Download - homenews 2013
-
1www.warwickdc.gov.uk/tenant
Spring 2013 Issue 01
Your new WDC Housing Magazine - Formerly Home News
Housing Benefit
Biomass
ChangesSpot th
e
Van
A day in the life...
-
2Where possible, information can be made available in other formats, including large print, CD and other languages if required. To obtain one of these alternatives, please contact 01926 456447.
ContentsKeeping You Informed
Getting Involved
04 Biomass Heating Success
06 Our New Contractors07 Complaints Changes08 Tenants Together Awards 2013
10 Tenant Panel 11 Spot the van! Drop-ins
12 Estate Walkabouts13 Monks Way14 STAR Survey Winners15 STAR Survey Results16 Leaseholders News17 Going up! Facebook & Twitter
Managing EditorFiona Walsh
Housing & Property Services
Warwick District Council
01926 456447
The virgin fibre used in the paper for this product has
been derived from sustainably managed forests.
This product is fully recyclable.
Designed by The Media Room, Warwick District Council.
Editor Nicki Hughes
The Media Room
Warwick District Council
01926 456120
23 Ebay caller scam
28 House Swapper
-
3www.warwickdc.gov.uk
Welcome to the Spring issue of Tenants Together!
It now has a brand new look following your
feedback from our Tenants Together conference
last year. You liked the name Tenants Together
and the new, vibrant colours, so we decided to
give the Home News a makeover and a new
name - Tenants Together!
I am very pleased with the new look, and we will
be sending out a survey in the next few months to
find out what you think about it!
This issue we look at the current Welfare reforms
and answer some of your questions on our Ask
Lisa pages.
Youll hear from our Tenant Panel about their work.
They have had successful Estate Walkabouts and
you will see the changes made as a result.
For those of you who enjoy Facebook and Twitter
find out how to get in touch with us there!
Youll also read about action weve had to
take against tenants who break their tenancy
agreement, but theres also the opportunity to
recognise good neighbours with our Awards which
will be given out at our next Tenants Together
conference in September.
Well be back again in the Summer!
Jameel Malik
Head of Housing
Contact Housing & Property Services: www.warwickdc.gov.uk/housing
01926 412828
Safety First
Money Matters
22 Changes to Housing Benefit24 Welfare Reforms25 Credit Union26 Letters to Lisa
18 Prison Sentence for Eden Court Tenant
19 Latest Scams20 Fire Safety
Lifestyle
23 Ebay caller scam
28 A Day in A Life31 Word Search & Recipe
28 House Swapper
www.warwickdc.gov.uk/tenant
tenantstogether
@tenantstog
-
4Biomass Heating
These homes were previously heated by solid-fuel
and had no natural gas available to them. This meant
that the heating systems were not very efficient and
the tenants had high heating bills. We had some really
great feedback from our tenants, but to top it all off we
have received some excellent national recognition for
this project!
ShowcaseThe Central Governments Department of Energy and
Climate Change (DECC) were so impressed with the
project that they asked us to be showcased at a series
of Roadshows. These roadshows were set up to
promote to other organisations that grant funding was
available and the potential benefits that this could bring.
Mark Perkins presented at Durham University which
led to invitations to submit for two prestigious awards
competitions.
You may recall our article in a previous edition of Home News where we awarded funding to install Biomass heating at some of our properties in Lowsenford and Beausale.
Success!
AwardsIn September 2012, at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry,
our project was declared the National Renewables
Council Residential Renewables Project of the Year
2012 at an award ceremony presented by TV
personality Gabby Logan.
We saw off competition from seven other finalists from
as far afield as Dunfermline and Dorset.
This was swiftly followed by a second award when
the project was also judged Residential Renewables
Project of the Year 2012 at the MicroPower Council
awards held at Stoneleigh Park in October 2012.
Here we beat two other finalists in our category;
Hadleigh Court in Torquay a sheltered housing
development that installed Air-Source heat pumps to a
27 flat complex and Nottingham Trent University who
installed Solar Thermal Heating to 12 new blocks of
student accommodation.
These are prestigious awards and to win both is a clear
indication of the high quality of the Biomass installations
the Council has put in-place for its tenants.
Gabby Logan
-
5What Next?We have secured some more funding and Renuvo
have installed 7 more Biomass Boilers in the
Stoneleigh area so far this year. We are planning to
install a further 7 by the end of this year, which will
bring the total number of Biomass installations in
our properties to 33.
We have also secured funding to install a
commercial boiler at Tannery Court one of our
sheltered schemes. This boiler serves all of the
residents at Tannery Court and will not only
reduce tenants bills and be better
for the environment, it will also
generate income for the Council.
If this project is as big a success
as the previous ones we may be
looking at implementing at other
suitable sites.
Contact Housing & Property Services: www.warwickdc.gov.uk/housing
01926 412828
Biomass Heating S
ystem
Biomass Heating systems use scrap wood in the form of
either chips
or pellets as fuel
Look out
for update
s in
future editio
ns
Lawrence Toth & Andrew Percival, Directors Renuvo, collected the award
-
6Our contractors should always wear ID badges. If you are not sure, then before allowing access please contact us so that we can verify
The majority of the repairs and maintenance contracts came up for renewal in April, so we carried out a procurement exercise to get the best value for money possible.Some contractors have changed and some have stayed the same, so here
is a brief description of who our contractors are and what they will do.
Please continue to report all repairs as usual via the Customer Service Centre on 01926 412828.
Our New Contractorsfrom 1 April 2013
Ian Williams are responsible for all the
responsive building repairs in your home.
If something needs fixing that is not
gas or electric, then Ian Williams will come and fix it for you. They will also
be doing planned decorations, for example painting communal areas and
ensuring that empty properties are in good repair for the new tenant.
If your boiler breaks down or your heating stops
working, then D&K Heating will come and repair
it for you. They will also carry out the annual gas
safety check.
