Making a House a Home

Wed 16 Dec 2015

NPT Homes Tenants Selecting RNIB Paint

Tenants at NPT Homes’ Mozart Court sheltered scheme in Port Talbot have been working with staff and specialists from the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) to choose how their home is decorated.

As part of NPT Homes’ Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) improvements programme, all sheltered schemes will be RNIB compliant.

This not only includes new kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems, but also communal areas and internal walls will be redecorated in line with RNIB guidelines to make living independently easier for older residents.

In partnership with tenants, a selection of RNIB compliant worktops, flooring and tiles have already been identified which tenants can select from when it comes to choosing their new kitchen and bathroom. Tenants have now been asked how they would like communal areas and hallways decorated as they choose from a selection of colours that will make moving around the scheme easier for those with a visual impairment.

As the WHQS programme is rolled out across all schemes in the Borough, residents will be given the opportunity to choose how their own scheme will be decorated.

Tenant Kerry Cokely, said:
“Being involved in the decisions about our home has been fantastic. I loved the design options I had to choose from and I was able to customise my kitchen and bathroom to my own taste.
 
We are looking forward to having the scheme painted as it will be the finishing touches which make it look brand new.”

NPT Homes’ Relocations Coordinator Natasha Roberts, added:
“Working with the tenants and the RNIB on choosing options has been great. Residents have been involved from the very beginning and are looking forward to seeing the transformation.

It is really important that we are able to provide accommodation that tenants want to live in but ultimately live somewhere they feel safe and comfortable. The new paint work will create contrast on the walls to identify doorways, corners and walk ways to help those with visual impairments move around the scheme more safely.”