Offering a variety of housing services, Rykneld Homes promote independent living in a safe and comfortable environment.
Rykneld Homes is responsible for the management, maintenance and improvement of over 8,100 properties and the neighbourhoods in which they are located on behalf of North East Derbyshire District Council.
Rykneld Homes work closely with the council to provide safe homes using the Choice Move system. The Choice Move System consists of five steps; first of all, applicants must register before selecting a property followed by the process of bidding on the property before receiving an offer from the landlord and finally giving feedback. Anyone who has been accepted onto the North East Derbyshire District Council’s Housing Register can use the Choice Move system. Rykneld Homes ensure that tenants are safe and happy in their homes. All tenants have to sign a Tenancy Agreement, which sets out their rights and responsibilities regarding anti-social behaviour as well as what to expect from living in a Rykneld Homes property.
Following this, Neighbourhood Support Officers carry out monthly estate inspections. The purpose of them is to ensure that any issues developing on estates are identified and dealt with. This could include issues such as fly tipping, graffiti or overgrown gardens.
Rykneld Homes offer a range of financial support to help people who may be struggling to pay rent; they assist tenants in taking control of finance, dealing with debt, saving money and gaining access to further financial support.
All Rykneld Homes are finished to a ‘Decent Homes’ standard. The Tenant Liaison Officer will arrange a convenient appointment to carry out the Home Condition Survey which will help to establish what work is needed to bring homes up to the Decent Homes Standard. Homes can receive a new kitchen and bathroom; a designer will offer a new layout and a choice of a range of kitchen units, handles, worktops and tiles.
Rykneld Homes have developed a new energy saving plan, aiming to save people money on bills, as well as being beneficial to the environment. Tenants are being provided with water and energy saving information and the group are working to reduce carbon emissions.
Regeneration projects are being carried out across the district to improve the quality of life for tenants and to improve the thermal efficiency of homes which are difficult to heat because of their non-traditional construction type by fitting external insulation and energy efficient gas heating. 99 defective ‘Tarran’ bungalows in Eckington and Killamarsh have been replaced with 129 new homes. The £11 million new build scheme will be completed in 2015 and include a mixture of bungalows and family homes and has already won the company a Gold Award in the Community Relations category in the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Pride Awards.
Additionally, works start in March 2014 on a new build scheme to replace 9 pre-fabricated houses with 25 new, energy efficient properties as well as major refurbishment on five blocks of flats at Stonelow Green in Dronfield. Works are underway with the government’s Affordable Warmth Scheme to provide gas heating replacements to pockets of housing in rural areas and fit energy efficient gas heating systems in the homes. Work is underway to fit an energy efficient heating system in a block of 30 sheltered flats in Chay Cross, to help reduce fuel poverty for vulnerable tenants.
Rykneld Homes also prides itself in providing support for independent living, regarding tenants over the age of 55. These tenants work with Independent Living Wardens to create a support plan; identifying steps which should be taken to maintain vulnerable tenant’s independence. The service focuses on Security, health and safety, healthy lifestyle, money and debt management, safeguarding and protection from abuse, community involvement and keeping active, including contact with friends and family. The Independent Living Wardens will work with residents in their homes to enable them to access the support they need and act as a key contact between a range of services to promote and bring greater independence, self confidence and enjoyment of life.
For more information visit http://www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
