Social Housing tenant
Before the work began, Mary’s home was draughty due to poorly fitted windows, and heat retention was low due to little insulation. This meant Mary was uncomfortable and struggled to keep herself warm during the colder months, and was using a lot of energy to make sure she was warm enough.
An assessment was completed on Mary’s home, which concluded it was eligible for:
We were mindful of Mary’s age and limited mobility, and therefore made sure we briefed our team and subcontractors before the work began so they were conscious to take extra care. This minimised disruption and gave Mary a better experience. This is reflected in Mary’s feedback, as she commented that it wasn’t as messy and as noisy as she was expecting it to be, and appreciated everyone checking in on her.
Due to her limited mobility, Mary is mostly confined to the downstairs of her house, meaning she was home during the installation process. We provided Mary with a face mask and ear defenders to offer extra protection whilst the work was being completed. We also took extra care to leave the property clean and tidy.
“Usually, when you get things done to your house, it’s messy and noisy, but I didn't experience excess noise. They’ve all been nice; they spoke when they arrived and said goodbye when they were leaving. Everyone has been lovely and checked in on me throughout the works and afterwards.”
Social Housing tenant
Before the work began, Sue’s home was cold and draughty due to ill-fitting windows. Lack of insulation in the roof and cavity areas also meant the property was cold and didn’t retain heat very efficiently. This caused Sue to be uncomfortable in her home and at risk of aggravation of her existing health conditions, which can be worsened by the cold.
An assessment was completed on Sue’s home, which concluded it was eligible for:
After we installed the smart heating controls, our Customer Liaison Officer, Ann, supported Sue in feeling confident using them by giving her a full rundown, making sure to explain things slowly and clearly.
After the work was complete, Sue commented on a noticeable difference since the new windows and doors were installed, commenting on a reduction in draught and cold.
Sue also particularly benefited from the installation of dMEV extraction fans, as part of the ventilation upgrade, as their ability to detect moisture and turn on automatically means she doesn’t have to pull a cord to switch them on. This is something that was previously a struggle for her, given her health conditions, which can affect her mobility.
Sue commented on how the disruption to her property was minimal and how the work was completed quicker than she was expecting. She was delighted by all the tradespeople who entered her home as well as our team, especially our Customer Liaison Officer Ann, with whom she had the most contact.
“They did it a lot quicker than I expected. The tradespeople have been very good; they’ve tried to keep out of the way as much as possible. Ann has been very good. It’s been as if they’ve been and gone; they’ve not been a pain.”
Social Housing tenant
Before the work began, Denise’s home was draughty and cold due to poor insulation and ill-fitted external doors and windows. She was struggling with rising energy costs. This was causing Denise to be both uncomfortable in her home and to use her heating a lot to keep herself warm during the colder months.
An assessment was completed on Denise’s home, which concluded it was eligible for:
During installation, one challenge we came across was an existing shed that was attached to the side of the property. The position of the shed was a hindrance to cavity extraction and refill, and Denise was unable to remove it herself.
To complete the installation effectively, we arranged for our labourers to remove the shed and build a temporary shelter for Denise to store her belongings safely.
We completed the installation as efficiently as possible, so as to cause minimal disruption. This made a positive impression on Denise, as she commented on how the work was completed quickly, whilst maintaining a high standard.
Our Customer Liaison Officer, Ann and Site Manager Luke also made a positive impression on Denise, as she commented that she felt she could call them at any time and they’d pop round.
Once all work was complete, we visited Denise, along with two staff members from Alt Valley Community Trust (AVCT), Danielle and Alan, to provide further information and support on how to save energy at home, as part of AVCT’s delivery of the Energy Redress Project. This supported Denise to get more out of the work completed and further improve her home’s energy efficiency.
“Normally, when people come to do work, it takes ages, and they have to come back days later. These guys, they come in and get the job done.”
Social Housing tenant
Jacqueline and her husband Roy are both pensioners and were struggling with ongoing increases in energy prices.
Before the work began, their property had damp, which was affecting their breathing. Jacqueline and her husband also commented on how cold their home felt.
An assessment was completed on their home, which concluded it was eligible for:
We also completed a damp course on the areas of the home that had damp, making sure to redecorate the area after we had completed the work to the same design as the rest of the room.
Conscious of the tenants’ breathing difficulties, we ensured that the work areas were cordoned off with full-length plastic covering between rooms to minimise dust spreading around the whole property. We also ensured there was adequate ventilation throughout the process.
One of the challenges we faced was sourcing wallpaper that matched the rest of the room, as the company that supplied the original wallpaper was no longer trading. Jaqueline was concerned that her dining room would look mismatched. We took samples to a variety of shops and matched the paper as closely as possible to the original and gave a full coat of paint to align the old with the new. This resulted in Jacqueline being happy with the work and how her dining room looked afterwards.
Jaqueline commented on how the tradespeople who worked on her home made her feel comfortable by chatting and being considerate of her, especially when she was home alone.
Once all work was complete, we visited Jacqueline, along with two staff members from Alt Valley Community Trust (AVCT), Danielle and Alan, to provide further information and support on how to save energy at home, as part of AVCT’s delivery of the Energy Redress Project. This supported Jacqueline and Roy to get more out of their energy-saving measures and further improve their home’s energy efficiency.
“You couldn’t have met nicer lads than them [the tradespeople]. Sometimes I was here on my own with them, but they always made me feel comfortable.”