www.southwark.gov.uk/shnThe magazine for Southwark Council tenants and leaseholders

Big changes to housing services p4Free and fun things to do this summer p10

SouthwarkHousing News

Inside this issue:

Residents move to new homes on the Aylesbury estate p3

Su

mm

er

2011

Burgess Park £6mtransformation begins

Burgess Park is getting a major facelift this summer,which means some parts of the park will be closedso the transformation work can be completedquickly and easily. When the work is finished inMarch 2012 the park will have:

• 92,000 new plants, including 164 trees

• Two new wetland habitats for the redesigned lake

• A new over fives playground; and much more.

Despite the closure of some major areas for therenovation works, there’s still plenty to do in the park. The official sports areas, Chumleigh Gardens area and the adventure playground will all remain open.

For more information, and to see the plans for thepark, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/burgesspark

When I was asked to write the forewordto this issue of Southwark Housing News, I thought that if I were looking to findsomeone to introduce a magazine whichshowcases the positives in Southwark’scouncil housing, I’d probably give theChair of Tenant Council a wide berth!

There are a huge number of positivethings going on across the borough butwe all realise there are challenging times ahead.

Thousands of homes in Southwark are yet to meet the decent homes standards,and millions of pounds are needed tobring them up to that standard. Thepressure on resources has increased, and more than ever tenants andleaseholders demand an efficient and cost effective service.

Tenants are best placed to identify andmonitor poor performance, and it’s onlywith our feedback that things can hope tochange. There is considerable scope tomanage major works contracts better, to reduce overcharging, and to cut the cost of repairs and maintenance to ourhomes and as the recipients of theseservices, we have an opportunity to worktogether with council staff to help bringabout improvements.

Tenants and residents associations play a vital role in feeding back to council staff and elected members where thingsare going wrong, when they are goingwrong, and why they are going wrong. If we say nothing, it’s unlikely we’ll receive the services we need, if we make our voices heard, there’s a chance we can.

I would like to take this opportunity torecommend that you get involved withyour local tenants and residentsassociation – it’s a great local way toinfluence the way things work in yourneighbourhood and make a difference to where you live.

Steve Hedger

Chair, Tenant Council

Foreword2

Mrs Gilchrist, who recently movedfrom Chartridge on the Aylesburysaid; “I think my new home iswonderful. I was a bit dubiousabout the move at the beginning,because I’d lived in Chartridge for35 years but the help with themove was excellent and I’mabsolutely delighted. Everythingcame fitted, including the kitchenappliances and the rooms arespacious. I’ve been able to keep intouch with my old neighbours –I still see them at the shops and we still chat to each other.”

A strong sense of community existslocally, and the regeneration of the

area will build on this. Incrediblesocial and economic changes havetaken place over the past tenyears and unemployment hasfallen by 5%. The Creation Trust isthe council’s partner organisation,and plays a major part in makingsure that local people will benefitfrom the changes ahead. The trust,run by residents, focuses on theneeds of people who live in thearea. The council has now signed afour-year pledge of support for thetrust, to secure their involvement indriving the regeneration forward.

Councillor Fiona Colley, cabinetmember for regeneration at

Southwark Council, said: “Theregeneration is providing new highquality homes, but that isn't all it'sabout. The Aylesbury regenerationproject is about improving the areafor the community which alreadylives here, as well as for newresidents. We are buildingneighbourhoods which continue to be great for families, withamenities such as parks, shops, safe places for children to play and good local schools.”

Do you need advice about benefits?The benefits advice hub is a free service offered by the council to offer advice, support and ways to makethe most of your money for Southwark residents.

We can• Check you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to• Fill in forms and write letters for you• Help you if you want to make an appeal • Put you in touch with other support services that can help you

We offer a telephone advice service or you can come and see us in person. If you are over 60 or housebound,we can arrange to visit you at home. The advisor will help you with your claims, and offer advice about anyextra income and services you may be entitled to.

