customer newsletter spring 2012

Stockportat home

In this issue...

Stockport Homes’ Customer Newsletter Issue 28: Spring 2012

Come and make your Community Count

PAGE 16

Partnership ignites the largest UK renewable heating scheme PAGE 7

You could win

in vouchers for ‘Best garden

in the Borough’love your gardenwhy not enter this year’s gardening competition? See page 10 for details.

If you

2 Stockport at home - Spring 2012 Issue 28 www.stockporthomes.org

Features inside... Stockport at home

Stockport Homes’ contacts

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)Out-of-hours number

ASB Team (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)

Carecall

Customer Feedback

Customer Financeautomated payment line

Customer FinanceTeam (east area)

Customer FinanceTeam (west area)

Customer Involvement Team

East Area Housing Office

0161 474 3840

0161 218 1498

0161 218 1655

0161 474 2600

0161 474 4050

0161 474 2677

0161 474 2668

0161 474 2862

0161 474 4372

Changes to Housing Benefit 3

Searching for project funding? 9

Energy advice on your doorstep 8

‘myonline’ gives youmore! 12

Useful telephone numbers

Get in the driving seat… join the Board 4

Hubs!

New - Hubs will helpyou shape services! 13

Governance Team

Homechoice (bidding line)

Homechoice (enquiries)

Homechoice Support Service

Housing Options Team

Housing Support Point

Investment Programme hotline

Leasehold Officer

Repairs

Resettlement Team

Sheltered Housing Service

West Area Housing Office

0161 474 2850

0161 474 4567

0161 474 2975

0161 474 2975

0161 474 4237

0161 474 3719

0161 474 4407

0161 218 1364

0161 217 6016

0161 474 3772

0161 218 1736

0161 474 4371

33Stockport at home - Spring 2012 Issue 28www.stockporthomes.org

The Welfare Reform Bill: Changes to Housing Benefit

From April 2013, the Government is proposing to reduce the amount of Housing Benefit (HB) paid to working age customers (customers not yet in receipt of the state pension) who have spare bedrooms in their homes.

If you are of working age, and have a spare room, you will have your HB reduced if you are in one of the following groups:• ifyouaresingle,andliveinatwo(ormore)

bedroomed property;• acouplelivingaloneinatwo(ormore)

bedroomed property; or• familiesinthree(ormore)bedroomed

accommodation where children could share a bedroom - in other words, if you have two children of the same sex aged under 16, or two aged under 10,

regardless of sex.

0161 474 2850

0161 474 4567

0161 474 2975

0161 474 2975

0161 474 4237

0161 474 3719

0161 474 4407

0161 218 1364

0161 217 6016

0161 474 3772

0161 218 1736

0161 474 4371

Social inclusion news

Reduction in benefit for people under-occupying their homes

Direct payment of Housing Benefit

At the moment, Housing Benefit can be paid either to the customer or directly to the landlord. On a phased basis starting in October 2013, most customers will start having rent paid to them, instead of directly to their landlords.

Although there will be some exceptions for vulnerable people, it is essential all customers have a way of paying their rent as soon as they receive their payment.

This could have a big impact on the way customers manage their money, so it is important that you start to think now about how the changes

might affect you. There are some things you should consider, such as getting a bank account, paying your rent by direct debit, budgeting regularly and doing a financial health check. Stockport Homes can help you with all of these if you get in touch.

If you are worried about how these changes will affect you, or if you need any further advice or

information, please contact the Social Inclusion Team on 0161 474 2854 or visit www.stockporthomes.org/money

If this affects you, it is estimated that you will lose around £12 to £22 per week, depending on how many spare rooms you have.

DIRECTDebit


Customer news

Stockport Homes named as one of UK’s best places to work

Stockport Homes’ staff are celebrating after the organisation was ranked number 42 in The Sunday Times 100 Best Not-For-Profit Organisations To Work For 2012.

This is the third consecutive year that Stockport Homes has achieved a place in the prestigious annual listings, which measure employees’ opinions about working for the organisation.

