Texts to inform Wolverhampton tenants when home repairs due
Council house tenants in Wolverhampton will get text alerts telling them when repairs will be carried out with the launch of a new system.
Under the new initiative when tenants report repairs to Wolverhampton Homes, they will receive three automated text messages – the first to confirm their appointment; the second as a reminder the day before and the final text to let them know when someone is on their way.
Shaun Aldis, director of property services, said: "Providing tenants with excellent customer service is really important to us. That's why we want to make it easier for people to manage their accounts online and report repairs when something goes wrong. The new text messaging service means we can remind people that we're on our way."
Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's cabinet member for leisure and communities, added: "I think this is an absolutely wonderful idea. It will ensure residents know their queries are being dealt with and it will keep them informed about the progress of work being done."
The new service is the latest new technology to le launched by the organisation.
In recent months, more than 600 tenants and leaseholders have signed up to manage their details and accounts online.
Tenants can now make payments, check their rent accounts and track repairs online.
It comes after a new phone number was introduced for residents to call with complaints about anti-social behaviour. A new unit of 20 staff will take phone calls from residents across the city who want to report issues in their neighbourhood.
It is only the second project of its kind in the country, after Leeds.
Wolverhampton Homes previously was responsible for dealing with reports of anti-social behaviour from council tenants while the city council dealt with reports from private residents and incidents in the city centre. But from now on, one team will deal with all cases.