If your property is on the planned programme
for new windows and doors, kitchens and
bathrooms, then Lovell will come and do this
for you. If you have been approved for a disabled adaptation, they will also
carry this out.
If your property is on the planned programme
for a new roof, then G Purchase will do this
for you.
Sita
Refuse and
Recycling, to
include mixed plastics you
can now recycle plastics in
your red bag or box.
English Landscapes
Grounds Maintenance.
If you have any problems with the electrics
in your house then EM&I will come and fix
it for you. They will also carry out Periodic Inspections to make sure that the
electrics in your home are safe.
Veolia Street Cleansing, this
includes the 2 housing Rapid
Response Units.
Ocean Building Cleaning.
-
7Complaints ChangesFrom April 2013 there will be some changes to the way in which complaints about your Housing Landlord Services are managed.These changes only affect complaints relating to the
landlord service, not other housing related functions
for example, Housing and Homelessness Advice.
The main changes are:
A Single Ombudsman
At present all complaints from Local Authorities are
considered by the Local Government Ombudsman
(LGO) and complaints from Housing Associations are
considered by the Housing Ombudsman (HO). From
April 2013, all complaints from Housing Providers
that is both Local Authority Landlords and Housing
Associations will be considered by a single Housing
Ombudsman. Complainants dont need to worry - we
will always advise you of which Ombudsman you need
to go to if you are not sure.
Democratic Filter
The Localism Act is all about giving control back to the
local people and the changes in the complaints process
are all about encouraging customers to work with their
landlords to resolve issues locally, without the need to
escalate them to the Ombudsman.
If a complainant has exhausted the landlords internal
complaints procedure the democratic filter allows for
the complainant to approach a designated person to
resolve the complaint. A designated person can be an
MP, Councillor or a Designated Tenants Panel Member.
A designated person will help resolve the complaint in
one of two ways; they can try and resolve the complaint
themselves or they can refer the complaint straight to
the Ombudsman. If they refuse to do either the tenant
can contact the Ombudsman directly.
Complaints to the
Ombudsman do not
have to be referred by
a designated person,
but if they are not there must be at least 8 weeks from
the end of the landlords complaint process before the
Ombudsman can consider the case.
Luckily, most complaints do not go to this level and we
work with our customers to resolve problems as soon
as they arise, so hopefully you wont ever need to worry
about this. In the unfortunate event that you do need to,
we will always be available to offer advice and guidance
on the process that you need to follow.
Whats not changing?
The current internal complaints process will stay the
same. Stage one will be investigated by an officer from
within the department and stage 2 will be investigated
by an officer from outside the department. You can still
make your complaints the same way in writing, on the
website or over the telephone.
Whats next?
We will be updating our complaints policy and literature
to reflect the changes and this will be available on our
website before April so keep a look out for it.
Ask for a leaflet or contact: www.warwickdc.gov.uk/housing
01926 412828
-
8We need your nominations for this years Tenants Together Awards!
Do you know a tenant who is always doing good for their neighbours and the community?
Have you been looking for a way to thank and recognise someone for what they do?
You can nominate someone for the Tenants Together Award for any of the 3
categories. All winners will receive a certificate and a great prize which will be
presented at Tenants Together 2013.
Well here is your
chance!
-
9The Categories are:
Young Person of the Year
Do you know someone aged under 21 who lives in
a Warwick District Council Property? Do you want to
recognise them for achieving something or making a
contribution to the community? It could be an achievement
in sport or education, or doing some volunteering, or it could
be that they have given up time to care for family or friends!
Good Neighbour of the Year
Do they demonstrate your idea of a perfect neighbour? Do
they do things to help you or the community? Are they good
at bringing community spirit to where you live? It could be
as simple as helping with the shopping or gardening, or they
helped out in an emergency.
Excellence in the Community
Do you know of a tenant who has done something to
improve the quality of life for people living in the community?
This could be anything from environmental projects to
setting up community events for the benefit of all.
If any of the categories sounds like someone you know,
then please fill out the nomination form enclosed. They could
win a fabulous prize and they will know just how
much you value them.
How do I enter?
We welcome
nominations from
anyone, but the
person you put
forward for
consideration
must be a
council tenant.
Please complete the enclosed
nomination form, making sure that all
questions are completed.
All nominations must be submitted
to Warwick District Councils Tenant
Participation Officer Margaret Allen
at: Warwick District Council, Riverside
House, Leamington Spa, CV32 5HZ
by 31 July 2013.
What happens next?
The deadline for entry is
31 July 2013.
The Tenant Panel will review the
entries and will select a winner for
each of the categories.
We will write to all nominees and
the person who nominated them
to inform them and invite them to
Tenants Together 2013 where the
winners will be announced and
prizes given out.
Contact your Tenant Participation Officer: Margaret Allen
01926 456451
-
10
In our last Home News item we invited you to consider
volunteering to help with the work of the Tenant Panel.
We always need more people to help out and urge you
to consider getting involved! It is a unique experience
only available to Council Tenants and we need to do it
for the benefit of all.
The Tenant Panel has agreed that while the monitoring
function is ongoing we also need to show that we can
be pro-active and the best way is to push ourselves into
the limelight so that you can see what we do and also
to gain your confidence. To do this we intend to set up
Estate Walkabouts.
When the Tenant Panel has organised a Walkabout,
invitations will be sent out and Tenants invited to
participate. In the next issue of Tenants Together we
hope to give the Estate area we have chosen for the
first inspection, with others to follow later.
The Tenant Panel also want to follow up inspections
to check on progress and ensure change takes place
when necessary.
During the next few months we also want to improve
communication between the Tenant Panel and all
Tenants so that contact is made by as many methods
as possible. Watch this Space!