For more information or to arrange an appointment, email sbah@southwark.gov.uk or call the team on 020 7525 7434 if you are over 60 020 7525 3393 for under 60's.

3News

Demolition of the Aylesbury estate began lastautumn and new homes are springing up onAlbany Place, bringing a new lease of life to thispopular central London area.

Mrs Gilchrist

We are making substantialbudget savings and workingto improve the quality ofservices. We are changingthe way the department isorganised, and also howsome front line services aredelivered. You’ll see some ofthe changes straight away.We’ll be involving you in the changes as we moveforward. Read on to find out more about what ourplans mean for you.

Mobile working

For years staff needed to goback to the office to updatecomputer records each timethey met with you. We knowthat you want your localofficers out and about on theestates, taking the service toyour front door, rather thanstuck at a desk doingpaperwork, so from later thisyear, all staff will be able toaccess and update informationwith portable handheld devices

instead of going back to theoffice. This means they’ll be ableto help more residents and mostimportantly – you won’t have tocome to us; we’ll come to you.

Area offices

Housing officers will now becalled resident officers. We feelthis new job title reflects howwe want our front-line staff to

4

Like councils across the country, Southwarkcurrently faces the challenge of providingexcellent services for residents whilereducing the amount of money we spend. So how will we achieve this, and how willthese changes affect you?

The times, they area changing...

Our staff will be bringing the service to your doorstep

work with residents.Resident officers can helpyou with everything fromreporting antisocialbehaviour to carrying outestate inspections.

We’re reducing the number of area offices, because staffwill be taking the business to residents, and becausemore residents are choosing to access services online. We are looking at providingcustomer service facilities at a number of locationsacross Southwark. Two new management teams will be responsible for resident services for tenantsliving in the north and south of the borough.

We’ll also be making better use of communityfacilities around the borough, like libraries andcustomer service offices, and means that you’ll beable to meet with your resident officer in placesthat are convenient to you.

Specialised teams

We plan to improve our services by havingdedicated teams to deliver them. That’s why, laterthis year the collection of former tenant rentarrears, garage lettings and letting empty homeswill be provided centrally by specialised teams. Webelieve that this will improve the quality of theseservices and will help staff to build up a deeperknowledge of the issues, allowing them to provideyou will the best service possible.

More services available online

We know that many of our residents prefer toaccess services online, and you can already applyfor a garage, resident parking permits, and manymore council services at www.southwark.gov.uk.We are planning to provide all residents with asingle citizens account which will allow you toaccess all our online services with a single log-in.

You can report and track your repairs, view rentand service charge statements or even check yourlibrary orders. We know not everyone is used tousing online services, so we’re here to help you ifyou need us to.

Update 5

For more informationwww.southwark.gov.uk/housingcsc@southwark.gov.uk Tel: 020 7525 2000

6 Your questions answered

What are you doing to improve fire safety on estates? We have completed fire risk assessments on all council properties in Southwark. Our aim is to complete a programme of safety workto minimise the risks of fire to all councilproperties by March 2012. This extensiveprogramme of fire safety improvements willsee £20m invested over the next twelvemonths on installing and upgrading fire doors, upgrading glazing, improvements to fire stopping, and, where necessary, emergency lighting.

What are you doing about security grilles and doors?We understand that grilles seem like a goodsolution for keeping your home secure, butyou must make sure they don’t obstruct yourescape route, or that of your neighbours. Our staff are currently conducting estateinspections, and where grilles have been fittedthat don’t meet the London Fire Brigade’sguidance, they will be removed.

Why has my bike/pram been removedfrom the hallway outside my flat? What do I need to do to get it back?It’s vital that halls and corridors are kept clear, and fire exits and escape routes are notblocked. In the event of a fire, you and yourneighbours need to be able to get out of theproperty quickly and safely, and the firebrigade need to be able to get in. If we findthat exit routes are blocked with personalproperty, we’ll leave a notice on the itemrequesting that it is removed, and if it’s notremoved by the deadline we will remove it. For more information please contact yourhousing officer.

