Helping hand for residents

From the archive, first published Monday 26th Mar 2007.

A pioneering hassle-free solution to getting odd jobs done around the home is being introduced by the district's biggest community landlord.

Bradford Community Housing Trust has just launched its new handyman scheme.

It means tenants can get help from the housing trust's workforce to get rid of those niggling jobs that need to be done - from assembling flat pack drawers to shifting a sofa, tidying up a garden path or fitting doorchains.

The scheme has been developed by the housing trust's Contract Services team.

Tenants living in east, south west and city areas of Bradford can take advantage of it now.

By spring, the scheme will be rolled out to the Trust's three other areas in North Bradford, Shipley and Aire-Wharfe.

To book a handyman all tenants need to do is call into their nearest Trust office and buy a voucher costing up to £35. One voucher covers one visit and up to two hours work.

People who have the Trust's own Loyalty Cards can get £5 discount off each voucher.

Delroy Beverley, Bradford Community Housing Trust's director of contract services, said the new scheme will give peace of mind to people wanting a trusted and qualified person to get jobs done at a convenient time.

The Handyman scheme is being run separately to the day-to-day property repairs carried out by the Trust.

Pensioners George and Barbara Cowley, 65 and 81, were among the first tenants to use the scheme.

Mr Cowley said: "There's always jobs needing doing. I've had some paint and paper in for a few months to decorate the hall but haven't got round to it myself. It's good to know we can call up the handyman service and know we'll be getting someone reliable to the job and fix up a definite time for them to come and get on with it."

Partially-sighted tenant Sheila Robinson, 76, said: "I need all the help I can get so the Handyman scheme will be good for me. I've just got them to fit me a grab rail in the bathroom and I've got some kitchen cupboards that are sticking and need sorting too. They are little jobs but I could never do them myself."

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