Tenant PanelIt has been a busy three months for the Tenant Panel with our Champions involved in many aspects of the Service being provided by the Housing Department. Mystery Shopping, Service Improvement Groups and the Tenant Panel Meetings have all been held and our monitoring function is ongoing.
The NextStep
Under the present harsh economic
conditions it is important that Tenants
have a voice and feel they will be heard.
We need to make a difference despite
the difficult choices facing us all and
with the changes forced upon us by
Welfare Reform.
What do you think? The Welfare changes are included in
the work of Housing & Property Services
and your Tenant Panel will monitor this
development.
Join the Tenant Panel and have your say!
The Future
Latest news and updates
-
11
Come and drop in for a coffee with your housing team, well be more than happy to discuss your housing needs.
We have had
to cancel the
Cubbington
drop-in due to the
lack of attendance
and this has probably
been for two reasons;
The Village Hall is only available to
use on a Wednesday morning
Wednesdays is also Market
day and many residents catch a
free bus there.
MayThursday 2ndPackmores 10am - 12noon
Wednesday 8thBeauchamp Court 10am - 12noon
Thursday 9th The Gap 2pm - 4pm
JuneThursday 6thPackmores 10am - 12noon
Wednesday 12thBeauchamp Court 10am - 12noon
Thursday 13th The Gap 2 - 4pm
JulyThursday 4thPackmores 10am - 12noon
Wednesday 10thBeauchamp Court 10am - 12noon
Thursday 11th The Gap 2 - 4pm
Wednesday 17 April PM Bromehall Lane and Harborough cottages
Thursday 18 April AM Starmer Close
Tuesday 23 April AM Ayelsbury Road
Tuesday 23 April PM Rising Lane
Tuesday 14 May AM Bostock Crescent and St Michaels Close
Tuesday 14 May PM School Croft
Wednesday 15 May AM Edinburgh Villa, Bromleigh Villas and Rowley Road
Tuesday 21 May AM Hall Close and Dudley Terrace
Tuesday 4 June AM Wasperton Lane, Wellsbourne Road and Sandy Way
Wednesday 5 June AM Slade Hill and Ryder Close
Wednesday 5 June PM Shrewley Common
Tuesday 25 June AM Hampton Croft, Old School Road and Ryder Close
Tuesday 2 July AM Broadway, Price Road,Stonehouse Road
Tuesday 2 July PM Windmill Hill, Cross Lane
Tuesday 16 July AM The Elms
Tuesday 16 July PM Gifford Road
If you live in the area and would still like a drop-in do get in touch with Margaret Allen to let her know!
Drop-ins Spot the Van!Our Tenant Participation Officer, Margaret Allen is going to be out
and about across the district in her new look van on the dates below.
She would love it if you would pop over for a chat, she gets lonely
otherwise! If you do, you might even win a prize!
If you see her during these times, just email her the day/date/time you
saw her and you will be entered into a free prize draw.
-
12
The Tenant Panel will have the
Grounds Maintenance and
Communal Cleaning specifications
and will be inspecting to ensure
the full completion of those
specifications is being undertaken.
We will also look at the general state
of an area and recommend changes
or improvements as required to the
building and surrounding areas.
An Estate Walkabout will be
advertised locally and all Tenants
invited to attend and report issues,
problems, worries and concerns so
that a problem shared is a problem
solved and the general improvement
of an area is achieved. It is not to be
thought of as intrusive but should be
seen as helpful and constructive.
All comments can be given at the
inspection, but we also welcome
your comments by phone or letter
to the Tenant Participation Officer
before or after the inspection!
Any comments can be taken in
confidence, when required.
All issues will be dealt with by the
Tenant Panel to improve the work
of Housing & Property Services
and hopefully result in a Service
Improvement which is what the
Tenant Panel has been set up to do!
We need to set up the system
properly to record all issues, pass
to the relevant Housing section
and receive feedback confirmation
documented and available for
the next inspection to check on
the result.
Estate Walkabouts
These will be formal site visits run by the Tenant Panel and attended by Housing Officers with invitations
to Councillors, Contractors and Representatives from other Council service areas.
We hope to start these inspections by May 2013 which should
give us time to establish the procedures, train the Inspection
volunteers and send out Invitations to all Tenants to advise them
when they will take place.
An Estate
Walkabout will
be advertised
locally
Contact Housing & Property Services: www.warwickdc.gov.uk/housing
01926 456451
-
13
We were approached by the Westgate Residents Group about the problems they were having at Monks Way in Warwick.
These included issues with
anti-social behaviour due to
the lack of security with the
doors, as well as problems
with rubbish and fly tipping.
As well as spending over
10,000 on new security
doors we consulted tenants
and decided that it would
be a good idea to organise
a community walkabout,
so that
we could speak to tenants and see what they
were referring to. On 17 January the residents,
Tenant Panel, Recycling, Ian Williams, James
Baker Senior Estate Supervisor, and Margaret
Allen gathered together and set off for a
walkabout, whilst discussing with residents their
concerns for the area. It was agreed that there is
a considerable amount of work still to be done!
As a result of
this walkabout
a number
of items were
identified including;
Recycling/bin stores to
be cleaned up.
New recycling and general
waste bins have been ordered
at the cost of over 5,000.
The back gates will be repaired,
to make the site more secure.
The fencing will have anti-
climb paint applied to stop
inappropriate access.
We also looked at other streets
nearby and identified work to be
done, including;
A damaged street light has been
reported to Warwickshire County
Council street lighting.
Friar Street we are looking
into making changes to
damaged fences.
Garden waste to be removed
and some of the shrubs and
trees need to be cut back
and tidied.
Woodhouse Street fencing to
be repaired.
Westgate Close a tree that has
been removed will be replaced at
a later date.
Crompton Street
no problems identified.
Community Walkabout
New security doors being fitted
Follow up work has been organised at Monks Way
Monks Way
-
14
In October we sent over 6000 satisfaction surveys to all our Tenants and Leaseholders. We received an amazing 2165 responses thats a whopping 35% of you responded!
