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Bolton Council established Bolton at Home in December 2002, with a remit to bring its housing stock up to the government’s decent homes standard by 2010. The following year, additional Arms Length Management Funding (ALMO) brought the five year budget up to £250 million.

In 2002, 40% of homes owned by the council where classed as ‘decent’. Latest figures confirm that this figure has now risen to 79% (April 2006), which means that Bolton at Home is on target to provide 100% desirable homes to Bolton Council’s housing stock by 2008; two years ahead of the government 2010 target.

Bolton at Home is special as it has broken the ALMO mould in developing private sector partnerships, both for the good of tenants, the ALMO and the wider communities in which it works. It created history by becoming the first ALMO in the country to include private sector renewal within its services, and works to improve the condition of private sector homes and regenerate local areas.

Working closely with different customer groups Bolton at Home has set the desirable standards that customers want for their home improvements. The desirable standards include floor coverings, extra tiling and decoration to kitchens, to that of the decent homes standard set by the Government.

There has been over 29,000 improvements to customers homes in the last four years and this has included new heating systems, kitchen and bathroom improvements and external improvements including roof repairs, gutter replacement and new doors.

Because of this, the organisation has received national recognition for its effective and meaningful customer involvement. This was recognised by the Audit Commission Housing Inspectorate in 2005, when they awarded 3 stars to Bolton for its excellent housing and regeneration services.

Last year this was followed with the ‘Contractor Accreditation Award’ from the Tenant Participation Advisory  Service (TPAS).

The organisation was behind Bolton Council’s Beacon status award for ‘improving housing services by involving tenants’.

Bolton’s approach to regeneration is not one of just modernising and improving bricks and mortar. It recognises that the overall appearance of estates must improve.

An example of this is Bolton at Home’s Great Estates Programme, which is designed to ensure that Bolton at Home’s approach to improving environmental issues on council estates is what customers want; whilst being a cost effective legacy for the future. Detailed work plans have been produced for the 4 initial targeted estates which incorporates local tenants views and ideas. Some of the improvements; and they are different for each estate, includes better parking and facilities for older children.

This is achieved through providing grant assistance for refurbishment and renovation of private sector homes, and for environmental improvements, in targeted areas.