In addition to its ranking within the Top 100 employers, Best Companies also awarded Stockport Homes its second ‘two star’ award which equates to a company rating of ‘outstanding’.

become a Stockport Homes' Board Member

Get in the driving seat...

There is currently one Tenant Board Member vacancy in the east area. You don’t need to have any special knowledge or experience. The key ingredients are enthusiasm and a commitment to improving the services Stockport Homes delivers to all its customers.

You can drive better services at Stockport Homes.

For further information or to download the application pack please go to www.stockporthomes.org/elections, or contact the Governance Team on 0161 474 2850, or email governance @stockporthomes.org

Deadline for applications 18 May 2012

Board news

www.stockporthomes.org Stockport at home - Spring 2012 Issue 28 5

Customer news

What is safeguarding?

• protectingchildrenfromharm,abuseandneglect;

• preventingdamagetohealthanddevelopment; and

• ensuringchildrenaregrowingupsafely,havethe best life chances and enter adulthood successfully.

Children can be abused in a family, institution or community setting.

Abuse includes:

• childrenleftalone/notsupervised;• childrenbeingbruised/injured;• childrenlivinginfilthy/hazardoushome;and• childrenbeinghungry/dirty/swornat/

bullied/humiliatedbyparents.

I’m worried about a child - what can I do?

Concerns must be shared. Please contact:

• Children’sSocialCare on 0161 217 6028 • Out-of-HoursTeam on 0161 718 2118 • StockportPolice on 0161 872 5050 • Foremergencies999• www.nspcc.org.uk • NSPCCChildProtectionhelpline

on 0808 800 5000

Safeguarding is everyone's business

You do NOT have to reveal your identity - information you provide can be used to protect a child.

5www.stockporthomes.org Stockport at home - Spring 2012 Issue 28


Technical services news

Repairs Contact Centre moves in-house

Tenancy termination recharges

On 1 April Stockport Homes welcomed the Repairs Contact Centre Team, following its transfer from Stockport Council.

This move will bring a host of service benefits to you because the team will have much closer liaison with our core technical, administrative and managerial staff. It will also provide Stockport Homes with better opportunities to improve customer service in the future.

As a fully integrated team we will be able to:• providequickeranswerstoissues;• delivermuchgreater‘right-first-time’responses;• developafullerunderstandingofyourconcerns;

Between April 2011 and January 2012, there were 746 tenancies ended. In 64 per cent of these cases, the outgoing customer was charged for damage or for clearing rubbish or furniture, which amounted to a whopping £244,000!

• resolvemoreissuesoverthephone,withoutthe need to send out an engineer; and

• offermoreflexibilitythroughanenhancedappointment system, including the ability, where required, to provide specific time slot, evening and weekend appointments.

To log or check the progress of a repair, please contact the Repairs Contact Centre on 0161 217 6016.

If you don’t want to get recharged for repairs and rubbish or furniture removal, please ensure it is removed before you leave.

For more information or advice, please contact Catherine Arden

in Technical Services on 0161 218 1281 or email [email protected] or your Area Housing Office (see page two for contact details).

Leaving Your HomeA guide to leaving

your home in a good

condition for the

next occupantC

usto

mer Approved

Jargon Free

C

ed

JJaarrgo F eee�If you are planning to move, please ensure all items are removed from the property (including furniture, carpets, cookers, fridges, washing machines) and removed from external areas (includingsheds/outhouses).Thepropertymustbe left in a clean condition and any overgrown gardens cut back to a tidy standard.

The Furniture Station is a local charity which recycles good quality household items for people in need. They can collect items free of charge within two to 14 days. To donate items, please call 0161 456 0717 between 9am-12noon, Monday to Thursday or leave a message during other times.

Repair

For emergencies, please call:

Gas: 0800 111 999 Water: 0800 330 033



Partnership ignites the largest UK renewable heating scheme

The wins a national award for excellence in gas safety

Stockport Homes is proud to announce a partnership agreement with the UK’s largest energy supplier British Gas.

The partnership will see over £13million of investment, supported by the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), delivered by autumn 2012. The funding will be used to upgrade district heating schemes at Mottram Street, York Street and Hollywood Towers, as well creating a new district heating system at Heaton and Norris Towers.