Opposite are some of the results
which you will find interesting.
We will be using your feedback
to look into areas where
satisfaction needs to be
improved and will work with you
to improve services and increase
customer satisfaction continually.
Look out for the next edition
of Tenants Together where we
will be publishing our Annual
Report which will have some
more analysis. Also keep an
eye on our website for further
information.
STAR Survey
Results
STAR Survey
Winners Our partners and contractors supported our Tenants Together conference last year by donating some exciting prizes for tenants to win. Here are the winners and their prizes!Congratulations to all our lucky winners
Sky SubscriptionDavid Bidwell
250 shopping vouchersMr J Clarke
Kieran Patterson
IpodMs Sue Davis
Ocean cleaner for dayEmma Baylis
50 voucherMrs E Lawson
Christmas HampersDoreen Hinks
Hazel Stephens
Cinema ticketsJohn Wheatcroft
Swimming voucherBernie Cuffe
Other luckyWINNERS
WINNERof the Sa
msung
Galaxy Tablet
Cllr Norman Vincett presents
the prize to Mr & Mrs Barnett
-
At the end of2012, Housing and Property Services sent out a satisfaction survey to tenants and leaseholders.
Surveys were returned in these formats:
Satisfaction by area:
Satisfaction by tenancy type:
1.
2.
4.
3.
surveys sent out
6,077
returned by post
2,050
surveys returned
2,165
STARSurvey ResultsJanuary 2013
36% return rate
returned by phone
62returned online
53
Older People Housing
GeneralHousing
LeaseholderHousing
91%
85%
49%
Leamington Spa& surrounding
Kenilworth& surrounding
Warwick& surrounding O = 93%
G = 85%L = 50%
O = 90%G = 87%L = 28%
O = 89%G = 84%L = 59%
O = Older People HousingG = General HousingL = Leaseholder Housing
STAR Survey
Results
15
-
16
Leaseholders News
Housing and Property Services
Next Leaseholder General Meeting
Your responsibilities
As a leaseholder you have taken on a number of
responsibilities under the lease agreement. This is
not only in your own flat, you have in effect become a
shareholder in the building where your flat is and have
some responsibilities for the block.
Repairsandmaintenance:
You are responsible for keeping the inside of your
After a lot of work a final version of the new
Leaseholders Handbook produced by Warwick
District Council and The Leaseholders Action
Group will soon be available.
See the Summer edition of Tenants Together
for more details.
Leaseholder
HandbookNEW
The next Leaseholder General meeting will take
place on the 29 May, it is also the Annual General meeting.
Jameel Malik Head of Housing and Property Services will
be attending to make a presentation about Leaseholders in
Warwick District.
The meeting as usual will be at the Town Hall starting at 7pm.
flat in a reasonable condition and not doing anything
or allowing anyone living with you, renting or leasing
your property or visiting you to do something
resulting in damage to the flat or building. You have
a duty to report damage or faults you find in the
building to your landlord.
Livingwithyourneighbours:
Like you, others in the building have the right to
quiet enjoyment of their homes. You must make sure
that you or anyone living in your flat does not cause
a nuisance to others. The council will take action
against nuisance neighbours and both tenants and
leaseholders risk losing their homes if they cause
a nuisance.
Servicecharges:
You have taken on the responsibility to pay towards
the costs of repairing and maintaining the building
(and estate) and the services provided by the
management company for example, caretaking,
grounds maintenance and concierge services. Failing
to pay your service charges is against the conditions
of your lease and can put your home at risk.
Come and join us
-
17
Do you like us?
You can now keep
in touch with your
housing team by
social media! You can
Like us on Facebook
and you can follow
us on Twitter. These
are both great ways of
sharing information,
commenting on
something youve
seen or read about
housing, or asking us
a question.
Tenantstogether
@tenantstog
Foster and Cross Ltd will be looking after the service and maintenance
of the lifts and stair lifts in our properties.
Any faults or breakdowns should
continue to be reported through the
repairs number: 01926 412828 or by
email [email protected]
Foster and Cross Ltd will also help
if you get trapped and cover out of
hours support. Please do not email if someone
is trapped or you need an emergency repair,
these should be reported by
telephone only.
If you have any problems or concerns regarding the lifts or stair lifts please
contact Andrew Dyke Building Surveyor, Housing & Property Services.
Trapped?Do not call 999
as the Fire Service no longer attend
this type of emergency call.
A few handy hints from Andrew Dyke to avoid lifts
breaking down;
Do not force, prop or wedge the doors open.
This can cause the lift to malfunction and possibly
breakdown.
Do not overload the lift beyond the capacity stated in the lift car.
Do not allow your children to play in the lift.
If you are ever trapped in the lift, please report by telephoning the
call centre as above. The Council lift engineer will attend within
30 minutes.
Going up
HandyHints
Call 01926 412828 if;
you find damaged asbestos in your home,
let us know immediately!
youre not sure whether you have asbestos
in your home well check our register, or arrange to visit.
you would like a leaflet about asbestos.
How is Warwick District Council making homes safe?Warwick District Council is currently surveying many of our properties to identify any potential asbestos risks that may be present. We have an Asbestos Management Plan in place, which is our legal duty, and explains how asbestos containing materials will be managed to prevent exposure to airborne fibres.By Law all non domestic properties must have a survey carried out. Warwick District Council has carried out asbestos surveys to all its communal areas. We have recorded the location of asbestos materials and where needed these have been removed or protected, any asbestos materials left in place are re-inspected on an annual basis.
In line with the Law, and with Central Government policy, Warwick District Council will leave any asbestos that is in good condition and is unlikely to be damaged, as it is safer to leave it where it is. Where there is a high risk, and asbestos has to be removed, we will use a specialist asbestos removal contractor.
