TMO celebrates 1000th Decent Home

Patricia Starchbury got a surprise at the end of November 2006 when she opened her door recently to find TMO Chair Juliet Rawlings standing there accompanied by several TMO staff, a large bouquet of flowers and a bottle of champagne.

And the reason?  Patricia’s home was the 1000th TMO property to receive improvements under the Decent Homes scheme.

She felt ‘very touched’ by the gifts,’ however it is the improvements to her home that will make the lasting difference.

Through the TMO’s Decent Home’s scheme Patricia had a new kitchen and a new bathroom fitted, as well as her whole flat re-wired.  Both rooms were totally re-decorated, resulting in a tiled bathroom for the first time and new kitchen units.

‘Everybody notices it,’ she said, ‘my friends, daughter – they all love it. I mean it just makes such a difference.’

It is not only the appearance of Ms Starchbury’s flat that has improved but also her quality of life. Cooking in her new kitchen is a totally different experience, with the new cupboard space meaning ‘you just turn around and it’s there’.

‘The extra space is definitely the best part,’ she said happily, ‘there is just so much more of it and everything can be stored exactly where you want it.’

The TMO have employed two contractors, Higgins and Kier, to carry out the works and Patricia described them as a ‘very nice bunch of boys’ and herself as ‘over the moon’ with the works.’  There is a certain amount of mess and upheaval,’ she said ‘but that is only to be expected really.’

‘I’m just so so happy; everything is just so much more convenient and it just makes such a difference overall – it really really does.’