Can I see the fire risk assessment for my block? You can request a copy of the fire riskassessment for your estate by going towww.southwark.gov.uk and searching for “firerisk assessment” or by calling 020 7525 2000and we’ll send one to you.

Why is it taking so long for you tocomplete the fire safety improvements to my block?The FRA is an assessment of the work neededon an individual block; we then take a planned approach to make sure that highpriority works are completed first, and delivergood value for money. We are committed tomaking sure all our residents are safe at home, which is why it’s very important that we get this work right first time.

What can I do to improve fire safety in my home?There are some simple steps we can all take to improve fire safety in our homes. If you have a smoke alarm fitted, test it every month, and replace the batteries everyyear. Be careful when cooking, and don’t leave pans unattended, especially if you have children. To request a free home fire safety visit www.london-fire.gov.uk or call 020 8555 1200.

Ruth Griffith, from East Dulwich, used to live at Oak Court, a building which was badlyaffected by fire in 2009.

What was the extent of the damage?Pretty much everything was damaged in the fire. I lived fourdoors away from where the fire started, but I was lucky as thehouses which were nearer were completely burnt out. Myproperty was mainly affected by water damage, which meant myvaluables including jewellery and passports were saved. However,everything from the sofa to furniture and carpets were damagedbeyond repair.

What happened with the claim? The state of my house was the last thing on my mind as I wasbeing evacuated! It was only afterwards that I realised howimportant the insurance was. I put in a claim for £30,000, andthe insurer sent me an interim payment so I could start puttingthings right while the assessment was completed. My claimcovered most of the damage and meant I didn't have to find themoney to replace everything I'd lost. It's definitely worth it.

The council has teamed up with Jardine Lloyd Thompson to offerinsurance for tenants and leaseholders. Cover starts at just £2.44a fortnight or £52.25 a year.

7Focus on...

Just some of the benefits of contentsinsurance from JardineLloyd Thompson:

• Flexible, regular, pay-as-you-go options

• No excess (you don’t have to pay the first partof the claim)

• Covers theft, waterdamage, fire and otherhousehold risks

• Covers damage to internal decorations

• All postcodes are coveredat the same rate

For more information, call0845 601 7007 or emailcrystal@jltgroup.com

TenantcontentsinsuranceIf you had to replaceeverything in your home,from the television to theclothes in your wardrobe,could you afford to do it?

If you don’t have contentsinsurance and somethinggoes wrong, you could findyourself having to fork out a lot of money. The council is responsible for insuringthe building and structure of your home but insuringyour belongings is yourresponsibility as a tenant.

D’eynsford gets artyMembers of D'Eynsford TRA have been workingwith a community artist living on the estate to getkids involved with art, thanks to cleaner, greener,safer funding. In February the TRA held a workshopfor local children and young people and Imogen theartist heard their ideas for a mural by the entrance tothe football pitch. Then in the Easter holidays over30 local children and young people helped to paintthe mural which incorporated their ideas. We had agreat team of kids and they have done a wonderfuljob! Thanks to all the volunteers from the TRA, ourwonderful children and young people and CGS forfunding the project.

A freshlook forWadeHallDickens TRAwould like tosay a big thankyou to ADCRIS,a charity that brings together volunteers to decoratecommunity buildings. They have done a fantastic jobin Wade Hall, bringing it up to date with moderncolour schemes, new furniture and new signs. Theimprovements are designed to make the hall moreinviting and improving the facilities for residents.

Albrighton’sall brighterRegeneration on theEast Dulwich estate has seen the popularAlbrighton centreredecorated andcompletely overhauled.The community centrenow benefits from anew first floor hall, terrace area, and redecoratedkitchen, and will host a wide range of activities fromfitness to IT training and activities for children andyoung people.

