Plover House and Cygnet House – your questions answered

On Friday 9 February 2024, we advised residents that we had made the difficult decision to move all residents of Cygnet House and Plover House out of their homes. This was because we received a detailed report from our building contractor's engineers advising us that remediation works will need to be carried out to rectify some structural defects identified in both buildings.

This is a precautionary but necessary measure – based on the clear advice we received from our contractor's structural engineers – so that our contractors can carry out the intrusive surveys and construction works to ensure the building's long-term safety.

All residents have now moved out of Plover House and Cygnet House. We have worked directly with residents to arrange temporary accommodation.

We are working closely with residents to provide support and ensure they have suitable accommodation for the duration of the works. Some residents have requested a permanent move elsewhere and we are working to arrange managed moves as quickly as possible when suitable homes become available. 

If you have any questions about what is happening, please contact the team using the details we have provided directly to you – we’ll do all we can to help

All properties will be fully fixed, ready for residents to move back at the end of the remediation process. If the works require modifications to be made within your home, we will discuss these with you individually to ensure that your home remains suitable and meets your needs.

Following the completion of surveys at the building, a remediation plan has been agreed upon by all responsible parties. 

We have agreed upon a design proposal from Mulalley which has been reviewed by two additional independent engineers on behalf of Watford Community Housing. Mulalley are now on site and mobilisation works are under way.

We gave careful consideration to a range of different options to make sure we found the right technical solution for those who live and work in the building. The approved design will ensure that the building remains fit for purpose and long-lasting. It also includes design features that help to keep changes to the homes and retail units to a minimum. As a result, it is envisaged that the shops will be able to remain open for the duration of the works, and we are minimising disruption for retailers and the local community.

On completion of the remediation works, a thorough inspection will be conducted by an independent engineer. All necessary approvals will be obtained to confirm that the works are complete and in line with building standards.  

As part of the investigation process, temporary structural supports have been installed across a number of the retail units. Retailers continue to trade as normal from their premises, based on clear advice from Mulalley’s structural engineers that there is no risk to staff or customers during this period.

Yes, we are keeping residents informed about the works at Cygnet House and Plover House, how they are progressing, and how long they are expected to take. 

Residents will not be able to move back into Cygnet House and Plover House until all works have been completed. Mobilisation works started on site in August 2024 and it is anticipated that the remediation works could take up to 12 months to complete.

You will not be able to access your home at Plover House or Cygnet House until the remediation works are completed.

As some residents expressed a preference to move out of Cygnet House and Plover House permanently, we contacted you to confirm your preferences and your household’s requirements. We now have this information from all residents and we are using it to offer managed moves when suitable homes become available.

We are committed to ensuring that homes that become available are allocated fairly and to the right household. When offers are made to residents, priority is being given on the basis of each household’s individual requirements and circumstances, in line with our wider policies for allocating homes. This ensures that the process is as fair as possible to all residents.

Before we make an offer, we take into account:

•           Your current accommodation – how secure it is or whether your booking is due to end
•           Your household – any medical considerations or whether anyone in your household is a vulnerable person
•           Your commitments – whether the home that’s available will enable you to get to work and get any children to school
•           Overcrowding – whether your household is too big for your current accommodation
•           Location – whether the home that’s available is in one of the areas you would like to move to

We are working to arrange managed moves as quickly as possible. When new homes become available, we will always offer these to the household which is best suited to the property and has the greatest need.

We will contact you directly as soon as a home that we can offer you becomes available, so you don’t need to contact us unless your situation changes.

Please bear in mind that we cannot guarantee when homes will become available. Our agreements with Watford Borough Council mean that some homes that become available, including new-build properties, need to be allocated to new tenants on the council’s waiting list for housing. However, please be assured that we are doing all we can to secure homes for residents of Cygnet House and Plover House as quickly as possible.
 

Residents will continue to pay rent on their home, but Watford Community Housing is covering the cost of the temporary accommodation or contributing to the cost of staying with family or friends.

You are not responsible for the cost of utility bills and council tax at Plover House and Cygnet House from the date you moved out.

No, you should not make any changes to your current arrangements for Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. Unless you make a permanent move elsewhere, you still have an ongoing tenancy at Cygnet House/Plover House.
 

We recommend that you speak to your insurance providers to get advice on whether your move could affect policies such as your motor insurance or contents insurance.

No, you only need to inform DVLA if you move permanently. We have made arrangements to redirect your post to you, so you won’t need to inform DVLA of any changes while you are in temporary accommodation.

We are arranging for your post to be redirected to our office on Clarendon Road, and we are forwarding your post to you. If you prefer, we can let you know when you have post so that you can collect it from our office – please speak to a member of the team to arrange this. Our address is: Gateway House, 59 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1LA

If you are in longer-term accommodation where you will stay for the duration of the works, you can set up a redirect with Royal Mail so that your post comes straight to your new accommodation. Please contact us if you would like support with setting this up – we will cover the cost of this service.

Yes, we are covering the costs and helping to make arrangements for removals. 

If you have any questions about how we can support you, please speak to a member of our Housing team.

Our removal company will reassemble your furniture when you return to your home. We will keep a photographic record of your belongings and we will cover the cost of anything that cannot be reassembled or returned to its original condition.

We will keep a photographic record of any fixtures and fittings that are in your apartment. We will cover the cost of anything that cannot be maintained in its original condition.

Where possible, we will provide support to help you get your new home decorated and furnished up to the standard of your home at Cygnet House/Plover House. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, so please get in touch to discuss this with us.
 

We have aimed to find accommodation with free parking for those who need it, and we will work with you individually to address any concerns you have about parking.

Yes, we will meet reasonable costs for laundry during this period.

We are reimbursing residents for any reasonable costs that you have incurred due to being rehoused, and we will review this on a case-by-case basis. Please ensure that you keep the original receipts or photographs of all receipts during this period, as they will need to be submitted to your dedicated housing officer to allow us to determine and process payment accordingly.

We will not be able to reimburse you if we do not have sufficient evidence of your costs. Please speak to a member of the team to discuss what is a reasonable cost.

We are mindful that various circumstances must be considered during this process. Please reach out to us to discuss your specific needs and the team will ensure to provide you with the necessary support.

To make it easier for residents to access items that have been placed in storage, residents’ belongings have been moved to a nearby storage facility.
 
All belongings are now stored at Boxable Self Storage, which is located at:
Unit 4
Eclipse Industrial Centre
20 Sandown Rd
Watford
WD24 7AE

We have contacted all residents individually to confirm how belongings can be accessed. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

For residents who have expressed a preference to make a permanent move away from Plover House/Cygnet House, you will be able to keep your storage unit for up to four weeks after moving into your new home, allowing for an appropriate transition.

If any appliances can no longer be used after they have been in storage, we would provide compensation.

Our contractor’s engineer has advised that the shops can continue trading – there is no risk to staff or to customers. We are working closely with the shopkeepers to keep them fully informed about the works that are required.

If you have any questions, please contact the team using the details we have provided to you – we’ll do all we can to help.

You can also stay in touch with us via the following channels:

Email: housing@wcht.org.uk

SMS: we will send you updates by text message

Phone: 0800 218 2247

If you need additional support during this time, you can contact the following organisations:
Hertfordshire Mind Network – www.hertsmindnetwork.org

Samaritans – www.samaritans.org