Ceara Balzer is a Property and Estate Management Officer, who looks after our homes in St Clears, Carmarthen, Newcastle Emlyn and Llandysul.

What do you do in your current job?

I carry out inspections of our homes, making sure they’re in a good state of repair, looking for any issues that may need fixing. It could be anything from broken windows, loose roof tiles, blocked gutters, broken kitchen cupboards or faulty electrical sockets. On bigger schemes I also check for things like broken drainage inspection chambers, railings, gates or overhanging trees. If I notice a problem, I’ll raise the repair with Cambria Maintenance Services or our contractors.

When a resident reports a repair, if it needs an inspection, it will be passed to me to go out and look. I can then check what’s needed before arranging for Cambria to fix it. If it’s an urgent issue I will try and visit on the same day, for other jobs I arrange to visit in a week or two.

Another important part of my job is carrying out legal safety inspections on the communal areas in our schemes. For example, every week I test fire alarms, sprinkler systems and emergency lighting. I also flush through communal water to prevent Legionnaires’ disease. In communal areas I carry out monthly safety checks on the water systems too.

How long have you worked in your current role? What other jobs have you had in WWH?

I became an Asset Management Officer with Wales & West Housing two-and-a-half years ago. Before that I worked as a multi-skilled trade operative with Cambria Maintenance Services.

What did you do before joining WWH?

I’ve always been interested in property and maintenance as a lot of my lot of my family are builders. After school I did an apprenticeship and worked as a marine engineer for a couple of years, but I didn’t enjoy it. So, I worked as a self-employed builder and later joined a private care home company as a maintenance officer.

How has your role changed since joining WWH?

Inspecting for damp, mould and condensation has become a bigger part of my job in recent years. Whereas I used to do a couple a month, now I’m doing three or four a day.
I would say in 80% of the cases the most common cause is ventilation. I’ve noticed that as energy costs have risen people are using less heat and keeping their windows shut because they don’t want to let the heat out. They’re also closing the trickle vents in their windows. When you seal all those draughts the house can’t breathe causing condensation. In those cases, I try to encourage residents to use their trickle vents in their windows rather than opening the windows.
Another common reason for mould and condensation is if tradespeople have been working in the attic and moved the loft insulation, which leaves cold spots on the ceilings. Once you replace the insulation the problem is usually solved.

What things do you do to help residents in your work?

Helping residents is the biggest part of the job. I love working with people. I know many of the residents in my area and they know me. When I’m on site doing the safety checks, residents come up and ask me to look at issues in their homes. They’ll say things like ‘my light’s not working’ and quite often they just need a new bulb.

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve been asked to do?

I was once asked to catch a tortoise that had escaped from a resident’s home. It wasn’t really a property problem, but I was passing so was happy to help. It’s surprising how fast tortoises can move!

What do you most enjoy most in your job?

All my work is about helping people. One day I helped a young woman who was crying her eyes out. She had been homeless for a long time and just moved into a new home with her baby. She just needed the washing machine to run so she could wash the little one’s clothes. We don’t fit washing machines for residents, but she was so upset I offered to help her. She was so thankful for the help. It took stress off her.

Mostly I enjoy keeping the sites looking nice and somewhere our residents are proud to live.