The upgrades of these heating systems will convert them from gas to biomass fuel. This will see significant reductions to carbon emissions, improved level of customer heating control and increased thermal comfort. The funding will also be used to provide over-cladding to the high-rise blocks which are served from these district heating networks.

Stockport Homes’ main heating and gas safety contractor, The Dodd Group, has been announced as silver award winner in the Morgan and Lambert Benchmarking and Service Provider Award for Excellence Scheme.

Morgan and Lambert audit the gas servicing work done on Stockport Homes’ behalf. They check that all aspects of the gas safety check have been completed correctly and the certificate is accurate. The Dodd Group has consistently received high audit results over the last financial year, thus ensuring the safety of our properties and residents.

Steve Gapik, National CESP Manager, British Gas said: “British Gas is delighted to be partnering Stockport Homes on this innovative programme. Having formed a successful partnership to deliver the first phase at Lancashire Hill, we look forward to rolling out this programme of heating renewal before the end of 2012.”

For more information, please contact Joe Keating, Environmental and Energy Manager on 0161 218 1363 or email

[email protected]

Remember: Failure to allow access for your annual gas safety check is a breach of your tenancy agreement and could result in legal action being taken. Any costs associated with this action will be charged to you.

For more information about gas safety, please contact Kate Crowther, Administrator on 0161 218 1944 or email

[email protected]

Stockport Homes staff, British Gas, Cllrs and partner agencies celebrating the installation of the new biomass boiler at Lancashire Hill


£££

£

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£ £

£ £

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£

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£Energy advice on your doorstepWe’re Mark Luxton and Paul Boote, the Energy Advisors at Stockport Homes. Our role is to deliver individual energy advice to you in your own homes.

Now winter is over, we can look forward to using less energy as the days get longer and the temperature rises. But it’s also that time of year when we receive winter fuel bills. Although it’s been a mild year, our bills may come as a shock due to the increasing costs of energy. If you are struggling to cope with your energy bills or fuel debt, why not give us a call? We may be able to help.

We can provide you with advice on:• savingmoneybycomparingenergysuppliers;• whichenergytariffyoushouldbeusing;• usingyourheatingsystemefficiently;and• theappliancesthatusethemostelectricity.

To arrange a home energy visit, please contact us on 0161 474 4062.

For more information on making the most of your money, please see page 21.

From left to right: Mark Luxton, Paul Boote.


Repair 1st can help leaseholders with building improvements and alterationsLast year we did over 40,000 repairs to our properties.

We now offer to do work for leaseholders and external customers as well, so that they can

benefit from the skills and expertise of our Repair 1st Team.

If you are a leaseholder and need someone to carry out improvements or repairs and maintenance to your property, including: rewires; kitchen and bathroom upgrades and replacements; central heating installations; and gas servicing, please contact Repair 1st for a competitive quotation via our Repairs Contact Centre on 0161 217 6016 or email [email protected]

“I am writing to say thank you for coming to see me and advising me on how I can save money on my energy costs. A huge thank you – you really have made a difference to my life.”

STOPPRESS

Repair

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£ FUNDING £

SUPPORTSustainability news

Searching for funding for your project?

Develop your skills for funding

Stockport Homes’ Funding Officer can help you find your way through the maze of funding opportunities for your project.

Stockport Homes’ customers recently attended a ‘skills for life’ course on finding funding.

Customersjudgedthecourseasuccessandthegroups attending will be using the information to developideas,projectsandbidsforfundingintheir communities.

For more information have a look online at www.stockporthomes.org/funding

or contact Mark Rogers, Funding Officer on 0161 474 3463 or email [email protected]

A further ‘Skills for Life’ course will take place over two days on 16 and 23 August 2012. Please see the Skills for Life calendar enclosed in this newsletter for details of how to book your place.

We can help to:• developyourideaintoaproject;• putyouintouchwithotherswhomightbe

able to help;• findasuitablefunderforyourproject;and• workwithyouindevelopingyourbidfor

funding.

