Replacement windows
The City Council has been installing brand new, PVCu double-glazed windows in council housing properties throughout Leicester since 1998. The programme operates on a ‘Worst First’ basis to ensure that tenants with the greatest needs are given priority.
The Council installs around 2,500 replacement windows each year under the scheme, and manufactures all of the windows itself in order to reduce costs.
New PVCu windows offer the following benefits:
- Lower heating bills - double-glazing helps keep the cold out and the heat in – so tenants should be able to set their heating at a lower temperature and/or use their heating system for less of the time.
- Fewer draughts - the new windows are double draught-stripped, so homes should be warmer and more comfortable to live in.
- Less decorating - the new units are made of white plastic (PVCu) which does not need painting – tenants won’t need to paint them inside in future, and the city council won’t need to paint the outside either.
- Less condensation - the new windows are fitted with ventilators, which means there can be a gentle flow of fresh air into the home – so there’s less risk of condensation becoming a problem.
- Greater security - the new windows are also fitted with high security locks and fittings – so householders and their families can enjoy greater peace of mind, knowing they are much harder to break into than the traditional windows they are replacing.
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 windows. They then write to the tenants concerned, letting them know that their home has been selected.
Once you have been selected for the replacement window scheme, you will be sent a letter notifying you of when the work will be carried out – this letter will normally arrive 8 to 10 weeks before the work starts.
The work itself will take one or two days to complete, depending on the size of your property and the number of windows you have.
Before the window fitting team arrives, householders are expected to:
- Clear everything off the window sills, take curtains and blinds down 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 windows - 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 passes through the window frame 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 window fitters are taking out the old windows and fitting the new ones.
- Do not let children climb on any scaffolding or ladders.
- 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 should make sure any pets are kept well away from the working area.
- If tenants find their new windows difficult to open, they must not be forced. Tenants should get in touch with the team on (0116) 299 5204.
The window fitting team 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 windows are due to be fitted)
- Replace any loose plaster that falls off while the windows are being fitted
- Make sure the householder knows how to open, close and lock the new windows.
The new windows 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. 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 as you would any other 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 windows. 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, for example to fix net curtains. Holes in PVCu are difficult to fill in or cover up.
Paying for the new windows
Because the new windows 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.
We will tell you what your increase in rent will be before we start any work.
Right to Buy
If tenants are planning to buy their council property under the Right to Buy scheme the city council will not fit new windows. 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 windows 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 windows (for example if they are stiff, won’t lock properly or mist up between the sheets of glass) they should let the team know as soon as possible by calling (0116) 299 5204.