Boost for tenants as £4m to be spent on improving homes

A SOCIAL landlord which took over more than 1,000 properties on a rundown Hull estate two years ago has pledged to spend a further £4m carrying out home improvements.

Riverside, which took control of 1,184 homes on North Bransholme from Hull Council in November 2010, has already invested £14.5m on renovation projects.

Operations manager Carl Mitchell said: “Since we’ve been on North Bransholme we’ve already invested over £14.5m renovating the current homes, including installing gas central heating for the first time. We’ve started work on the first new builds in the area for 40 years and we’ve just agreed the first sale on a scheme called Own Place, which brings back empty properties into use to help first-time buyers onto the property ladder.

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“But it’s not all bricks and mortar. We’ve invested over £5,000 in community projects from school social clubs to the annual beach party. We’ve also appointed an employment and training officer, energy advisor and money advisor to tackle unemployment, fuel poverty and financial exclusion.”

He added: “Looking forward, we will invest a further £4m in current properties - including fitting more new kitchens and bathrooms and converting some bedsits. The first residents will also move into their new build homes in spring.

“In the new year we are also launching an improved environmental service and community engagement activities. The service – called Your Place - will tackle graffiti, fly-tipping and dog fouling as well as providing landscaping.”

A total of 56 per cent of tenants voted in favour of the transfer and 43 per cent against. A report in 2009 revealed that one area of the estate was in the worst one per cent in the country for crime and another was the 29th worst for education and skills.

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