Have a look around when you see this sign; it’s your signpost to advice about funders, their deadlines, the language they use and how to write effective bids for funding.

Thank you to everyone who completed

the Communications Survey that we sent

out last issue. We received a total of 834

completed surveys.

Congratulations to the winners of the

free prize draw.

Each winner has received a £25 high street

voucher:

• Mrs Sin Tan Lee, Heald Green

• Mr Paul Storan, Brinnington

• Ms Lydia Lighton, Marple

We are currently compiling the results of

the survey, so we will be reporting back on

findings in future issues of Stockport at home.

Communications Survey 2012 • Communications Survey 2012


You could win

in vouchers for ‘Best gardenin the Borough’

STOCKPORT HOMES’ ANNUAL

gardening competition isnow open!

love your gardenSustainability news

Older, but bolder onlineYork Street Tenant and Resident Association (TRA), Millbrook Community Café, Oldham Drive TRA, Cherry Tree TRA and customers from Birch Court and Oak Tree Court Sheltered Schemes have been working with a local organisation called StartingPoint that is based in the precinct in Woodley. StartingPoint provides training courses and support for customers who want to learn to use the internet and get the most out of using computers.

Customers have used computers to research ancestry and history and one of the groups has visited StartingPointandenjoyedafishandchipdinnernext door. There is nothing fishy in the relationship here – Taylors Fish were responsible for setting up StartingPoint as a ‘social enterprise’, aimed at supporting the local community and providing a friendly place to meet.

For more information, please contact Jo Cole, Sustainability

Manager on 0161 474 2918 or email [email protected]

For more information on this year’s categories, to enter or to nominate someone else, go to www.stockporthomes.org/loveyourgarden and fill in the online form, pick up an entry form from your Area Housing Office or the Housing Information Centre or call Chrissie Parlane, Green Space Administrator Assistant on 0161 474 2377.

Deadline for entries is Friday 15 June 2012.

Terms and conditions apply, please see website or entry form for full details.



Sustainability news

Making a difference togetherStockport Homes has been helping to improve the local environment and provide opportunities for young people aged 18-24 to secure employment and training, as part of a partnership project with Stockport Council and Blue Sky (part of Groundwork Trust).

Blue Sky was set up in 2005 to give paid work to people coming out of prison, to enable them to move successfullyintolong-termemployment.Theprojecthas been supported with funding from Stockport Council, Groundwork Trust and Stockport Homes.

Neighbourhoods for improvement have been identified through consultation with customers and partners as part of estate walkabouts, inspections, physical and perception surveys. To date:

• 430environmentalprojectshavebeencompleted;

• 13 people aged 18-24 years old with a criminal record have been provided with employment;

• 85% have achieved at least one accredited qualification;

• 28 have achieved accredited qualifications, including health and safety at work, manual handling and grounds maintenance; and

• 61% people have secured onward employment (compared to the national average of 48%).

For more information about the project, please contact from Jo Cole Sustainability Manager on 0161 474

2918 or Tony De Beaufort, Greenspace Contracts Manager on 0161 474 2953 or visit the Blue Sky website at www.blueskydevelopment.co.uk

“This job has given me some stability in my life and has allowed me to provide for my family which has boosted my self-esteem. I am now proud to earn an honest living and spend quality time with my family and stay out of trouble.”

Deadline for entries is Friday 15 June 2012.

“This job has given me the self-belief that there is hope after prison. The satisfaction I get after we have completed a big job and see the improvement to people’s properties and how it affects their families is second to none.”



myonline gives you more!

It’s safe, secure and if you opt to go paper free your rent statement and other communications from StockportHomeswillbesenttoyouelectronically.What’smore,you’llbeenteredintoaprizedrawevery three months to win one of five £50 high street vouchers. Nearly 500 customers have signed up so far with 300 opting to go paper free. So what are you waiting for?

Congratulations to Kelly Quinn, Maria Matos, Trevor Smith, Hester Allen and Julie Smith who each won a £50 high street voucher in the myonline January prize draw.

