Ladywood House FAQs
Where will the temporary accommodation be located?
This will be within Ladywood House, unless you have a specific need which cannot be met within this temporary accommodation. If this is the case, we will look for alternatives, which do meet your needs.
When will I move?
We will give you as much notice as possible about when you might be moving. Harmony Fire Ltd are required to provide a clear schedule of works so we will know when they are likely to be working on your floor. This will help you prepare for the temporary move.
As the programme of works progresses, when you are required to move you will be given a timeslot on a specific day to move to your temporary accommodation. Once the works are completed to your home, you will be given a timeslot to move back to your own flat.
It is important you can move when needed and we will support you to make sure that you have everything ready and you are ready, including support on the moving days as necessary.
How will you make sure my needs are met in the temporary accommodation?
When it is your time to move to the temporary accommodation zone, we will work with you to understand what practical support you may need to move, and what support you will need in the temporary accommodation.
Will there be a safe in the temporary accommodation?
Yes, safes will be provided to keep any documents you would like to take with you. For example, wills, passports, life insurance.
What will be provided in my temporary accommodation?
The temporary accommodation will be fully furnished with bedroom furniture, living and dining furniture, kitchen appliances and utensils.
All bedding and soft furnishings will be provided.
There will be a television but it may not have all the channels/streaming services you currently have access to.
Will the flats be cleaned before I move into the temporary accommodation?
Yes, all the temporary accommodation will be professionally cleaned before you move into the flat. All bedding will be laundered and a new mattress protector provided.
What do I need to take with me?
You will need to take the things you need to live comfortably and well for up to 6 weeks. This should include all the clothes, shoes, coats, that you will need, medication, specialist chairs/beds, personal items such as Laptops, phones, chargers, calender, address book, pens, hobby materials etc. If you have any specialist items of furniture you will need to take with you, please let us know so we can plan this in with the move schedule. It is advisable to take any valuable items with you.
You will not be allowed access to your flat throughout the 6 week period, or until the works are completed.
Will the scheme manager remain in Ladywood?
Yes, the Sheltered Housing Support Officers (previously called Scheme Managers) will continue to provide the Sheltered Housing service. You will also have a dedicated Resident Liaison Officer who will work with you and the Sheltered Housing Support Officers to make sure you are ready to move when needed and be your point of contact for any concerns about the works once they start.
Who can I talk to about the works?
Portsmouth Homes have a dedicated Resident Liaison Officer and Decant Housing Officer for Ladywood House - they will support you with the temporary move. If you need to contact them about the works, their contact details will be displayed on the notice board in the communal area.
Harmony Fire Ltd will have an onsite Resident Liaison Officer once the works start.
The Portsmouth Homes team will be in the community room every 8 weeks going forward to answer any additional questions you may have. We will provide you with written updates & drop-in sessions when there are significant updates to share.
You will still have a Sheltered Housing Support Officer for Ladywood House, and the Sheltered Housing team who will continue to provide any support and advice required separate to the building project works.
I have a Safe at Home system - will this work when I am in the temporary accommodation?
Your Safe at Home system will need to be moved to your temporary accommodation and back again when you return to your permanent home. Our Safe at Home team will move your equipment and make sure it is set up correctly in the temporary accommodation and when you move back to your own flat. If you have a Care Provider, you will need to notify them when you move to the temporary accommodation and when you move back to your permanent home.
We will also make sure the personal information box accessed by the fire service in the event of an emergency is updated each time a temporary move happens.
What support will you give me to help me move?
We will arrange a checklist to make sure you don't forget anything when packing your belongings and we can help you pack and unpack if needed. On the day, Portsmouth Homes & Harmony Fire Ltd will help with the physical moving if needed.
If you prefer a morning or afternoon moving time this will also be taken into consideration.
I use the laundry room; how will I do my laundry whilst access is restricted?
While access to the laundry room is unavailable, we will provide an alternative. We are looking at options and what this may look like and will keep you informed of the solution.
What is happening to the empty flats in the building until the building works begin?
We had to keep some flats vacant as people moved out of the lower three floors, as some residents chose to stay in the building. Any properties remaining empty now, are now being allocated in line with the Portsmouth City Council Housing Allocation Policy. We may also use the empty properties on the lower three floors for Temporary Accommodation as the works are not planned to start now until Spring 2027.
What about my post?
We are looking into lockable post boxes which will be store in the main entrance to the block.
How long will the communal lounge be unavailable for?
