Boroughwide Housing 'set for digital'

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) has achieved Digital UK’s Homes Set for Digital award, making it the fifth Arms Length Management Organisation in the UK to receive the accreditation.

The Granada TV region starts the switch to digital on 4 November this year and the Homes Set for Digital scheme recognises organisations that have reached high standards of excellence, including the publication of a switchover action plan and the appointment of a named digital ‘champion’.

Landlords that receive the accreditation are able to provide access to digital TV in their properties served by communal aerial systems.

Ian Rothwell, Digital Champion and Programme Planning Manager at RBH said: “Although many tenants living in RBH properties will be responsible for their own switchover, we have around 4,000 tenants who have been relying on us to put everything in place to make the switchover happen.

“We have spent around £300,000 on the upgrade, often going over and above the minimum standard required by installing Integrated Reception Systems (IRS), so that as future technology develops RBH tenants can be easily updated and are ready for the digital era.”

A presentation at Arnold Bagnall Court Sheltered Scheme was held this week, one of the many schemes where RBH has upgraded communal TV aerials to digital integrated reception systems.

Diane Mellor from Digital UK and Eugene Wilson, Director of Property Services from RBH attended the presentation, along with local MPs Jim Dobbin (Heywood and Middleton), Paul Rowen (Rochdale) and Councillor Doreen Brophy-Lee, Rochdale’s Cabinet Member for Housing.

Jo Waters, Digital UK’s manager for the Granada TV Region said: “The housing sector is crucial to the success of digital TV switchover in the Granada TV region. While most households will be able to make the switch for themselves because they have individual aerials, many people who live in flats or sheltered accommodation have a shared aerial system which can only be upgraded to digital by their landlord or managing agent. Rochdale Boroughwide Housing has worked extremely hard to get this accreditation which confirms its excellent landlord status.”