penygroes , say they feel like they are living in new homes since Carmarthenshire County Council undertook a range of improvements as part of the £203million Carmarthenshire Homes Standard.
The authority is currently updating each of its 9,200 council homes to bring them up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard by 2015.
The programme, which began in 2005, sees a range of improvements including new kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces and energy efficient boilers amongst the internal works.
New uPVC windows and doors are also being installed, cavity wall and loft insulation put in place and external painting to improve the appearance of homes.
Mrs Edwards, who lives in Bronallt, Hendy, said: "I'm thrilled with my new kitchen and bathroom, and my new fireplace. There's much more space now, and I've been able to decorate the house to complement the styles I have chosen. I'm really pleased - it's like living in a new house."
And Mrs Davies, of Waterloo Road, said: "The kitchen is so much easier to look after and keep clean now. Before it was mismatched and no matter how much you cleaned it always looked untidy. The house was also re-wired, and I had a new central heating boiler, fireplace and electric shower fitted - and although I had a range of styles to choose from, I was grateful for the advice given to me by my Tenant Liaison Officer. The workmen were also marvellous, and I have written a letter of thanks because they couldn't have been any better."
The ambitious CHS programme is aimed at improving tenants’ living conditions, making homes more energy efficient and benefiting tenants’ health.
It also ensures that all homes are in a good state of repair and located in a safe and attractive environment.
It also firms part of a wider programme of sustainability and community regeneration.
A recent survey was undertaken with tenants whose homes have been improved.
Of all the tenants asked for their views, 87 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with the improvement work.
Head of Housing, Robin Staines, said: “We have been encouraged at the response of the tenants who have had work undertaken on their homes. It proves to us that we are carrying out the programme effectively, and it has also allowed us to improve in areas where tenants say they are dissatisfied. We are now mid-way through the programme, and we are progressing well.”
Cllr Hugh Evans, Executive Board Member for Housing, added: “Providing good quality, affordable homes that our tenants want to live in is crucial if we are serious about improving health and well-being, promoting social inclusion, reducing fuel poverty and securing sustainable communities. We believe that good quality affordable housing is the bedrock of our communities.”