Replacement PVCu doors
The Adults and Housing department is replacing all of the external wooden doors in council housing properties with new PVCu doors in order to modernise and improve the quality of homes across the city.
The PVCu doors are available in three different styles and a variety of bright modern colours - red, burgundy, dark blue and white.
Please note that tenants cannot apply for the work to be done – Council officers use set guidelines to decide which properties are eligible for replacement doors. They then write to the tenants concerned, letting them know that their home has been selected.
As the doors are counted as an improvement to the home, tenants are charged an extra 10 pence per door per week. The charge is reviewed every year along with the rent. Housing Benefit is automatically adjusted so that some or all of the increase is covered if tenants are receiving Housing Benefit.
PVCu doors – the advantages
- Greater security - new PVCu doors are fitted with high security locks and fittings, so tenants can enjoy greater peace of mind, knowing they are much harder to break into than traditional doors. This could also lead to lower household insurance. Door chains and spy holes can be added at the time of fitting.
- Lower heating bills - new doors will help keep the cold out and the heat in. Householders should be able to set their heating at a lower temperature or use their heating less of the time. (The estimated energy savings amount to about £10 per door per year.)
- Fewer draughts – the new doors are double draught-stripped, so the property should be warmer and more comfortable, especially during the autumn and winter months.
- Less decorating - the new units are made of top grade PVCu and finished in a choice of bright modern colours, so they do not need painting, inside or out.
Fitting the new PVCu doors
The work itself should normally only take a day to complete. Before the fitting team arrives, householders are expected to:
- Clear everything from the area surrounding the doors that are due to be replaced and move any furniture out of the way (the fitters will do this if the householder is elderly or disabled)
- Make sure the fitters can get into the property to fit the doors - tenants are asked to let the team know if they are planning to be away on holiday, and the team will try to fit in with their plans
- Make sure that any telephone cables or television aerial that pass through the doorframe have been removed prior to the workers arrival.
- Make sure their family and any visitors follow the ‘safety first’ guidelines:
Safety first
- Keep children well away when the fitters are taking out the old doors and fixing the new ones.
- Do not let children climb any ladders or play with any equipment.
- Keep valuables out of sight and safe while the work is being done.
- If tenants have anything that needs extra protection, they should move it out of the room or add their own extra dustsheet.
- The work may result in some dust and broken glass, so tenants are asked to make sure any pets are kept well away from the working area.
- If tenants find the new doors difficult to open, they must not be forced. Tenants should get in touch with the team on (0116) 299 5204
The fitters will:
- Cover carpets and furniture with dust sheets and clean up afterwards
- Try not to damage any wallpaper (tenants are asked not to redecorate before their new doors are due to be fitted)
- Replace any loose plaster that falls off while the doors are being fitted
- Make sure the householder knows how to open, close and lock the new doors.
The new doors are made and fitted to the highest quality standards. They will last a long time and give many years of trouble free service if certain guidelines are followed:
Cleaning
Use warm soapy water to clean the frames and doors. Any stubborn stains can be wiped off using a non-abrasive cleaner. Do not use abrasive powders or pads, since they will scratch the surface, making the windows harder to clean in future and spoiling the way they look.
Clean the glass panels as you would any window.
Oiling
To keep the hinges working smoothly, give them a couple of drops of light machine oil once a year.
Painting
Do not paint PVCu doors. Paint causes permanent damage and the tenant will have to pay the council to put it right.
Fixings
Do not make holes in the frames or doors. Holes in PVCu are difficult to fill in or cover up.
Paying for your new doors
Because the new doors are counted as an improvement to a council property, your rent will go up. Housing Benefit will automatically be adjusted so that some or all of the increase is covered where tenants are receiving Housing Benefit.
Right to Buy
If tenants are planning to buy their council property under the Right to Buy scheme the city council will not fit any new doors. Tenants must tell the Adults and Housing department if they decide to buy their home before the work starts, otherwise they will be charged for the doors and for the cost of fitting them.
Special needs
If tenants have any special needs, for example because of age or disability, please let us know by contacting the team on (0116) 299 5204.
Problems or complaints
If tenants have any problems with their new doors (for example if they are stiff or won’t lock properly) they should let the team know as soon as possible by phoning (0116) 299 5204