Hundreds of people living in Derventio Housing Trust accommodation who would otherwise be homeless have given their landlord a glowing report in a national survey.
Leaders at the trust, whose headquarters are in Derby and which is currently providing accommodation to 700 people in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Wiltshire, have said they are delighted that hundreds of residents responded positively to the national Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSM) survey, the results of which have just been published.
Derventio has once again scored far above the national average in the survey, now mandatory for all providers of social housing in the UK as part of Government reform measures following the Grenfell Fire disaster.
To protect the integrity of the answers, the survey is completely anonymous.
Derventio, which provides housing for people who would otherwise be homeless, has scored an impressive 86 per cent in overall satisfaction amongst residents – well above the national average of 72 per cent.
The TSM survey sees landlords asking residents a set of 12 set questions which include satisfaction with how well maintained a home is; how safe it is; how well any complaints are handled and how fairly and respectfully tenants are treated.
In Warwickshire, where Derventio Housing Trust is providing accommodation to nearly 70 people, the landlord scored an impressive 100 per cent in several of the TSM questions including overall satisfaction with the service provided; satisfaction with any repairs carried out to a property, and in response to the question: ‘Derventio Housing Trust treats me fairly and with respect’.
Hundreds of residents who responded to the survey also gave glowing feedback to Derventio Housing Trust which asked further questions over and above those they asked as part of the Government’s requirement.
As well as providing accommodation, the trust supports residents with many aspects of their life, including arranging GP appointments and supporting with drug and alcohol use recovery.
In Derbyshire, Derventio runs a valuable ‘Growing Lives’ project in Ilkeston that supports people who are getting their lives back on track. Residents are given the opportunity to garden; work in the cycle workshop, take part in walks and craft activities, with a minibus laid on to take them to and from their homes.
One Derby resident said: “It is a real achievement for me to attend regular medical appointments: doctor, dentist, plus blood tests and various jabs as needed. I’ve been able to do this with the support, help and reassurance of Derventio staff. I have managed to pay all my debts and I am determined not to fall into debt again.”
Another added: “I am and always will be extremely grateful for everything Derventio has done and continue to do. To help me, they were there for me at a very difficult time in my life and I won’t ever forget that my home is a lovely safe and happy place. Cleaning and maintenance teams do a fantastic job. The Derventio staff are brilliant in their various roles.”
A Swindon resident said: “I’ve been really lucky to have two housing officers who are both so kind and supportive. They’ve helped me with everything from paperwork to health and other issues and they do their work really well.”
A Warwick resident said: “Derventio is a very good company and has been very good to young people like me.”
A Staffordshire resident said: “I just want to thank you all, I didn’t realise the help was there, it’s made such a good impact on my life. Everything is positive. I can look forwards and I’m starting to know my own worth. You’re an amazing team, thank you.”
Sarah Hernandez, managing director of Derventio Housing Trust, said: “Once again we are delighted by the results of our Tenant Satisfaction Measures survey. It’s extremely pleasing that we have again scored well above average and a testament to the hard work of the whole Derventio Housing Trust team.
“The survey is completely anonymised and the residents who come to Derventio Housing Trust have been through some extremely tough times in their lives. Many have poor mental health and have lived through some challenging circumstances. That makes it all the more brilliant that hundreds have taken the trouble to provide us with feedback. We have been surveying residents for many years and we applaud the step of mandatory Tenant Satisfaction Measures. It’s very important that social landlords in the UK should be accountable. Everyone has a right to a clean, well maintained and safe home and that is exactly what we provide.”
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