At GB Electrical & Building Services Ltd, an important part of our work with local communities’ lies in the excellent relationships we have built up with Herefordshire’s housing providers. We realise the unique nature of their needs and move heaven and earth to deliver a complete service that doesn’t just work for them, but also for their tenants. An excellent example of this is our current partnership with Stonewater and the work we are undertaking across 20 of their occupied properties in Kington, a small market town in North Herefordshire.
Two organisations, one shared ethos
Stonewater is a leading Hereford social housing provider, with an important mission to deliver good quality, affordable homes to people who need them the most. The organisation as a whole manage around 34,500 homes in England, many of which are affordable properties for general rent, shared ownership and sale. Stonewater also deliver specialised accommodation such as retirement and supported living schemes, domestic abuse refuges, a dedicated LGBTQ+ Safe Space, and young people’s foyers.
Assessing, Updating & Meeting Deadlines
The properties in which we are working are occupied; with each one soon to be refurbished with excellent quality sanitary ware across all the W/C and bathroom areas. Everything is to be updated, including flooring, giving our multi-skilled specialised trade teams plenty to keep them busy as they work closely together to deliver the very best for Stonewater and their tenants.
Many of these complete refurbishments involve bathrooms that have baths but showers, so an exciting part of this project involves the installation of showers as well as new baths Stonewater’s tenants to use and enjoy safely. We are glad to say that all work is going to schedule and is due to be complete by late March 2022.
While me might undertake projects like this on a regular basis, our work with Stonewater really gives us a chance to demonstrate our ability to treat every client as an individual, because this is a key aspect of the project. Some tenants for example, may find life easier with a walk-in shower or wetroom as opposed to a conventional bath and shower. GB can do that, so working closely with every housing provider to assess each client’s needs is a vital part of these projects.
Planning to allay concerns
It is quite normal for anyone having work done in their homes to worry about having access to everything; this is particularly the case with bathrooms. However, we plan all work carefully with a focus on minimising the time that facilities are out of action. That involves replacing toilets on the same day, baths on the same day and ensuring in advance that every tenant always has something to use.
Many clients of course, ask what our teams will do if they need to use facilities; no one likes to imagine heavy workboots and busy tradesmen using their shiny new bathrooms. Fortunately we always reassure our clients that it doesn’t happen. We ensure that our teams have their own welfare facilities, including hand wash and toilet onsite so we never need to impose and disturb tenants.
If you would like to learn more about the work we do with Herefordshire housing associations, get in touch via our website, or call us on Hereford 01432272188.