IN YOUR HOME
This is a guide about asbestos: what it is, its health effects, where it may be in the home, and what you can do about it.
Getting in touch
To contact us, call Warwick District Council on: 01926 412828
Where possible, information can be made available in other formats, including large print, CD and other languages if required. To obtain one of these alternatives, please contact 01926 412828
www.warwickdc.gov.uk
Dont worry if you arent
using social media we
are still available by the
usual channels, website,
email and phone!
Facebook &Twitter
Asbestos
Contact Housing & Property Services: [email protected] 01926 412828
-
18
In a recent judgement in the Magistrates Court, a tenant of Eden Court in Leamington Spa was handed a 14 day prison sentence for breaching an anti- social behaviour order preventing the keeping of a dog in a flat. The sentence was suspended for 6 months.
Dave Ward, Housing Manager, stated that, In this case the
Court was determined to address the tenants breach of an anti-social
behaviour injunction, previously granted and prevented the keeping of
a dog in a flat. By continuing to keep the dog, the tenant was held in
contempt of the Court.
If a dog is found to be at the property again, the tenant will be arrested
and imprisoned. This sends out a clear message to tenants who persist
in keeping dogs in flats in contravention of their Tenancy
Agreement.
The Council will take effective
action against those who
fail to maintain the terms of
their Tenancy
Agreement.
Prison sentence threatened for keeping a dog in a flat
On Monday 21 January 2013
Warwick District Council housing
department successfully sought
an Interim Anti-Social Behaviour
Injunction against Mr Arthur Fear who
is currently of no fixed address having
been evicted by Warwick District
Council from his property at Eden
Court due to anti-social behaviour.
This action followed a Closure Order
obtained by Warwickshire Police in
October 2012.
The order prevents Mr Fear entering
Eden Court or being abusive,
aggressive, threatening or intimidating
towards Council employees,
contractors or any person residing,
visiting or carrying out a lawful activity
in or within the district of Warwick
District Council.
Jameel Malik, Head of Housing &
Property Services, commented that,
the granting of this Order
will come as a great relief to the
local community who have
suffered considerable anti-social
behaviour as a result of the
behaviour of this individual.
Warwick District Council will continue
to take effective action against
perpetrators of anti-social behaviour
working in partnership
with Warwickshire Police
and other agencies.
If you know of a dog being kept in a
flat,
please let your Housing Officer kno
w.
-
19
PPI Claims The company phones
customers to get their
interest and details by
claiming they have overpaid
their mortgage and are due a
rebate. They then offer to reclaim
their PPI payments.
Please report any unexpected
phone calls to the Information
Commissioners Office (ICO).
Your information can help them
track down and fine people who
pester consumers with unwanted
phone calls.
www.snapsurveys.com
If you have paid PPI and are
seeking compensation,
you can do so for free:
www.moneysavingexpert.com
Ebay Caller Warning!A resident reported taking a call from someone phoning on an
international number. The caller claimed to represent Ebay and asked if
they had made a 94 purchase which the caller claimed was fraudulent
and would he like his money back?
The resident was told he would need to download a Western Union
reclaim form and was given some strange instructions as to how to do
this on his PC. The resident immediately put his phone down.
Trading Standards think this was an elaborate attempt to gain access to
the residents computer, after which personal or financial information might
be stolen or viruses downloaded.
Ebay is very unlikely to make cold calls to consumers.
Watch out thereare scams about!
Be aware of high pressure sales
phone calls and visits from people
selling (or in some cases giving
away) solar panels.
Consumers should not buy from
the door or from the first person
they receive an unexpected phone
call from. Consumers should obtain
professional and independent
advice, visit:
ww.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
For more information on scams,
visit:
www.warwickshire.gov.uk/
scams
Follow twitter:
www.twitter.com/warkstss
High Pressure Solar Panel Sellers Warning
-
2020
We are working in partnership with Warwickshire County Council to improve the safety of residents living in rented properties.
Fire Safety
Warwick District Council
takes fire safety, and the
safety of its residents,
very seriously. The aim of
this initiative is to ensure
that all rented properties
owned by Warwick District
Council are suitably
equipped to alert Tenants
to smoke and fire.
The Councils programme
of testing, maintenance
and upgrade ensures
all homes are fitted with
a hard wired smoke
detector system according
to BS5839-6:2004.
Contractors, EM&I Limited
are working on our behalf
and visiting homes to
confirm what protection
is currently in
place, assess if an
upgrade is required
and fit any necessary
new interlinked hard wired
smoke detectors.
Dont let your home end up like this
-
21
Officers from both the Warwickshire Fire
Service and Warwick District Council are
visiting Tenants homes to explain the
importance of having the upgrade work
done and offering general fire safety advice
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue
Services Community Safety and
Youth Development Manager,
Moreno Francioso, says:
The fitting of hard wired
smoke detectors into all
the properties owned
by the District Council
is something which we
whole-heartedly support.
It is a real step forward in
increasing the safety of residents
living in rented accommodation and
we would encourage those tenants
who are having this work carried out
to embrace the changes.
Whilst we know some tenants
may already have smoke detectors
fitted by the fire service, we would
encourage them to take up the
offer of a hard wired system. This
is because of two reasons, one is
that they have a battery backup,
so you will have a functional smoke
detector, even if the power goes
out. The second reason is that
hardwired smoke detectors usually
have a signal wire connected
between them that allow them to
communicate to each other when
there is smoke. This means that
even in a large home if there is a fire
on the other side of the house, the
smoke detector in your bedroom will
go off giving you plenty of time to
evacuate.
We are working hard to ensure
all homes are fitted with hard
wired smoke alarms. They offer
much better protection than the
traditional battery smoke alarms
and we strongly advise Tenants
to have them installed. Although
there is some disruption during
installation, you never know when
they might save your life!
