Stevenage Leaseholders Online

Another letter from Stevenage Homes, another sting for leaseholders.

I have received a letter saying the windows in the Towers represent a category 1 threat under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. This is the highest possible threat. This applies to all windows on the second floor and above which have no window restrictors fitted.

We do have restrictors fitted. But a Health and Safty inspection indicated these are faulty and need replacing at the cost of £24 a window that’s £144 for the flat. Not that they can be replaced. They are an integral part of the window.

Current Restrictors

What the fault in the current restrictors are the letter does not say. But mine are still working fine. They have three settings, normal setting is restricted to 22 degrees giving a four inch gap. When set to “R” there is an eight inch gap.

To clean the outside of the windows I open the windows fully and turn them 180 degrees.This is not an easy task. You have to pull the left hand side restrictor out whilst they are both set to ‘R’. The restrictors are set above my shoulder height and can not be reached by children.

The new Jackloc restrictors are lockable using a key. The letter says that they may be left unlocked if anyone chooses to have their windows wide open. So what extra safety will be achieved for this expense is questionable.

The decision has been based on an inspection of the design of the flat. Perhaps it was the orriginal design. These windows were fitted since the flats were built.

The cost for this work restrictors in the Towers alone will be will £6624. If they are doing the same for all the flats in Stevenage it must come to over £40,000.

Not that tenants will notice, only leaseholders have these costs itemised, everyone else pays through their rent or rates.

The letter says that Stevenage Homes are:

acting on behalf of Stevenage Borough Council (“your Landlord”)

and:

The Landlord considers it necessary to carry out these works following a health and safety inspection…

It was Stevenage Borough Council who fitted these window with the “faulty” restrictors in the first place.

I will try to find out why these restritors are considered faulty.

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