Property Services

The Property Services Department employees twenty seven members of staff, which includes a skilled and qualified in-house Workforce of eleven.

The department is ultimately responsible for the improvements and repair of Worthing Homes stock, including the company's health and safety duties. The department also provides professional services for Worthing Borough Council and Guild Care.

The department comprises three teams:

Asset Team

The Asset team is responsible for all reactive and planned maintenance works with twelve staff managed by our Asset Manager. In summary, they are responsible for our day to day repairs, empty properties, out of hours emergencies, major improvements, cyclical works such as gas servicing and external painting, as well as the overall asset management of the stock. This team also employs our Health and Safety Officer who ensures we meet our statutory obligations.

Operations Team

The Operations team is our in-house workforce of eleven operatives and is known as Greenspace and Homespace. The teams are managed by our Operations Manager and are responsible for empty homes repairs, day to day repairs and grounds maintenance, which includes the management of all our open spaces, play areas and shrubs/hedges.

Development Team

Development is a team of three, who source new development opportunities and obtain funding from the local authority and Housing Corporation to build new homes for rent. Upon completion these are managed on a day to day basis by the Asset Team.

Finally, we will also provide support to Worthing Borough Council in a civil emergency.

 

Property Services Structure Chart (18k pdf file)

 

How to decorate

 

Here are some handy hints and tips on decorating your home.

 

How to decorate – residents guide

 

 

Decorating voucher scheme

 

This scheme applies to residents that have been issued with a voucher for redecorating works. The attached booklet tells you how the scheme works.

 

Decorating voucher scheme guide

 

 

Improving the maintenance of your home…

Worthing Homes is very pleased to announce that P H Beck has been successful in their tender for Worthing Homes' responsive maintenance works.

There was a lot of interest in our tender and after a formal tender exercise; negotiations took place with the lowest two tenderers. P H Beck started on the new contract on 6 May 2008, which will run for almost 7 years, finishing on 31 March 2015.

This is great news for Worthing Homes and our customers. By working together with Becks, we propose to make a good service even better. We know through our own feedback, as well as that received from the recent Status survey (carried out by the National Housing Federation), that our repairs service is considered to be very good. However, we have taken the opportunity to make some improvements.

So what is different?

What does this mean for you – our customers?

P H Beck has committed to buy new vehicles as well as ensuring all their operatives, many who you probably already know, will arrive at your home in a smart and presentable manner. P H Beck has also signed up to our 5 excellence commitments for responsive repairs, which are to:

  1. Always greet you by your name
  2. Be polite at all times
  3. Get the job right first time
  4. Provide you with quality workmanship
  5. Leave your home clean and tidy

Also, to ensure we keep waste to a minimum, P H Beck will be recycling as much material as possible. This will be kept and stored at our new depot which is currently under construction at Martlet Way industrial estate, more about this later.

Appointments

As before, P H Beck will always try and arrange an appointment with you to carry out the repair to your home. If they are unable to contact you by telephone, they will write asking that you contact them to arrange a mutually convenient date and time.

New handyman service

As you know, Worthing Homes is responsible for maintaining your home. However, there are some items of work we do not carry out. This is where the new handyman service can help.

Typical handyman jobs could be:

Fixing Cleaning Clearing *

Pictures / mirror Patios Garden rubbish

Assembling furniture Paths Fridges

Minor repairs Decking

Putting up shelves Sanitaryware

Curtain rails / curtains Ponds * (an extra charge for

Erecting sheds tipping would be

Treating fences payable)

Paving

This work can be carried out for a fixed price, agreed before the works start or for a charge of £20 up to an hour (inclusive of VAT). Remember, a lot can be achieved in 1 hour. For example, in this time, you could have 2 curtain poles put up, plus fixing all those bathroom accessories such as cabinet, toilet roll holder, mirror and towel rail. For more information, talk to one of P H Beck's staff when they are in your home or alternatively contact them on 01273 262 720 or e-mail info@phbeck.co.uk telling them you are a Worthing Homes resident.

The handyman work should be agreed between you and P H Beck, with payment made direct to Beck's.

The items Worthing Homes are responsible for are explained in your copy of the resident handbook. If you are unable to find your copy please talk to your Neighbourhood Housing Officer or alternatively look on our improved website.

 

Greenspace and Homespace new depot

At our second attempt, we have received planning permission for our new depot. This will be located at the old garage site at the Martlet Way industrial estate.

The depot will be a permanent base for our Homespace and Greenspace teams. We are providing an office and kitchen, as well as shower and storage facilities for the teams.

Work on the depot started in early May and should take about 6 weeks to complete. The depot will enable Worthing Homes to store recycled materials for re-use, as well as enabling the teams to keep a stock of new materials to minimise delays when we repair your home.