Welcome to your latest update on our communal cleaning service!
Since our new cleaning contract started, we’ve continued to see an increase in the standard of cleaning from last year. Progress is being monitored through regular site visits by our Estates Team, and you can share feedback about your communal cleaning service at any time. If you have any concerns about the new provider or missed site visits, please contact us.
Our window cleaning programme is ongoing, with communal windows being cleaned across all blocks except tower blocks like Taylor Point and Graham Court, which need a specialist approach. We’re working with New Green to finalise details regarding this approach and hard-to-reach areas will be tackled during deep cleans that are held twice a year.
New Green uses fresh water for every block, carrying clean supplies in their vans to ensure high standards across all cleans. We're currently exploring the best way to share both window cleaning and deep cleaning schedules with customers, and these will be shared as soon as they are available.
Please make sure to remove personal items from communal areas. Not only is this a health and safety risk, it also prevents New Green from being able to clean communal areas. If you are aware of any fly tipping, please let us know as soon as possible. It's helpful to know what items have been dumped, if there is a certain day or time you are noticing this happening and if you have any idea who may be responsible.
By sharing this information with us, we can take steps to preventing it happening again which keeps service charges down. We’re continuing to monitor fly tipping with New Green and work with the local authority who can take further action against individuals for fly tipping.
We are happy for customers join us on site visits where we can. This way, we can address your concerns whilst we’re on site. If you’d like to join one of the team on their visit, simply let us know and we’ll let you know when we’re popping by.
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Are you interested in becoming a block representative?
As a block rep, you’ll join our team on inspections to report back on things like the quality of cleaning and grounds maintenance and any issues within communal areas around your home. For more information email: enquiries@thrivehomes.org.uk or call us on 0800 917 6077.
We’re in the process of arranging visits with representatives and contractors to understand what priorities are for blocks.
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Making sure the current service meets our standards
We’re currently reviewing our Communal Area Standards to make sure it’s clear what our new providers are responsible for and to give clear examples of our standards. The updated standards will be shared as soon as they are available.
Listening to your feedback, it’s clear you want to hear how we’ll make sure our current service meets our standards. We’re continuing to focus on quality assurance and spot checks of sites. We’re also recalling contractors when there have been missed of poorly completed visits.
To ensure we meet our standard, we carry out quality assurance checks at least every three months as part of our estate inspections. Where we have identified issues, we will visit more frequently.
We’re also continuing to:
- have regular meetings with New Green so we can tackle any emerging issues and keep you informed early on
- monitor visits, including carrying out spot checks. Listening to your feedback on areas to improve, we’ll pay close attention to checking surfaces such as railings were wiped down and floors are vacuumed and/or mopped.
Useful links
We're always happy to hear from you, so if you have feedback to share with us or want to let us know what you’d like to hear about in my updates head to: thrivehomes.org.uk/feedback
Adrian Anstee
Senior Estates Officer