As well as being able to access your rent account and ensure your contact details are up-to-date, from September you will be able to log and monitor the progress of your repairs with ‘myonline’. Simply visit www.stockporthomes.org/myonline

Winners!

Website news

Get online with Stockport HomesYou can access a wealth of information about Stockport Homes from the comfort of your armchair, by accessing our website www.stockporthomes.org

You can:

• keepup-to-datewiththelatestnews;• findoutaboutStockportHomes’events

through the ‘What’s on calendar’;• viewourlatestpublicationsandnewsletters

through our revamped publications library;• viewrentstatementsonlinevia‘myonline’;• applyforhousing;• searchforahome;• reportarepairoranti-socialbehaviour;

• makeacomplimentorcomplaint;and• muchmore!

Don’t forget that you can access our website from your local library or kiosk free of charge. If you have a comment or suggestion about Stockport Homes’ website, please email [email protected]


Customer involvement news

Since our launch last year, the Customer Scrutiny Panel has been busy looking at Stockport Homes’ services. We completed our first review of how empty properties are repaired and let in September and are currently looking at the Sheltered Housing Service.

You can find out more information about the Customer Scrutiny Panel - who we are, what we are reviewing - and see our reports at www.stockporthomes.org/scrutiny

We currently have three vacancies on the panel. If youareinterestedinjoininguspleasecontactJillHolt, Business Support Assistant 0161 474 3511 or email [email protected]

Monique Dutot, Chair, Customer Scrutiny Panel

Be part of something new:

Stockport Homes' Hubs!The new Hubs are an informal, flexible way to become involved in shaping the services we offer you.

You can choose which Hub is best for you because each one is focused on a different service area. They are a new interactive way to look at how budgets are spent and how we can perform better. There will be discussion on hot topics put forward by customers and will give you a place to voice your views on services.

The Hubs will be meeting for the first time on the dates to the right. Each Hub will be held in a venue close to Stockport Town Centre.

Coming along to the Hub is a great way of gaining more understanding about how Stockport Homes works and it is alsoawayofmeetingnewpeopleandmakingnewfriends!

If you are interested in coming along or would like more information, please contact the Customer Involvement Team on 0161 474 2862 or email [email protected]

Customer access, customer finance, involvement and inclusion.Wednesday 27 June 5.30pm

Homes hub

Communities hub

Customer hub

Repairs, maintenance, investment and energy efficiency.

Thursday 24 May - 5.30pm

Neighbourhood management, anti-social behaviour and the environment.

Wednesday 13 June - 5.30pm

Hubs!

Free football eventfor 8-14 year olds

To book your child’s place, please contact the Caretaking Team on 0161 474 4335 or email [email protected]

Venue: Stockport Sports Village, Lambeth Road, Woodley SK6 1QX

Thursday 23 August 2011, 11.00am to 3.00pm (arrival from 10.30am)



Following feedback from you, we have made some changes to some ‘Skills for Life courses’ as follows:

The Skills for Life calendar with all the up and coming courses is enclosed in this issue of the newsletter,sodon’tdelay,booktoday!

For more information about Skills for Life, please contact the Customer Involvement Team on 0161 474 2862 or email

[email protected]

We have extended all computer courses by an hour, so you have more time with the experts.

The gardening sessions will now cover less theory and give you the opportunity to be more ‘hands-on’, offering tutorials in how to pot plants.

You said We did

You said We did

15 Stockport at home - Summer 2011 Issue 25

yeah survey winners

announced!

We are working with Stockport

Council to set up youth forums in the

Brinnington and Central areas including Lancashire

Hill, Heaton Norris and Central Stockport.

“Moving in…” Young people told us about their experiences

of the Homechoice process and about getting

their first tenancy, in order to help us develop our

services.

1stprize£50*–GemmaSunderland

2ndprize£35*–JoeKelly

3rdprize£20*–MichaelRiley

“What’s in your wallet?”

Young people told us how they feel about

managing their money and the feedback is being

usedinaNEWFilmProjectaboutmoneyandjobs!