Bankside goes GallicA little corner of Southwark will have a decidedlyFrench feel this summer, when Borough Marketcelebrates Bastille Day on 14 July. Every year on the 14 July the streets of France come alive in celebrationof the storming of the Bastille and the birth of therevolution in 1789. For the fourth year running theFrench atmosphere is coming to Borough Market. The area close to the cathedral will play host to livemusic, street entertainment, outdoor eating, drinking,dancing and singing and a traditional finale. Frenchtraders will sell a wide range of traditional foods to eatnow or enjoy at home. For more information, visitwww.boroughmarket.org.uk

Borough and Bankside

8

Bermondsey

Dulwich

Camberwell

New yoga classesYoga is a great way to relax and re-energise, and now residents of the Pullens buildings have started a yoga club. The classes are designed for all levels and abilities, and everybody is welcome to join us. Come along to the Pullens Centre, 18 Crampton Street SE17 on Wednesdayevenings from 6.45pm to8.15pm. Classes cost just£8.50 per week or £6.50 if you’re not working, with a discount if you pay in advance. For more information, email Ginny atsavasana1@me.comor call 07902031406.

Growing communitiesNunhead and Peckham Rye are gettinga lot greener, with communitygardens and eco projectsspringing up all over. NorthfieldHouse in Peckham has beenawarded £9,000 to start anorchard, and a number ofMinarette fruit trees will beplanted in September.Cossall Estate has beenawarded £10,000 fromNunhead and Peckham RyeCommunity Council for theircommunity garden. They haveinstalled a raised bed, and another bedwill be installed in the coming months.Nunhead and Peckham Rye and Peckham CommunityCouncils awarded grants to support the plastic freePeckham project, which will see reuseable cottonbags distributed to encourage people to reduce thenumber of plastic bags they use.

Osprey residents gets readingOsprey TRA held a book sale and swap, in their

newly decorated TRA hall. Residents broughtbags of books giving people on the estate

a chance to come together and swapstories (literally!) Many mentioned that they were clearing out theirbookshelves, only to have them refilledby the bags full of books taken away.The event was so popular that the hall will be open on a regular basis for

people to come down and swap theirbooks. They may never have to buy

another book again! They are alsoplanning to set up a book club to bring

avid local readers together.

Rotherhithe

Low carbon zoneOne year in, and the Peckham low carbon zone is making progress towards its target of cutting CO2 emissions by 20% by 2012. Over the last year, we have:• Installed cavity wall and loft insulation in homes

on the Bells Gardens Estate, saving approximately320 tonnes CO2 per annum

• Helped small businesses cut their CO2 emissions and costs

• Delivered energy efficiency measures includingboiler upgrades, for the school in the zone

• Funded local groups including the London WildlifeTrust and Transition Town Peckham to supportcommunity projects

• We will continue to cut CO2 emissions in 2012 and a number of projects are currently underway, including energy efficiency, renewable installationsand support for residents to cut their CO2 emissionsand costs. We’re also planning to set up a communitygardening project on Oliver Goldsmith estate.For more information, please contactsustainable.services@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 0688.

9

Peckham

Nunhead and Peckham Rye

Walworth

Give it a go at Camberwell Green

Summer’s here, and it’s time to get out and make the most of the long days. There’s

10 News

Get out and get active

With lovely weather and long days, thesummer’s the perfect time to get fit, and it’s agreat way to see a bit more of where you live.Why not check out the pool and gym at thenewly refurbished Dulwich leisure centre? Kidsand over 60’s can swim for under £1, so gettingfit won’t cost a fortune! Or join with free guidedbike rides at www.skyride.com – with are ridesall over London, you can stay local, or explorefurther afield, and there are rides for all abilities.

Together with Camberwell’s SE5 Forum, we are hosting aOne Year to Go Olympics event at Camberwell Green onSaturday, 23 July 2011. The theme of the event is give ita go, and we’re inviting families and young people in thearea to come along and try out a new sport.

