Melville to invest £3 million improving Midlothian tenants’ homes

This is thanks to a £3 million investment programme that will also see funds set aside to help meet Scotland’s net (carbon) zero goals.

Investment in the new financial year, funded almost entirely from rental income, will see the replacement of 220 central heating systems, bathrooms and kitchens as well as paying for new roofs, doors, windows and structural repairs.

“The ongoing Covid pandemic continues to throw up challenges, however, our planned maintenance teams have performed really well over the past 12 months, catching up on the outstanding work that resulted from lockdown,” said Nancy Booth, Melville’s head of property services.

“Moving forward the biggest challenge we face is the climate crisis and the need for us all to massively reduce our carbon emissions.

"We will be investing significant sums to ensure we meet our net zero targets while at the same time providing the high quality, affordable and most of all energy efficient homes that the country needs and that our tenants deserve.”

The biggest area of investment this year will be heating systems, with more than a hundred older, less-efficient boilers due to be replaced.

Melville has estimated that in the coming years more than £80m will be needed in order to meet its net zero obligations and has made a start by putting aside funds for air source heat pumps.

These greener alternatives to traditional gas boilers, which are gradually to be phased out by the Scottish Government, will be an option for any Melville tenant who is having their heating replaced.

A timetable of Melville’s 2022/23 planned maintenance work is currently being finalised.

All Melville tenants due a home upgrade will be contacted closer to the time.

Details are also now available online through the tenant zone section of Melville’s website. Go to https://www.melville.org.uk/. Alternatively tenants can phone 0131 654 2733 (selecting option 2).

Melville Housing Association’s offices are based at The Corn Exchange, 200 High Street, Dalkeith.