We think that the access to the communal lounge will only be restricted for up to 6 weeks during the first phase of the work on the ground floor. After this, all planned resident activities and events can take place as usual including Christmas events and socials activities.
Are doors being replaced?
Yes, the property entrance doors to all properties are being replaced as part of the works.
Will there be a small step when the new front door is fitted, as I currently have a ramp?
No, the new fire front doors will be flush to the floor so will not require a ramp.
Will the new front doors have numbers?
This is something we are working on as part of the design. Because the new front doors will be fire doors, there are strict rules on fixing anything to the doors that requires drilling through the door or frame, so we are working to find a suitable solution for things like door numbers, key safes & doorbells. This will likely be a plaque fixed to the wall outside your flat rather than the door itself.
Will windows be replaced if needed?
Yes, where related to fire safety we will be replacing some windows in the communal hallways, and making some alterations to bedroom windows in a limited number of flats adjacent to the communal windows with Automated Opening Vents.
Will I get a choice on fixtures and fittings?
When we meet with you to discuss your needs, you will be asked if you want a bath or low-level shower installed. If you need grab rails or other equipment installed to help you maintain your independence, we may be able to add these as part of the works.
Can I keep my toilet/tiles?
No, the works needed mean the whole bathroom will need to be replaced. If you have a specialist toilet related to a care and/or support need, we will visit you with an Occupational Therapist to ensure we provide suitable equipment for your needs.
Will the layout of my toilet be changed and put into my bathroom sot hey are no longer in separate rooms?
No, your toilet will remain in a separate room to your bathroom.
What is a wet riser and why is it important?
A wet riser is a pipe running from the bottom floor of the building to the top floor, allowing the fire service to access water easily in the event of a fire, avoiding the need to try and run hoses from the ground floor.
Will the pipes in the corridors be covered?
Yes, we have listened to your previous feedback and as part of these works the exposed sprinkler pipework in the communal corridors will be covered.
Will the pull cord units be replaced?
The existing warden call system will be removed as part of the works, this will include removal of all existing pull cords and speech units. The Safe at Home equipment will remain whilst a decision is made regarding a longer term solution. Safe At Home will be informed of the temporary move to ensure alarms are working, and they are aware of where you are temporarily staying.
Where is the asbestos? And how is it being removed?
The ventilation duct to be removed is hidden behind a wall in your bathroom. It is this duct which contains asbestos, which is safe if undisturbed but must be removed as part of our fire safety works. The contractor will be a specialist in handling asbestos and will ensure this is removed from the building safely.
Will the fire alarms be working (especially for deaf residents)?
There will be no changes to the fire alarm system, which will continue to work throughout.
What will happen to the existing ventilation openings and space after removal?
All existing ventilation openings will be sealed - this is because we need to maintain the compartmentation between floors. The void space used for the current ventilation system won't be used to increase the size of flats as we need it for all the other services that run through the flats. We'll need to install inspection hatches so the pipework can be inspected and maintained.
I have pets that will be difficult to move, can I leave them in my flat?
All pets, including fish in tanks, will need to be moved from your flat because of the sealed areas for some of the controlled works. Access will not be allowed for feeding and contractors cannot take responsibility for feeding pets.
If you have pets such as fish in aquariums, you will need to take these with you. It could be we will help you move your pets to and from the temporary accommodation if necessary.
Is the cost of the work worth it?
Absolutely, the works directly relate to improving resident safety and wellbeing and will allow Ladywood House to continue to provide social homes to people on our housing register into the future.
Can the outside patio be reopened?
As part of the works, we are looking at the options available to allow use of the patio. We will update you as this progresses.
If the works create noisy disturbances which affect the use of the community room, we will look to make alternative provisions away from Ladywood House, should there be the need for a place for residents to socialise such as the community rooms at local blocks such as Tipton House, Edgbaston House and Handsworth House.
Will any mess be left in my flat after the works?
The contractor will cover belongings in rooms and areas they are working in. They will clean the property after completing the works.
What will happen to my belongings that are left in the flat during the works?
An inventory will be completed before the works begin.
Will the contractor use my utilities during the works?
The contractor will not use heating, however may need to put lights on in certain rooms if required.
Where will the contractors park?
There will be around 10 workers on site at a time. Parking bays are agreed with us and will only be used on working days. Any Skips or containers will not be placed in parking spaces.
How much noise will there be?
There will be pockets of noise, especially from the structural work and core drilling. Noisy works will stop by 4:30pm, all works wrap up by 5pm and there will be no weekend working.