You’ll find a wide range of activities to suit everyone,including a racing track around the green. We areworking with a variety of sports, culture and artsorganisations to make this a day to remember. Pop inbetween 11am and 5pm and don’t miss out on the fun.

Visit www.southwark.gov.uk/olympics for more information.

Free music and more inThe Scoop

This summer, there’s a great lineup of free music, theatre and film at The Scoop,near Tower Bridge.Check out the AllStarsCollective performingthe songs you knowand love, on Friday 15July, at 6.30pm. Or whynot take the kids to seea live performance ofAround the World in Eighty Days – every Thursday from 4 August. For full details, visitwww.morelondon.co.uk/thescoop

lots to do in Southwark, so grab the kids and explore what the borough has to offer.

11

Fresh from the farmers’ market

Fancy something different to dinner? Farmers markets aresprouting up all over Southwark, and they’re a great wayto discover new ingredients and try something tasty.Camberwell Farmers Market is open on the first Saturdayof the month on Camberwell Green, from 10am to 2pm.On Sundays, Peckham Square hosts the popular PeckhamFarmers Market, with a wide range of breads and cakes,cheeses, vegetables and much more. In East Dulwich,head to Northcross Road market for homemade cakesand artisan sausages – now open six days a week!Bermondsey Square farmers market is open everySaturday from 10am to 2pm, and you’ll find theindependent food market at Maltby Street, Bermondsey,just off Tower Bridge Road every saturday morning.

Farmers market contacts

Camberwell and Peckhamwww.urbanfarmersmarket.com

Northcross Roadwww.southwark.gov.uk/markets

Bermondsey Square www.lfm.org.uk

Maltby Street www.maltbystreet.com

Homes and heritage at Caroline Gardens

The 19th century almshouses at Caroline Gardens are a distinctivepart of Southwark’s history. Built in 1839 as a retirement homefor innkeepers, the properties are Grade II listed, but after falling into disrepair, English Heritage placed a number of thecottages on the buildings at risk register. Now, after a sensitiveprogramme of internal and external repairs, the properties havebeen restored to their former glory. Attention was paid tomaking sure the homes retained their historical charm, includingmaking sure that period features like sash windows, panellingand internal doors were kept wherever possible. The cottageshave now been removed from the buildings at risk register, andwill continue to provide homes for the community, and be part of Southwark’s living history for years to come.

12 News

In September 2009, the councilpublished the results of theindependent audit of the servicecharges. for 2005/06. The auditormade recommendations toimprove the service received byhome owners, which formed aplan of action for the council toput in place.

A steering group of leaseholdrepresentatives and council officerswas set up to make sure the councilwas meeting their targets, and eachcompleted action had to bevalidated by the independentauditor before it could be signedoff. This meant that leaseholdershave been involved at every step ofthe way, and were able to make

sure the council is keepingits commitments.

Councillor Ian Wingfield, cabinetmember for housing, said: “I’mpleased that the majority of theindependent recommendations have finally been put in place.Because of this audit, the service tohome owners has improvedsubstantially. Service charge payers can see the details of theirbills when they receive their actualcosts. It’s been a long process, butthe joint working betweenleaseholder representatives, councilofficers and the independentauditor has produced excellentresults and understanding on all sides.”

New procedures have been put in place to make sure thatservice charges are more accurate.Some longer term actions stillremain, including setting up new IT systems and changes to somefinancial processes.

The council is now setting up a newservice charge invoicing systemwhich will be ready next April.Home owners will be able to viewtheir service charges statementbreakdowns and access otherservices including standing orderforms and insurance booklets.

Service charging made simpler for leaseholders

What sort of Peckhamand Nunhead do youwant to see in 2025?