Warwick District Councils
Programme Administrator,
Ellie Phillips
21
A real step
forward in
increasing
the safety of
residents
Contact Ellie Phillips for more information: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/firesafetycheck
01926 456067
-
What you need to know about
Changes to
Housing BenefitIf you claim housing benefit to help
you pay your rent, then you may be
affected by changes from 1 April this
year. These changes will mean you
could get less than you did before.
How many bedrooms do you have?
From this April, if you live in a
Warwick District Council home and
have one or more spare bedrooms
your housing benefit could be
reduced if;
You are 16 61 years old
You get even a small amount of
housing benefit, for example if
you are working
You are sick or disabled
You will not be affected if;
You live in a one bedroom flat
or bedsit
You or your partner is not old
enough to receive pension
credits. The pension credit
age will be around 61 years
and 6 months.
22
What is a spare bedroom?
Under the new rules, if you have more bedrooms than the
Government says you need, you will lose part of your housing
benefit. The new rules mean that you will be allocated one
bedroom for the following;
Each adult couple
Any other person aged 16 or over
Two children of the same sex under the age of 16
Two children under the age of 10, regardless of their sex
Any other child
A carer, who does not normally live with you, if you or your
partner need overnight care.
It does not matter how the spare bedroom is being used,
the rules apply even if;
You and your partner need to sleep apart because of a
medical condition
The main residence of your children is another address, but
you have a spare room for when they stay with you.
-
23
Did you know the Government is reducing the amount of housing benefit that some people claim?
If you claim housing benefit to help you pay your rent, then you may be affected by changes from 1 April 2013. These changes will mean you could get less than you did before.
Contact Lisa Crossland www.warwickdc.gov.uk
01926 456454
What happens if you have a spare bedroom?
If you have one spare bedroom, your
housing benefit will be cut by 14% of the rent
you pay every week.
If you have two or more spare bedrooms you
will lose 25%.
If your benefit is cut you will have to pay
Warwick District Council the difference
between your housing benefit and your rent.
What should I do?
Please contact Lisa Crossland for help and
advice. She can help you to claim the correct
benefits and maximise your income. She can
also help you with budgeting and advise ways
to save money.
?
Lisa can help you claim
the correct benefits
-
24
Welfare ReformsLatest news and updatesHome Swapper If you think you could be affected by the Welfare Reforms
and Under Occupation, then why not register with
Homeswapper? It is quick and easy to join, simply log onto
the website and complete your household details, what type
of home you are looking for, and it will automatically match
you with suitable properties. www.HomeSwapper.co.uk
Questionnaires We have sent out over 750
questionnaires to tenants who are going
to be affected by Under Occupation
and while many of you have returned
them, we still want to hear from as many
of you as possible. If you havent yet
returned yours, please take a few minutes
to complete it as your views are really
important to us. If you havent received
one please let Lisa Know. We will then
look at how to help people go forward if
they are affected by these changes.
Coventry & Warwickshire Co-operative Development Agency (CDA)If you need some help and advice with
managing your money then why not
call into Riverside House on a Thursday
morning? Leah Hutchby from CDA will
be there to help! Her contact number is
0792 5352672 if you need further advice,
or want to make an appointment.
-
25
Benefits of a Credit Union:
Low-cost loans
Interest rates from
1% on the reducing
balance (12.7%) APR).
Loans available up to
5,000.
Easy saving at your
local savings point or
direct from your bank
by standing order
or from your pay by
Payroll Deductions.
Insurance on savings
and loans (subject to
conditions).
Profit used for
the benefit of the
members.
How do I get a loan?
Once you have shown
that you can save
regularly (minimum of
10 weeks) with the
Credit Union, you
can then apply for a
loan. Credit Unions
are different from
banks and building
societies because
they only lend to
members who are
regular savers.
You can save as much or as little as you want.
South Warwickshire Credit Union
What is a credit union?
How safe is my money?Credit Unions are regulated by the Financial Services
Authority just like every other financial organisation
and are required to hold insurance which protects
them from fraud or theft.
The head office is in Stratford-upon-Avon and
there are collection points throughout the
surrounding areas.
A Credit Union is a co-operative organisation that offers its members a savings and low-cost loans service.
Contact South Warwickshire Credit Union: www.southwarwickshirecreditunion.co.uk
01789 261505
-
26
I am a single parent of 5 children, aged 15 down to
1 year old, their father is not around and I am unable to
contact him, but I do think he is working. I am trying to
study one day a week to get some GCSEs at college,
but it is hard to find childcare for all the children who
are at different stages of their education. I have been
told I will lose 84 a week from my housing benefit and
will have to pay my rent on top of losing this amount.
What can I do?.
My initial advice would be to contact the child
support agency and give them as much information
as possible about your ex partner, to enable them to
try and access some child maintenance for you, which
will help to maximise your income. I would suggest we
look at your income and ensure you are claiming all the
benefits you are entitled to following this, look at your
options for childcare and possible part
time-work. We can consider an
application for Discretionary
Housing Payment, which is
only temporary, but could
support you until you are in
a position to return to work.
Our Income Recovery Officer, Lisa Crossland, takes us through some of the letters and emails she has received from tenants. Her answers might help you if you have any similar concerns.
Will we be classed as under occupying?
Q I am 45 years old, my partner is 40. We have a son aged 3 and a daughter aged
5. We currently live in a 3 bedroom property.
Will we be classed as under occupying?.
A Yes, you will be under occupying 1 bedroom. Under the new regulations children of different
gender are expected to share until the age of 10.
A deduction of 14% of your rent will be made
from your Housing Benefit. You may be able to
apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment or
there may be other options available to you.
Ask Lisa
It is hard to find childcare for all the children who are at different stages of their education
I have been told I will lose 84 a week from my housing benefit Q A
-
27
Worried about Universal Credit?
