Story: Lisa Swift
Bressingham tenant, Saleh Shaibi, has been waiting for new doors from Sheffield Homes for over 12 months and despite repeated requests he is still waiting.
Mr Shaibi explained that while all his neighbours enjoyed the security of new doors under the Decent Homes Scheme, his house was missed out. It was November 2009 when he first filled in the request form. Other work on this house has been completed, but not the doors, and in the last two months his house was burgled:
“I’ve been to the Housing Office many times. Once they told me they didn’t have enough money to replace the doors and I would have to wait until they got more funding. People broke in a couple of months ago and took some money and gifts. Now I don’t feel secure leaving the house – someone might break in again when I’m out.”
Mr Shaibi’s daughter, Suria, told the Messenger, “I spoke to the Sheffield Homes Investment team in August 2010, and they promised to replace the doors.
We filled in the forms again. But when I called in December 2010 to find out why they had still not been replaced, they told me there was no record of the request and we would have to fill them in for a third time. It’s gone on too long now. My dad needs new doors like everyone else on the estate.”
The family estimate they have contacted Sheffield Homes as many as 15 times in the last year about the missing doors, but the matter remains unresolved.
Simon Senior, Decent Homes Project Manager for Sheffield Homes gave us this statement:
“We are really sorry that the tenant has experienced problems ordering his door. “The process has been delayed due to a number of access issues to the property. This meant that the new doors, which were ready to be installed in September 2010, could not be fitted and were used on another property.
“Our contractor has reordered the new doors which should arrive on 7 February 2011. We will contact the tenant to arrange a convenient fitting date.”