Page 10 - Muir Annual Report 2019-2020
P. 10

MAXIMISING RETURNS                                                                                                       Muir launched its comprehensive stock                 from intensive levels of support.
                                                                                                                               condition survey of all Muir homes during
                                                                                                                                                                                     They receive help to access mental
                                                                                                                               the year, to run throughout 2020-21.
                                                                                                                                                                                     health, well-being and community servic-
                ON ASSETS                                                                                                      The survey forms part of a major Prop-                es, gain volunteering experience, train-
                                                                                                                                                                                     ing, employment opportunities, access
                                                                                                                               erty Services investment programme
                                                                                                                               which will see the Association kick-start
                                                                                                                                                                                     items to settle in their home, and more.
                                                                                                                               a new five-year planned programme of                  food banks, obtain funding for essential
                                                                                                                               works, providing residents with upgrad-
                                                                                                                               ed homes once the survey is complete.

                                                                                                                               This demonstrates our commitment to
                                                                                                                               providing homes residents can be proud
                                                                                                                               of, which continue to meet and emulate
                                                                                                                               the Decent Homes Standard.

                                                                                                                               It will allow us to develop enhanced ener-
                                                                                                                               gy efficiency strategies and support our
                                                                                                                               Health and Safety responsibilities.

        Muir homes need to be fit for
        now and the future.


                                                                                                                                                                                     Muir’s Money Advisors handled
        We work hard to ensure they meet high standards and                                                                                                                          more than 250 cases in 2019-20, helping

        continue to invest in them, year on year.                                                                                                                                    residents obtain benefits, assisting 120
                                                                                                                                                                                     residents onto Universal Credit, and help-
                                                                                                                                                                                     ing them to get better deals on utilities.

        However, we believe residents are our biggest asset, so                                                                                                                      Our Money Advisors helped residents

        we are #passionate about our supporting services too.                                                                                                                        obtain a total of £573,855 in benefits dur-
                                                                                                                                                                                     ing the year, including individual annual
                                                                                                                                                                                     entitlements of more than £10,000.
        Muir dedicates itself to providing resi-              2019-20 saw us invest over £3.45million
        dents with homes they can be happy in.                into our planned works programme.                                The Property Service department ex-                   Well-being grants of more than £20,000
                                                                                                                               panded during the year to help drive                  were also accessed, all helping Muir res-
        We invest in our properties to regener-               This included £755,882 on 142 new kitch-                         the programme, which will help to ‘fu-                idents to sustain their tenancies in the
        ate them, ensuring they comply with the               ens for Muir residents, and £486,103 on                          ture-proof’ all Muir schemes.                         face of financial concerns.
        Decent Homes Standard, so you know                    125 new bathrooms.
        your home will always be cared for by us                                                                               It will also support our Health and Safe-             This support has really helped residents
        as well as you.                                       We spent heavily on boilers too, fitting                         ty responsibilities and includes a review             to successfully sustain their tenancies,
                                                              117, and invested in new heating systems,                        around fire safety management to ensure  and is reflected in the end of year arrears
                                                              spending a combined total of £532,412 to                         we maintain our compliance with chang-                of 3.48% - a significant performance
                                                              ensure homes remained warm for resi-                             ing requirements in the social housing                improvement of 0.49% on the previous
                                                              dents.                                                           sector.                                               12 months and significantly below Muir’s
                                                                                                                                                                                     4.1% target.
                                                              More than £671,000 was spent on new                              Our homes and services are about more
                                                              doors and windows to ensure even                                 than bricks and mortar alone however,                 This figure also reflects four years of con-
                                                              greater levels of energy efficiency, with                        they’re about the people and families                 tinuous improvement - a strong achieve-
                                                              £189,000 going towards new roofing.                              who fill our properties with life; and how            ment amid welfare reform challenges.
                                                                                                                               we can support them.
                                                              £818,000 was also invested by Muir in                                                                                  Muir re-let a total of 383 homes during
                                                              external works to properties during 2019-                        We introduced a new Tenancy Sustain-                  2019-2020, and turned around our empty
                                                              20.                                                              ment Officer at Muir with the purpose                 properties in an average of 22.6 days.
                                                                                                                               of helping residents who would benefit
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