London & Middlesex Community Housing is responsible for maintaining and renewing more than 3,300 homes across London and Middlesex County. Many of these homes and buildings have served the community for decades. As they age, they need ongoing investment to keep them safe, functional, accessible, and sustainable for the people who live in them.
This work is often called Asset Renewal or Capital Projects. In simple terms, it means investing in the major parts of our buildings, homes, and communities so they can continue to support tenants now and in the future.
What is capital investment?
Capital investment can be complicated, especially when projects take place over several years or involve work that tenants may not always see.
This short animated video explains what capital investment is, how it differs from day-to-day maintenance, and why it matters for tenants, buildings, and the broader community.
What is Asset Renewal?
Asset Renewal focuses on larger projects that repair, replace, or improve important building systems and shared spaces.
This is different from day-to-day maintenance.
A maintenance request might include fixing a leaking tap, repairing a door, or addressing an issue inside a unit. Asset Renewal projects are usually larger in scope, planned in advance, and often involve major building components such as elevators, roofs, heating systems, electrical systems, accessibility improvements, or community-wide upgrades.
These projects can take more time to plan and complete because they often require design work, engineering, permits, contractor procurement, tenant communication, and careful scheduling to reduce disruption wherever possible.
Why this work matters to tenants
Asset Renewal directly affects the quality, safety, and reliability of tenants’ homes.
When we invest in buildings and communities, we are working to:
- improve building safety and reliability;
- replace aging systems before they fail;
- improve accessibility where possible;
- support healthier and more comfortable homes;
- reduce long-term repair costs;
- improve energy efficiency; and
- extend the life of public housing in our community.
Some projects are highly visible, such as playground upgrades, exterior improvements, or major renovations. Others are less visible but just as important, such as electrical work, mechanical systems, roofing, or building envelope repairs.
Together, these investments help protect the homes tenants rely on every day.
How Asset Renewal supports the broader community
Public housing is an important community asset. When LMCH invests in its buildings, that investment supports more than individual properties. It helps protect affordable housing, supports neighbourhood stability, and ensures public funds are used responsibly.
Renewing existing housing is also an important part of addressing housing needs in London and Middlesex County. By maintaining and improving the homes already in our portfolio, we help preserve affordable housing for current tenants and future generations.
This work also supports broader goals around climate action, accessibility, financial stewardship, and long-term planning.
How we decide where to invest
LMCH manages a large and aging housing portfolio. Not every project can happen at once, so decisions must be made carefully.
Capital investments are guided by building condition, health and safety needs, accessibility considerations, tenant impact, available funding, regulatory requirements, and long-term planning. Some projects are urgent because a system is near the end of its life. Others are planned over multiple years as part of broader renewal, redevelopment, or climate-related work.
Our goal is to make practical, responsible decisions that have the greatest impact for tenants, buildings, and the community.
Types of capital work
LMCH tracks capital investments using several main categories:
Elevators
This includes major repairs, modernization, and replacement work that helps keep elevators safe, reliable, and accessible for tenants and visitors.
Roofing
This includes roof repairs and replacements that protect buildings from water damage, improve building performance, and help extend the life of the property.
Electrical
This includes upgrades or replacements to electrical systems, lighting, panels, wiring, and other infrastructure needed to support safe and reliable building operations.
Mechanical
This includes heating, cooling, ventilation, boilers, pumps, plumbing systems, and other equipment that supports comfort, safety, and day-to-day building function.
Environmental
This includes projects that improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower utility use, or support more sustainable building operations.
Accessibility
This includes work that improves access and usability for tenants, visitors, and staff. Examples may include unit modifications, common area improvements, exterior access upgrades, and other changes that support more inclusive communities.
Understanding capital investment
Capital funding is used for major building and community investments. It is not the same as the budget used for regular day-to-day maintenance.
Because capital projects are often large and complex, funding may be planned across multiple years. A project may include costs for assessment, design, engineering, construction, project management, and other work required to complete the improvement properly.
The total investment shown for a project may include work that is already complete, work that is underway, or work that is planned as part of a larger approved project.
Explore our projects and plans
This section of our website brings together the major projects, plans, and tools that guide how LMCH invests in its homes and communities.
Learn more about:
- Reimagine Southdale
- Asset Management Plan
- Master Regeneration Plan
- Capital Investment Tracker
- Climate Action Plan
See where investments are happening
The Capital Investment Tracker provides a property-by-property look at major capital investments across LMCH communities. It shows the types of projects taking place, the level of investment, and how this work supports the long-term renewal of our housing portfolio.