We’ve got ideas on how toimprove Peckham andNunhead and we want tomake sure we are on the right track. Take a look at ourthoughts so far, captured inthe Peckham and NunheadArea Action Plan Towards aPreferred option and get intouch with us with your viewsby 30 September 2011. Thisplanning document will helpbring improvements to thearea over the next 15 years by making sure that we getthe right development neededto support a healthy, safe and prosperous communityand a fairer future for all. To have your say, visitwww.southwark.gov.uk/futurepeckham

Before After

What is gas safety?Annual gas safety checks are how we make sure gas appliances in your home are safe and workingproperly. This is a free service available to all our tenantsand as your landlord we have a legal responsibility tocarry out a gas safety check every year. While mosttenants understand the importance of safety checks,some people have refused our contractors access in the past, putting their families and neighbours at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you think your appliances are overdue for servicing, contact call 020 7525 1241 or emailengineeringservices@southwark.gov.uk. If a gas appliance in your home breaks down, please call us on 0800 952 4444.

How do we gain access to your property?1. We write to you to tell you about the inspection.You

can rearrange the appointment date if you need to.

2. If you’re not in for the appointment, we’ll leave a response card asking you to book another appointment.

3. If necessary, we’ll seek permission to force entry. We only do this if we cannot contact you afterseveral attempts. If you refuse to allow us access wewill apply for an entry warrant from the court andyou may be charged for any damage caused as wellas court costs and the cost of fitting new locks orkeys. In forced entry situations the contractor andenforcement officer will be present to ensure thatthe work is done, the tenant's possessions areprotected and the property is made safe afterwards.

What happens now?We want to make sure our records are up to date, sowe’ll be contacting some properties that are currentlyrecorded as not having a gas supply to make sure thatthis is accurate. This means we can be confident thatevery home that needs one has had a gas safety check.We’ll also be getting in touch with leaseholders tomake sure that they have a valid gas safety certificate –if you haven’t had a check this year, you can book onethrough us or arrange your own inspection.

What if I am a leaseholder/ homeowner?All homeowners are responsible for having their boilerchecked annually by a registered Gas Safe engineer, tomake sure that they and their neighbours are not at riskof carbon monoxide leaks.

For just £88.50 a year, our Gas Safe registered engineerwill inspect any gas space heaters and complete a fullservice of your gas boiler, and supply you with a gassafety certificate. This scheme is for homes withindividual gas boilers, not properties on district heatingschemes. To apply, please call 020 7525 7660 or emailjeremy.boas@southwark.gov.uk. You don’t have touse our contractors to carry out your gas servicing, butwe do need a copy of your home owner record or gassafety certificate which should be supplied after yourannual safety check.

13Focus on

If you have gas central heating or gas appliancesin your home, you’ll be glad to know that we’vebeen working hard to make sure that all tenantedproperties have a valid gas safety certificate.

This year 100% of homes were checked by a gas safe engineer, who made sure that the gasappliances are safe. Every year, faulty gasappliances cause carbon monoxide leaks, whichcan be fatal. This is why we ask that if you receivean appointment notice for your annual gas safetycheck, you allow our staff in to do their job.

Focus on performance...

gas safety

14 Survey

Mrs J.E Drain fromRotherhithe writes:“My rent and garage rates havegone up by over £13.50 a week, but my pensionincrease is just £4.20. I expected to pay a fewpounds more, but finding an extra £9 each weekseems unfair, and I’m very disappointed!”

Tenants and leaseholders who are over 70, registered disabled or receive mobility or disability allowance can now rent garagesat a lower rate of £5 per week. To find out more or to rent a garage, visitwww.southwark.gov.uk/garages or call 020 7525 5630.

A.H Bleach from Surrey Quays writes:“Are there any keep fit classes for elderly peoplethat aren’t walks?”

Who said activities for older people can’t beexciting? From Latin dance to badminton andPilates, there’s a wide range of fun andinspiring activities at Southwark’s leisurecentres – visit www.southwark.gov.uk andsearch for “activities for older people”.

