2000th kitchen and bathroom for FCHO

2000th kitchen, left to right Vinny Roche, FCHO Commercial Services Director; Lynne Kovacs, FCHO Tenant Liaison Officer; Eileen Greenwood

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) has reached a significant milestone in its £149 million capital improvement programme by installing the 2000^th new kitchen and 2000^th new bathroom in customers’ homes.

FCHO customers across Oldham have been benefiting from the improvement works since FCHO became a stand alone organisation just over two years ago. The housing association set out its commitment to customers in its formal offer document (voted for by customers), which included promises to install new kitchens and bathrooms, replacement boilers, full central heating systems, radiators, pipework, windows and doors across FCHO’s stock of 12,000 properties in Oldham.

Eileen Greenwood, 77, of Eldon Street, Oldham who moved to the ground floor flat in 1996 said: “I have recently had a hip replacement and can’t get out much, so it’s very important that I have a nice flat and everything is where I need it and easy to get to. The people from Lovells and FCHO have been really helpful.

“They fitted a new wet room for me after referring me to occupational health due to my recent hip replacement. They put an outside tap in for me so I can water my plants easily and keep my pots looking good for the gardening competition, and they fitted my new kitchen around a tile mosaic I have that has great sentimental value.

“One of my grandsons is serving in Afghanistan, and I recently baked a cake and sent it over to him; my new kitchen makes baking so much easier.”

Janice Lowe, 66, who has lived at Trent Road, Shaw for 15 years, has also benefited from a new kitchen and bathroom from FCHO contractors Bramalls. Janice, who is registered bind, lives with her son Ian, daughter Jessica and guide dog Fallon. Janice said: “I was really impressed with the workmen at Bramalls who were very polite and well mannered and the site supervisor Richard Cardiff attended every day to make sure everything was OK for me.

“For me the main benefit of my new kitchen and bathroom is that they are much easier to keep clean. I rely on touch to keep things clean and with the old kitchen no matter how much I cleaned it, it still felt dirty. I have far more important things to do than clean! I have a very active life, with my swimming and tandem cycling to keep me busy.”

Cath Green, CEO, FCHO said: “To have fitted the 2000th kitchen and bathroom is a real landmark in our capital improvement programme. It’s fantastic to see the impact the new bathrooms and kitchens are having on people’s lives and the high standard of work and customer care provided by our local contractors.

“Our ethos is to meet the changing needs of our tenants and to make our homes and communities places where people want to live. Not only is this positive news for our tenants, but it is also a boost for our colleagues and contractors to be able to see the difference they are making in practical terms.”

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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