BETRABETRANewsNews

BETRA Tenant Management Organisation8 Angmering House

Barnstaple RoadHarold Hill

RomfordRM3 7SX

Phone: 01708 344300Email: betratmo@btconnect.com

www.betratmo.org.uk

Issue 13, July 2018

including the sense of community that hasbeen built up over the last decade or so, and,of course, our dedicated, on-site caretakingand grounds maintenance team.

Residents would then have to report repairsneeded and their other problems andconcerns directly to the Council. All thepersonal help and advice provided by ourestate manager and his team on a daily basiswould be gone.

Why not you? All residents have a right tostand for election to our Board, and with itthe chance to help in the management andrunning of the estate. Appropriate training isavailable for new members of the Board, andour chairman Ken and Estate Manager Lloydare always on hand to support and guide youwhere necessary.

The Board meets once a month, works as ateam, and draws on all the different skillsand experiences of its members. Memberssupport one another and you don’t need anyspecial skills to join. Whatever yourbackground, you could have something tooffer us.

The most important quality we are lookingfor is commitment, and a desire to help makea difference to our community. Does thatsound like you? If so, and you would like tofind out more (with no obligation) thenplease pop into the office for a chat withLloyd - today!

BETRA is a Tenant ManagementOrganisation. This means we aremanaged by a committee or board ofresidents, led by Chairman KenHowson, and run day-to-day by asmall staff team led by Estate ManagerLloyd Edwards.

The BETRA Board, then, plays an importantpart in everything we do, and there are manyadvantages to this kind of set-up.

First, it gives residents the chance to have ameaningful say in how the estate is run.Secondly, it ensures accountability, and third,it means there is no danger of us losing touchwith the concerns and interests of ourresidents.

It also benefits those involved. Residents whoplay an active part in their TMO developconfidence and learn and practise skills thatlook great on a CV, and are bound to comeacross well in any job interview.

You might also be interested to know that,because of their voluntary work, activeresidents are looked upon favourably byHavering Council if they ever happen to bidfor a Council move.

That’s why we wanted to alert you to thefollowing opportunity.

Several long-standing BETRA Boardmembers will shortly be standing down. Sowe urgently need to recruit some newmembers to the Board. Can you help?

Well, for a start, if BETRA were to fold, ourneighbourhood office would close. In theprocess we believe much more would be lost,

Here are examples ofrecent work carried out byour maintenance team.

Entrance pathways andalleyways are being revampedacross the estate over the nextfew months, with concreteplinths used to keep bark bedsin place and tidy, so watch outfor that.

We are also going to starthaving regular walks aroundwith Havering’s surveyor forour patch, Neil Bugden. Hedeals with the organising ofCapitol Works (major / bulkyworks). If any residents knowof a particular area that needsaddressing, such as a wall thathas become damaged, etc,then let Lloyd Edwards knowand he will put it on the list forinspection.

The workgoes on

We include news in thisnewsletter of Cabinet Memberfor Housing, Councillor JoshuaChapman’s housing surgeries(see ‘Housing Troubles?’), buteven those who have a placeto live sometimes havedifficulties, and these canoften be around paying therent.

Tenants should pay their rent ontime throughout the year. If youallow rent arrears to build up thenyou will face the eviction process.And if you are then evicted due torent arrears you nay be deemedto have made yourselfintentionally homeless whichmeans three things:

• you will not be rehoused byHavering Council• you will not be rehoused by anyother local authority in he country• and you will have court costsadded to the money you owe theCouncil.

So, if you are having troublepaying your rent on time youneed to do something about it.

Please make sure to either comeinto the office and talk to me, orcontact the the Housing ServicesFinancial Inclusion and WelfareBenefits Team before theproblem escalates.

For more information go towww.havering.gov.uk/MoneyAdvice

Meanwhile, I hope you all enjoythe rest of the summer.

Regards,Lloyd Edwards

Rent matters

toilet and kitchen will increase thechances of damp and mould in yourhomes.

• Pre-empt issues with ventilation.Let BETRA know about any faultyextractor fans now so we can getthem repaired for the winter periods.

• When using equipment in kitchensor bathrooms, make sure the doorsare closed. Open windows andencourage all the moisture to escapevia the windows and not into the restof your home.

• Lastly - windows and window sillsare prone to gathering moisture dueto being hotter inside than outside.Moisture will always go from a hotplace to the coldest places in therooms in your home. So try to keepyour window sills and frames as drypossible, and every now and thenwipe them down as this will preventwater / condensation drops frombuilding up .

EstEstate Managerate ManagerLloyd EdwardsLloyd Edwards

When therain comesWe had to wait so long for a bit ofrain that it seems a bit mean tomoan about it when it does come.But the fact is that when theweather turns, the coldertemperature brings moister whichmeans damp.

So, prepare your home for winterwith a few handy tips while the flatsare being well ventilated.

• Move all items away from walls sothat air can flow behind them(especially beds, sofas, wardrobesand larger items).

• Avoid clutter in your homes - weknow storage can be an issue insome properties, If you don’t needthings look at charities that maymake use of them, Speak to ouroffice for suggestions.

