For residents
Your home is part of a scheme. Here is what happens.
If your landlord or council has told you that improvement work is planned for your home, this page explains what the work is, what it means day to day and who to speak to.
What to expect
- A survey first
- Before anything is installed, an assessor visits to look at the walls, loft, heating and ventilation. It usually takes an hour or two and nothing is fitted on that visit.
- You will be told what is planned
- Once the survey is done, you will get a letter explaining which measures are proposed for your home — insulation, heating, ventilation or solar — and how long each takes.
- Booking the work
- Appointments are arranged with you, confirmed the day before, and can be moved by calling the liaison officer directly rather than a general number.
- During the work
- There may be scaffolding, dust sheets and noise. Rooms are cleared where needed and put back at the end of each day. Most homes are worked on for a few days to a few weeks depending on the measures.
- Heating changeovers
- If your heating is being replaced, the changeover is planned so you are not left without heat or hot water overnight. Temporary heaters are provided where needed.
- Afterwards
- Your new heating and ventilation are demonstrated in the home, written instructions are left with you, and you are called again once it has been in use.
Using a new heating system
A heat pump does not run like a gas boiler. It works best left on at a steady temperature rather than switched on for an hour at a time. Running it in short bursts costs more and heats less.
The same goes for ventilation. The extract fan fitted in your kitchen or bathroom is designed to run continuously at a low rate. It uses very little electricity and switching it off is the most common reason damp and mould come back.
If something is not working or you are not sure how to use it, tell us. Nothing is too small to report.
Reporting a problem
If something has gone wrong with work we have carried out, call 0204 538 2872 or email info@refyt.co.uk with your address. It goes to the same team that worked on your home, and they will have the records for your property.
If you own your home and want work carried out privately or through a council grant, see our homeowners page.
What you will see happening