If you require information in your language, or in other formats such as audio or large print, pleasecall 020 7525 5000.

Useful housing contactsHousing services for council tenantsTel: 020 7525 2600 – Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm

RentPay by direct debit: 020 7525 2600Pay by debit/credit card: 0845 6000 611 (24hrs) Pay online: www.southwark.gov.uk/onlinepayments To pay in person: Peckham cash office: 19-23 Bournemouth Road, SE15; Walworth cash office: 177-179 Walworth Road SE17;Opening hours: Mon to Fri 8.30am to 4.45pm, Sat 8.30am to 2.45pm

To pay by post: The London Borough of Southwarkcashiers, 19 Spa Road, PO Box 11767, London SE16 3QN

Repairs Tel: 0800 952 4444 (24hrs)

Utilities (emergencies): Electricity: 0800 096 9000; Gas: 0800 111 999;Water: 0845 200 800

Leaseholders/freeholders Home ownership unit – Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm Tel: 020 7525 1400Email: hsg.homeownership@southwark.gov.uk

Southwark antisocial behaviour unitTel: 020 7525 5777 (24 hours)Email: sasbu@southwark.gov.uk Web: www.safersouthwark.gov.uk

Southwark Homesearch Bidding hotline: 0845 270 0655 Bidding text line: 07781 486 526 Advice line: 020 7525 4140 Web: www.southwarkhomesearch.org.uk

Write to Southwark Housing News The editor, Southwark Housing NewsCommunications Team PO BOX 64529London SE1P 5LX or email liz.almond@southwark.gov.uk

www.southwark.gov.uk/garages

Find out more and apply online atwww.southwark.gov.uk/garages or call us on 020 7525 5630

• Great for storage – clean, secure, dry and well lit• Much cheaper than local commercial rents• Easy and free 24 hours access• No minimum rental period• Privacy and peace of mind• Now with an even easier online application

Garages for rentAvailable for storage and parking

BLOW THEWHISTLE ON

CHEATSHOUSINGWhen somebody with a council or housing association home rents it out

without permission or obtains a home through providing false information, they

are guilty of housing fraud. They are using up valuable housing spaces and

depriving families and vulnerable people on the waiting list. It’s not fair.

If you suspect someone of unlawfully sub-letting

call us on 020 7525 2000 or

email us at tenancychecks@southwark.gov.uk Your report will be treated in the strictest confidence and can be given anonymously.

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15

1 How regularly do you read SouthwarkHousing News?

Every issueOne or two issues a yearNeverThis is the first time I’ve received it

2 How long do you spend reading each issue?

20 minutes or longer10-15 minutes5 minutesI just skim through it

3 Do you enjoy reading it

Yes, a lotYes, a bitIt’s just okNo, it’s boring

4 What do you like best about it?

News about housing and servicesNews about places and local peopleStories about other council services and eventsOther (please specify)

5 What do you like least about it?

The articles are too long and wordyThe stories are too positive, there are not enough critical featuresI’d like to see more articles written by or about tenantsThe stories just aren’t that interesting to meOther (please specify)

6 Would you be interested in getting moreinvolved in the magazine(for example, writing articles, taking photos, orjoining a reader panel?)

YesNo

7 Would you be interested in taking part in further research?

YesNo

16

Publication date June 2011. This magazine is printed on recycled paper.

Reader survey

We want to know what you think about Southwark

Housing News, and how we can make it better for you. Just send us

back your survey by 1 September and you’ll be entered into the draw

to win £50 of shopping vouchers!

The information you provide will be used fairly and lawfully and Southwark Council will not knowingly do anything which may lead to a breach of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Send back your completedsurvey by 1 September to:Southwark Council, The EditorSouthwark Housing NewsCommunications Team PO BOX 64529, London SE1P 5LX. The winner will beannounced in the next edition.

The lucky winner last issue was Kay Stober, 13.

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