• When the time comes to use yourheating again use it wisely. Not onlycould you save money by havingheating on a constant temperature(recommended 15 - 20 degrees) youwill also reduce moisture in yourflats. Don’t go from one extreme toanother try to keep your whole flatthe same temperature all the waythrough the day and night.

• The coldest rooms in your homesshould be the kitchen andbathrooms. More advice there areleaflets in our office.

• Your boilers should have timers onthem - use those while you aren’t inthe property. This is the perfectchance to test your timers, if they donot work please let our office knowand we will get them repaired assoon as possible.

• Drying your clothes in any otherroom in your home apart from your

Do you know your local policeteam? Have you got a concern youthink they should know about?

Would you like a Neighbourhood Watchin your street? If you’re interested infinding out more then go along to one oftheir regular drop-in surgeries at HaroldHill Library, East Arcade, FarnhamRoad.

August● Thursday 2 August. 2-3pm● Tuesday 7 August, 2-3pm● Saturday 18 August, 2-3pm● Friday 24 August, 3-4pm

September● Tuesday 4 September, 2-3pm● Monday 10 September, 2-3pm● Saturday 15 September, 2-3pm● Friday 28 September, 3-4pm

Housing troubles?Did you know that Cabinet Member forHousing, Councillor Joshua Chapman,holds regular surgeries across theBorough so that Council tenants andleaseholders can call in and discusshousing issues with him. Thesesurgeries operate on a ‘first come, firstserved’ basis. Here are the dates andvenues.

• Monday 6 August, 10am-1pm, atHASWA, 39 Wood Lane, Hornchurch,RM12 5NB.

• Monday 20 August, 2pm-5pm at TownHall, Main Road, Romford RM1 3BD.committee Rooms 1 & 2.

• Monday 3 September, 2pm-5pm, atMacon Way Housing Office. Macon Way,Cranham RM14 1HY.

• Monday 17 September, 9am-12 noon atSapphire Jubilee Centre, Bolberry Rd,Collier Row RM5 2FG.

• Monday 8 October, 10am-1.30pm atHornchurch Library, 44 North Street,Hornchurch, RM11 1TB.

Keep clearPlease can all residents make sure tokeep landings and stairwells clear at alltimes. This includes such things aswheelchairs, bikes and rubbish bags.The Council views all such items ashealth and safety hazards, and are inthe habit of sending inspectors aroundfrom time to time to check that this ruleis being abided by.

It is BETRA’s understanding that theseinspectors have the right to remove,without notice, any such items. What’smore, they will charge the owners a fee forholding them. This fee is taken from theperson’s rent account.

Last chance to winshopping vouchers!

BETRA’s annual survey of residents isyour chance to tell us what we are doingwell, what we are doing not so well, andhow we can improve the estate for allthose living here.

So far, only a few of you have completedthe survey, so complete it now and yourchances of winning one of those vouchers- worth £50, £30 and £20 - could be high!It couldn’t be easier to have your say. Itwill take you ten minutes. Go online tocomplete the survey today atwww.betratmo.org

News in brief

Fire alarmsFact: those most at risk from fire owntheir homes are 1) those with noworking smoke alarm in their home,2) people who smoke, and 3) those whocould not escape from their home in theevent of a fire unaided.

The London Fire Brigade carries outhome fire safety visits in Havering as partof which they can fit a free smoke alarmin your home.

Do you have a smoke alarm in yourhome? If so, is it working properly? If theanswer to either of these questions is no,the Fire Brigade can help. For a free firesafety visit, call 08000 284428

EventsBETRA BingoThe last Wednesday ofeach month, in theboardroom,from 5-7pm

Meet friends andneighbours for an easy-going chat over a fewgames of bingo, followed byan end of game buffet onthe house.

All residents welcome.

Next Board meetingSeptember - Date to beconfirmed.

Lloyd Edwards, Estate ManagerMark Richardson, Senior Care-taking and RepairsMaintenance OfficerSteven Richardson, Caretakingand Repairs MaintenanceOfficerBrian Pratt, Caretaking andGrounds Maintenance Officer

8 Angmering HouseBarnstaple RoadHarold HillRomfordRM3 7SXPhone: 01708 344300Email:betratmo@btconnect.comwww.betratmo.org.uk

Homes and HousingHavering Council.Tel: 01708 434000Email:homes@havering.gov.ukWebsite: www.havering.gov.uk

Feeling jaded? Out of shape?Short of things to do? So whynot visit Central Park LeisureCentre?

After all, it’s just down the road.The place had a majorrefurbishment not so long ago,and offers a fabulous assortmentof sports and leisure activities.

Physical activity is great for mindand body. And no, in case you’rewondering, this isn’t a sponsoredarticle. It’s just striking how often,when thinking about things to do,we overlook the good things onour doorstep.

Down the road we have a state ofthe art gym, two swimming pools,sauna, steam room and spa,badminton and table tenniscourts, a creche for the little ones,trampolining and various groupexercise sessions. Who wouldhave thought it!

According to the website, theycurrently have a £5 introductoryoffer which entitles you to the useof most of the above for fiveconsecutive days. That’s £1 a day!What are you waiting for? Like thesaying goes, just do it.