A series of intensive repair action days is to be introduced across Hackney’s council housing estates following a successful trial during which 20 properties were attended to and an average of three outstanding works were completed at each location within a single day.
Council maintenance teams spent more than seven hours at Fellows Court recently, assembling plumbers, electricians, carpenters, gas engineers and multi-skilled tradespeople to address as many pending repair requests as possible in one visit.
With 190 residential properties on the estate, the team managed to reach just over ten percent of all homes during their one-day deployment.
The works undertaken encompassed remedying damage resulting from water leaks, refitting doors that had swollen, repainting internal walls, treating damp and mould conditions, resolving plumbing faults, fitting new light fixtures and electrical sockets, and repairing UPVC windows.
An inspection of the accessible toilet facilities within the community hall was also conducted, with a replacement unit now scheduled to be procured.
The repair action day was arranged on the estate after tenants had raised concerns about outstanding maintenance issues and forms part of the Council’s broader initiative to enhance response times for repairs and increase tenant satisfaction.
Rather than requiring residents to log individual complaints and await separate appointments, council officers were able to engage directly with householders and assess issues at first hand within their properties.
Tenants expressed appreciation for the chance to interact with maintenance staff personally and have their repair needs evaluated on-site.
Councillor Dylan Law, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Lead for Housing, initiated the repairs action days concept and reported that the inaugural event had received enthusiastic endorsement from the local community.
Numerous residents engaged with the team throughout the day, and a substantial number of persistent maintenance problems were resolved during the same visit, he indicated.
The programme will now be extended to cover all estates throughout the borough on an ongoing basis.
Any repair works that could not be finished on the day have been logged and will be scheduled for completion at a later date.