I am currently claiming income
support, I am single parent with
one child age 3 years, I am
worried about Universal Credit
and dont understand when
it is all going to change?.
In April 2013 Universal Credit
pathfinders being in the North West
(Tameside, Oldham, Wigan and
Warrington), Oct 2013 Universal
Credit will be introduced for some
new claimants. This is likely to only
be in some areas and with the most
straightforward claims such as
Job Seekers Allowance claimants
who are single and do not require
assistance with their housing costs.
April 2014 Existing claimants
of the eligible benefits (Job
Seekers Allowance, income
support, employment and support
allowance, child tax credits) will
begin transferring to Universal
Credit. There will be no new tax
credit claims after this date.
By Oct 2017, all claimants will
be on Universal Credit. So you
will see it is going to be a long
phased transfer period for new
and existing claimants.
Is Council Tax benefit included
in Universal Credit?
No, Council Tax Benefit will sit
outside UC. It will be calculated and
administered by local authorities.
The overall amount Local Authorities
will receive will be cut by 10% from
April 2013 with only payments
for pensioners definitely being
protected.
My partner is 50 years old
and I am 52, we currently live in a
2 bedroom property which we
need due to a medically certified
illness that my partner suffers
from. How many bedrooms are we
allowed under the new rules?.
One. There is no provision
for a spare bedroom in these
circumstances. A deduction
of 14% will be made from your
Housing Benefit; you may be
able to apply for
a Discretionary
Housing Payment.
I have received a letter
advising me I will be affected
by the Benefit Cap, one of
my children has learning
difficulties and I receive
Disability Living Allowance for
him, will I still be affected?
If you, your partner or your
child receive Disability Living
Allowance, you will be exempt
from the Benefit Cap.
Q
Q
Q
Q
A
A
A
A
Contact Lisa with your questions: [email protected]
01926 456454
Housing Services, PO Box 2175, Warwick District Council,
Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Royal Leamington Spa, CV32 5QE
-
28
8:00 amFiona has an early start. She will
take a walk round the building, test
the fire alarms and the water, which
has to be done weekly. She will
also make the morning calls to the
residents to say hello and to check
everything is ok.
9:00 amFiona goes through the files which
have been left for her from the staff
working overnight. Sometimes
residents have needed a visit from
the Warwick Response Officers; this
could vary from ambulances being
called to residents not being well or
needing assistance during the night.
The evening staff always document
what has happened so that Fiona
is fully up to date with the previous
nights events in case anything
needs following up during the day.
9:15 amFiona has a catch up with her
assistant manager and any staff
working that day. They discuss the
latest news about the residents
and update each other on any
developments they need to be
aware of. At the moment they are
discussing Kenilworth Carnival as
theyve entered this year and will
need to go through a lot of planning.
The whole of Tannery Court will be
getting involved!
9:30 amFiona takes a walk round to see the
residents, some need a morning
visit. Some residents are very
vulnerable and need extra support,
Fiona will support each and every
one of them to ensure they feel safe
and happy in their environment.
Sometimes Fiona will visit just to
have a chat as she can be the only
person they may see in the day,
especially if they are ill.
10:15 amWhen back in the office
Fiona deals with any
requests from residents
for repairs or any issues
they might have at the
moment they are settling in
a few new residents, Fiona
will help them in setting up
direct debits for their rent
or giving them advice on
the services available in and
around Kenilworth.
A Day in the Life..
This issue we visit one of our Scheme Managers who looks
after our tenants at Tannery Court. She also has the help of her
daughter, Rebecca Davy, 12, who attends Kenilworth School,
but gives up her free time to help out whenever she can.
Of Fiona Davy, Scheme Manager at Tannery Court
-
29
Tenants families are encouraged to get involved in the Support Plan to ensure the tenant has adapted well to living in sheltered housing and to discuss any concerns or worries they may have, this plan is
updated every 6 months to ensure all our tenants are getting the right support.
11:00 amFiona has a meeting with
Bhavan Jhita, Building
Surveyor; he has come over
to inspect the roof which
has just been repaired for
leaks. He disappears up
into the loft area for a while,
but emerges satisfied that
the work has been carried out
to his specification.
12:00 pmFiona has to make an
emergency call for an
ambulance as one of
the residents has had a fall and
needs to get checked out at
hospital. This is awful for the other
residents, who obviously want to
know their neighbour is ok and
some become a bit upset. Its
very much about getting them all
calmed down and ensuring the
ambulance crew can get in and out
quickly. Says Fiona.
12:45 pmFiona is working on a Support
Plan for one of her residents, this
involves chatting to the tenant,
asking questions and filling in forms
to make sure they are getting all
the support they may need. The
Support Plan is also designed to
make sure the tenant is happy with
the social side of their life too. It is
very important for each tenant to fill
in the plan, as it is their opportunity
to highlight any areas that could be
improved, and Fiona and her team
can then work towards getting the
right support in, whether it is carers,
meals on wheels or encouraging
them to make new friends.
Contact Housing & Property Services: www.warwickdc.gov.uk/housing
01926 412828
-
3030
2:00 pm
Our weekly Bingo session begins!
The residents really enjoy this its
a chance for them to get together
and have a chat and a bit of fun. I
also enjoy the opportunity to have
a chat with the residents before
Bingo starts. Some of them are
happier talking in a more informal
environment. Says Fiona.
2:30 pmFiona has a meeting with Social
Services about one of the tenants,
whom she and the family are
concerned about the amount of
support they are getting. They have
set the meeting up with a Social
Worker to talk about increasing the
care package. This was successful
and the tenant is now getting a
lunch call to make sure she has a
hot meal in the daytime.
3:15 pmFiona takes a well earned,
albeit, late lunch!
4:00 pmFiona is back writing up residents
files and making sure everything
is up to date everything that
happens during the day is written
up in the residents files so a
detailed record can be kept. This
is a very important part of the day.
