Tenants at thousands of Sheffield council properties have refused free repairs

During the 2000s, the Decent Homes programme saw 39,000 council properties refurbished to bring them up to good living standards set by the Government.

Houses, maisonettes and flats were given new kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors, heating and electrics.

But hundreds of tenants refused the work, which has left 2,932 properties in disrepair.

Council officers say the properties will not meet the minimum Decent Homes standards by 2026.

A further 467 properties need new windows and doors to keep them warm and reduce future maintenance costs. And another 552 empty properties also need work to make them good quality homes.

The council is hoping to re-engage with tenants who previously refused the work.

Coun Paul Wood, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: "The council takes the quality of our social housing very seriously but tenants declined the work for a number of reasons including the inconvenience, because they had done their own improvements and because they were satisfied with the property at that time.

"Some works were not completed under the massive Decent Homes programme but this was the wish of the residents.

"Over the past few years some of these properties now require additional work to ensure the standards are maintained and we will deliver that for our tenants to ensure we have the best possible maintained stock in the UK."

The council is looking for a contractor to deliver the work over an initial three year period.

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