Keeping families safe
DIO is responsible for ensuring that statutory safety
inspections are undertaken, such as the annual Gas Safety inspection. Some
customers consistently fail to permit access for these free safety inspections,
so DIO is introducing new processes to tackle this important issue in England
and Wales. On 19 August, revised versions of the Yellow and Red cards were
launched which clearly set out the responsibility of the Licensee to permit
access for these statutory inspections. The Yellow card will be issued on the
first occasion an appointment is missed, whilst the Red card will be issued for
the second missed appointment. The revised Red card will advise the customer
that their details have been passed to DIO and that their Chain of Command may
be contacted in an effort to gain access. Should the customer ignore these
safety warnings and continue to fail to permit access, a further follow on
process will then commence. In some circumstances this could include enforcing
entry to the property to undertake the inspection. This will only be used in
extreme circumstances, and in consultation with the Chain of Command, where DIO
feels that it must enforce its statutory responsibility to ensure the safety of
customers.
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Making it easier to find information about SFA
If you want to know more about Service Family Accommodation you
can find it all on the SFA website using the handy short address www.gov.uk/dio/sfa
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Your safety is paramount – please help DIO when your gas
appliances need inspecting
Some customers continue to consistently fail to permit access
for free gas safety inspections, which DIO has a statutory requirement to
undertake and are in the interests of your family’s safety.
Failure to allow access for these safety inspections is a
serious breach of your licence to occupy so if you fail to permit access when
an appointment has been arranged, a revised Yellow safety warning will now be
issued. If you fail to permit access at the next appointment a revised Red
safety warning will be issued, at which point DIO will get involved and may
contact your Chain of Command in an effort to gain access.
To ensure the safety of your family and neighbours, please do
not ignore these safety warnings.
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Taking action on Damp and Mould
Thankfully the majority of Service homes don’t suffer problems
from problems with mould or damp, and are warm and comfortable. However, DIO
Ops Accn recognises that some of the housing stock in the UK was built before
the latest standards and energy efficiency expectations, and invests millions
every year to improve Service Family Accommodation (SFA). As well as the usual
thousands of ongoing improvements in this financial year, DIO is specifically
targeting investment to solve damp/mould related issues for Service families.
This work has been made possible by a combination of a very
welcome injection of money in the 2012 budget for improving SFA, and a great
deal of work undertaken by the DIO Ops Accn Estates Services team to get Green
Deal funding to improve the energy efficiency of SFA. This means that measures
such as external wall insulation, new roofs and new doors and windows will be
installed by March 2014 at sites that have been targeted for the programme.
In addition, DIO and MODern Housing Solutions (MHS) has agreed a
revised process for responding to reports of mould and damp. The new process
means that a report of serious damp or mould will be inspected by both an MHS
and DIO representative, who will have access to damp meters and other
technology for establishing the cause of the issue.
Based on the results of this, a workable solution will be
developed to address the cause.
Further guidance
Whilst this work aims to tackle problems caused by the fabric of
the building, guidance has also been updated to help families who may have
issues, such as condensation, that can often be resolved by taking simple steps
such as improving ventilation. The revised guidance is on the SFA website.
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Asbestos management survey
All buildings built in the UK in the last century may contain
asbestos containing materials (ACMs) within their building fabric. Whilst these
do not present a danger to you or your family if they are kept in good order
and not disturbed, DIO Operations Accommodation has been carrying out ACM
surveys in UK Service Family Accommodation. DIO is continuing this programme
and intends to complete around 22,000 surveys in 2013/14.
You shouldn’t be unduly worried if you receive a visit from a
surveyor, as the purpose of the survey is to determine and record where ACMs
actually are. This will help DIO to manage them more effectively, especially
during periods of major refurbishment where our ultimate goal is to remove them
completely. Not all properties will receive a visit, as a large number of SFA
properties have been surveyed before, already had ACMs removed during refurbishment,
or built without these materials.
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Thinking of making a change to your Service Family
Accommodation?
Most people want to make the best of their home but families
living in a Service home should be aware that they must seek permission in
advance if they want to make changes that add to their Service Family
Accommodation or change its fabric.
What you can do
As long as permission is sought from DIO first, through your
housing officer, customers will generally be permitted to carry out minor
encroachments either on the outside or to the outside of their homes. This
includes erecting a greenhouse, garden shed, TV aerial, satellite dish, house
alarms and security lights.
At the Pre Move Out appointment these changes will be inspected
where it is considered that the encroachment does not provide added value to
the property, the Licensee will be required to remove and make good. All costs
incurred in the removal will be the responsibility of the Licensee - this also
applies if you redecorate your property.
What you can’t do
Major changes will not usually be permitted, such as replacing a
kitchen. Even if you know you will be based in a property for some time, these
changes would introduce nonstandard fixtures and fittings that will not be
covered by the maintenance contracts. In addition, customers should not
interfere with fittings, such as gas ovens or gas fires, as this is potentially
dangerous and illegal if you are not qualified.
Customers living in Substitute SFA (SSFA) are not permitted to alter
the decoration of the interior or the exterior of the property without the
written permission of either the MOD Contractor or the Letting Agent/Landlord.
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Check your heating
It’s always a good idea to undertake a quick check of your
heating system in September to make sure it is working correctly before the
colder weather sets in. If you discover
any problems with your heating, please report them immediately to your maintenance
helpdesk, as this will give them time to resolve the issue before you need your
heating.
A customer guide is available about looking after your home over
the winter period, including checking your heating. The guide can be found on
the customer guide page of the SFA website at www.gov.uk/government/publications/customer-guides