Record keeping is vital and any
mistakes can mean the tenant does
not get the support they need. It is
also important for any other staff
that may need to access it, such as
Warwick Response Officers, who
need to be aware of all the historic
information about all the residents.
Today Fionas daughter has come
in to meet with the residents. Fiona
says Rebecca will often drop in
after school to sit and chat with
them and to see how they are.
They love having her around and
always look forward to her visits.
They spend time telling her stories
as well as finding out what she has
been up to. They really get a lot out
of her visits and are always singing
her praises.
It makes me feel really proud that
she wants to spend her time here,
but I know how much she enjoys
herself!
4:30 pmFiona has a meeting with a local
Doctor, he is running through the
new medication that one of the
residents needs. Fiona will then
update the residents files to ensure
all the other staff are aware of this.
4:45 pmAs her day draws to a close,
Fiona sends a communication
sheet through to Central Control,
to ensure that the team there are
aware of which residents are in,
which, if any, need a visit during the
night and to let them know if there is
anything on in the evening,
as they visit and make sure the
building is safe and secure
every evening.
5:00 pmFinish for the day.
A Day in the Life... continued
-
Quick Recipe
Have a go at this cake which
is always a winner, according
to Margaret Allen, our Tenant
Participation Officer! Quick and
easy to make, its perfect for a
mid morning snack!
Ingredients 2 eggs - weigh the 2 whole
eggs (with shells on) and then
weigh the same amount in
caster sugar and flour
3 mashed bananas
jar cranberry sauce
(265g size Jar)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pre heat oven to 180c/gas
mark 4 and grease a large
loaf tin or two small ones.
Cream together the sugar and
butter until light and fluffy beat
in the eggs, and mix in the mashed
banana, cranberry sauce and vanilla
essence, slowly fold in the flour and
baking powder and turn in to the
loaf tin/s
Bake for 65 minutes in the
pre-heated oven or until a
skewer inserted in the centre
is clear.
1
2
3
Cranberry and
Banana cake
E A D T Q P H L T G S C
K P O I I A A F R R R R
A P U U T Q P E I E O F
C L G R S A B A A C W N
P E H F O N L M K M S K
U Y N G E C R Y Z H Q W
C O U T E Y R I A F X R
E R T C H O C O L A T EA A S F A W O T K Z I EB J W D S E I N W O R B
A N G E L O A G Y O U Z
F R Q U S O E E X K V W
ANGEL
APPLE
BATTENBERG
BROWNIES
CHOCOLATE
CREAM
CUPCAKE
DOUGHNUTS
ECLAIRS
FAIRY
FRUIT
ROCKYROAD
SPONGE
WIN a 40 Tesco Gift card or one of the four runners-up prizes of a 5 Tesco Gift Card!One word from the word bank
opposite is not in the puzzle. If you
can find it, complete the form below
and post it to us before 30 April
2013. In the event of a tie, first out
of the hat wins.
Name
...........................................................................................
Address
...........................................................................................
...........................................................................................
Tel ..................................................................................
The missing word is
...........................................................................................
Send your entries to: Fiona Walsh
Housing & Property Services
PO Box 2175
Warwick District Council
Riverside House, Milverton Hill
Royal Leamington Spa, CV32 5QE
You can add in some
chopped walnuts if desired
to give an extra crunch.
Wordsearch
Wordsearch WinnersCongratulations to Jenny
Dealtry from Leamington Spa,
she wins a 40 ADSA voucher
for finding the missing word
RAIN. Why not have a go, it
could be you next time!
-
Repairs 01926 412828 [email protected]
Housing Directory Council Housing
Estates Supervisors
Eileen McKeogh,
Christine Ledger Square
T:07866 609655
John Lamb, Fallow Hill/Stamford
Gardens/Binswood Street
(grounds maintenance only)
T:07866 609674
Andy Smith, Kennedy/
St Pauls Square
T:07866 609657
Ant Collins, New Brook Street/
Radcliffe Gardens/Westbrook
House/Dell House/
44 Clarendon Square
(grounds maintenance only)
T:07866 609656
James Baker, Senior
Estates Supervisor
T:07979 486617 or 01926 456444
Corporate Complaints
Fiona Walsh
T:01926 456447
Disabled Adaptations
T:01926 456405
Garages Applying for a garage
Mrs Darlison/Mrs Leech
T: 01926 456424/5
Garage Repairs
T: 01926 412828
Housing Advice, HomeChoice
and Homelessness
T:01926 456427/428/359
HomeChoice and Housing
Officer enquiries
T: 01926 412828
Housing Repairs queries
T: 01926 412828
Leaseholder Enquiries
T:01926 456420
Lettings & Moving Home
Overdue Gas Servicing
T:01926 456035
Refuse & Recycling
T:01926 412464
Rents
Problems with paying
your home rent
Yusaf Ramzan/Mark Herbert
T:01926 456438/457/435
Problems with paying
your garage rent
Kathy Lewis T:01926 456239
Rent Direct Debit Eva Nicholls
T: 01926 456409
Rent Allpay Cards - Satnam Sangh
T: 01926 456408
Pay your rent by phone
T: FREEPHONE 0800 028 3377
Managing Your finances
Lisa Crossland
T:01926 456454
Supporting People
Services Manager
Joan Hicks T:01926 456405
Tenants Contents
Insurance Scheme
Satnam Sangha T:01926 456408
Tenancy Enforcement
T:01926 456419
Tenant Involvement
Tenant Panel & Residents Groups
Margaret Allen
T:01926 456451
Tenants Together
Fiona Walsh T:01926 456447
Warwick Response
(Lifeline Service)
T:24 hour number 01926 339577
If you prefer to write,
ouraddressis:
Housing and Property Services,
Warwick District Council, P.O. Box
2175, Riverside House, Milverton
Hill, Royal Leamington Spa,
CV32 5QE