New kid on the block Liverpool Mutual Homes may be just a fledgling housing association but the organisation is hoping to make its mark on the city with its £300 million, five year improvement programme.

Following stock transfer from Liverpool City Council on 1 April 2008, LMH now manages over 15,000 homes in the city.

LMH is for the whole of Liverpool and is a social housing organisation with properties in all areas of the city.

Steve Coffey, the chief executive of LMH, has over 20 years experience in the social housing field and leads the team in ensuring improvement programmes are delivered and service provision meets the highest standards.

Coffey says: “This is an important and exciting time for tenants in Liverpool and for LMH staff. The resources for shaping investment in homes and improving housing services is now in our hands and under our direct control. It is a tough task but I am confident that our team has the skills, ability and commitment needed to deliver better services and improved homes.

“Being tenant led, LMH will ensure tenants remain at the heart of the organisation and involved in decision making at every level. 2008 is a big year for tenants and for the city. We have a strong and experienced management team which is essential in ensuring LMH is able to deliver housing services for tenants throughout Liverpool.”

LMH is very much a tenant led organisation, with tenants holding the majority of seats on the management board, which is also made up of housing specialists, councillors and independent members who have a broad range of experience.

A total of eight tenant places are allocated on the board and rather than merely being asked for views, tenants lead on how services are managed.

“Tenants have already been instrumental in developing a strong set of values which remain at the heart of LMH and continue to play a crucial role in all the important decisions taken,” says Coffey. LMH have also started setting up local area boards made up of tenants and leaseholders. These will have a major role in shaping investment plans, setting standards and monitoring contractors and service delivery.

The Government has set a ‘Decent Homes’ standard for all homes managed by social housing providers but LMH is committed to ensuring that all of its homes exceed the Government’s ‘Decent Homes’ standard, with the new LMH Standard.

Coffey said: “Tenants have always said that they want more than the Decent Homes standard, including a major improvement in the condition of their homes and the quality of housing services they receive.

“The new LMH Standard will see greater investment in homes and includes double glazing, new kitchens and bathrooms where needed, replacement front and back doors and central heating systems. Additional areas of focus such as environmental work will also be addressed. As well as improving homes, the significantly improved standards of energy efficiency will reduce heating and energy bills for tenants.

“LMH has also started to deal with the significant backlog of repairs which has arisen over the past few years.”

Work is well underway on bringing the city’s homes up to the LMH Standard and in excess of £1million per week is being spent on improving homes and services.

This means that 50 properties per week will have new double glazed windows fitted and another 50 per week will have new double glazed windows fitted and another 50 per cent week will have central heating installed.

LMH is working in partnership with experienced and established housing management contractors to ensure that tenants receive the very best levels of service and has the resources needed to repair, improve and maintain homes and to provide the quality of service that tenants deserve.

Liverpool Housing Trust has been appointed in the north and north west of the city, Plus Housing in the south and north and Pinnacle PSG in the east. Nearly £300million will be spent on improving homes and services over the next five years and over the next 30 years, almost £900million will be spent on maintaining services and homes.

But for LMH investment is about so much more than bricks and mortar and as well as improvements to homes, the housing association wants residents to feel a sense of pride in where they live.

As a result LMH will be investing in projects designed to address community issues such as anti-social behaviour.

Coffey said: “We will strive to improve people’s lives and are fully inclusive in the way we operate. Our aim is to improve local quality of life and remove any barriers which exist. We believe in working with tenants towards achieving a positive future for our homes, our communities and the city of Liverpool.”

Over the past year, LMH has held a number of events within its local neighbourhoods from festivals and fun-days to clean-ups and consultations.

Recently its roving mobile display unit has been out-and-about, showing tenants what they can expect from LMH.

The unit includes a kitchen and bathroom display to give tenants a better idea of some of the proposed home improvements and the quality of the fixtures and fittings.

Clean-ups organised by LMH have organised a week-long event in Thornside Walk in Gateacre to tackle its growing litter and environmental problems.

There had been a spate of people dumping litter and waste over balconies and blocking fire escapes, which was presenting a hazard as well as causing a mess.

The clean-up, which was supported by local residents and community groups, saw a week long programme of environmental improvements and skips were provided for residents to dump any unwanted household items.

And LMH is keen to bring a fun twist to its drive to improve the quality of life for its tenants.

In one of its initiatives to provide support for tenants in sheltered housing a Wii games console league has been set up.

Residents at Portland Gardens, L5 are proving that computer games aren’t just for kids and are playing virtual ten pin bowling, tennis and boxing on the widescreen TV in the communal lounge.

The scheme, which has received the backing and support of Age Concern, is proving a popular way for residents to get on their feet and enjoy some healthy competition.

LMH has come a long way in the past couple of months and is making a huge difference in the communities that it serves. However there is still much more to be done and it is keen to build on its already strong foundations.