CHESTER & District Housing Trust has launched a new website to critical acclaim as it sees increasing visitor numbers online.

Over the last 12 months the number of visitors using the CDHT site has increased by 50% and it was becoming apparent that a revamp was needed.

As well as using the site for information on the trust and its services, customers can also use a benefits checker, access their CDHT rent account and leave comments and complaints about CDHT after reading the chief executive’s blog.

After three months and consultation with customers and colleagues, www.cdht.org has been relaunched.

New features like videos on having a kitchen installed and personal introductions sit neatly on the site to help guide visitors around and make the most of their visit.

Paul Skelland, assistant director of information systems, said: ““What we have achieved is adding a third dimension for visitors to the website.

“It provides a much more personalised experience and also helps anyone who is visually impaired.

“As our chief executive John Denny says on the site, it won’t replace a face to face meeting, but we can be open 24 hours a day here, seven days a week.”

Sue Kennaugh from CDHT’s Resident Involvement Team appears on the website. She added;

“Customers are using IT more and more and the website is becoming more important to them. They use it to look for information, services on-line, or visit the forum pages to talk to us.

“The improvements to the website make it much more efficient, understandable, accessible and time-saving.

“Hopefully we come across as a friendly, approachable and efficient organisation, keen to help. I’m sure visitors will let us know.”