1stprize£50*–JessicaDonlon

2ndprize£35*–RebeccaWilson

3rdprize£20*–ElizabethMorrison

*Theseprizeswereaddedto yeah members’ gift

cards.

Nicola GreenCustomer Involvement Officer

(Young People)Phone: 0161 474 5811

Text: 07800 617 695

Email: nicola.green @stockporthomes.org

Contact me :)


young persons’

Free football eventfor 8-14 year olds

Thursday 23 August 2011, 11.00am to 3.00pm (arrival from 10.30am)

15www.stockporthomes.org Stockport at home - Spring 2012 Issue 28

Check out our Facebook page for the latest news and photos.

You said We did

Website development - Young Persons' Zone

You completed web reviews to help us improve

this area and make it more useful. We are

currently looking at your suggestions, so watch

this space for our new and improved Young

Persons’Zone!

The yeah group told us that

moneyandgettingajobwereimportant

for young people and they wanted to raise

awareness of these issues. We are currently

working with the yeah grouponamediaproject

to produce a short film that will highlight them.

Youth Forums

The Central Youth Forum has been busy

producing an animated film, highlighting

important issues in their community. For more

information and to view the animation, visit

Stockport Homes’ website.


Don’t miss out! Work with us to make sure your neighbourhood get its share of resources.

To find out more and for details of the next network event, please contact Peter Egerton, Customer Involvement Officer

on 0161 474 2968 or email [email protected]

Do you feel passionate about making your neighbourhood better? The network is an opportunity to:

• beavoiceforyourcommunity;• influenceNeighbourhoodActionPlansforyour

area;• agreehowmoneyshouldbespent;• putforwardcommunityprojects;and• meetupwithothercommunityrepresentatives.

CommunityChampionsNetwork

CommunityCount

Stoc

kport Homes’

Com

munity Fund

Want money for a project in your local area? Come and tell us how money should be spent and which projects get your vote. Come and make your Community Count!

Drop in any time from 2.00pm – 5.30pm and browse our stalls with your family at the Community Count. There will be local farming produce, fruit and veg, games and crafts for the kids, freebies and prizegiveawaysforall.

Wednesday 30 May 2012 Bridgehall Community Centre,Siddington Avenue, Bridgehall

Monday 21 May 2012St. Luke’s Church Hall, Brinnington

East event West event

New event

Free prize draw


New


17

• "Thank you for sorting out the stair lift so quickly, I am very happy."• • "Thank you for all your support and help setting up my tenancy."

“The completed bathroom and kitchen are very good and the workers were all very polite. I am very pleased with everything.”

“Your repair service is excellent”

“Thank you for all your support and help setting up my tenancy”

“Thank you for sorting out the stair

lift so quickly, I am very happy.”

We are on target...

We are almost there...

93.4%

98.4vulnerable people supported tomaintain independent living.(Resettlement - 98.4%, tenancy support services - 98.4%, teen pregnancy - 100%)

We’re in the top 10 per cent of performers in most areas and we have very tough targets. If ourperformance is under target we are working with customers and staff to improve our services in theseareas. For more information, please contact Adam Howell, Business Support Officer on 0161 474 4497or email [email protected]

11 Average of

DAYS

of customers are happy with how we deal with anti-social behaviour.

of homes have a valid gas safety certificate.

of rent and water charges are being collected.99.94% 99.5%

to re-let empty properties.

96.4%satisfaction with the Repairs Service.

New event

Customer feedback / Performance news

Customer complimentsWe receive between 35 – 40 compliments every month. Here is a selection of recent ones:

The Super Six are a set of six indicators that were chosen by customers from a list of indicators that Stockport Homes uses to manage its performance. They were selected by customers because they were deemed to be of particular interest and represent a balanced set of the organisations performance measures.

Performance super six

We had 86 complaints between October and December. This figure has been gradually reducing for the past two years. Complaints tend to relate to repairs, home improvement and housing management issues. Almost half of these complaints were about policy issues and we will feed these in when policies are reviewed.

If you would like to make a compliment or complaint or would like more information, please contact the Performance and Improvement Team on 0161 474 2600 or email [email protected]


Positive action against anti-social behaviour (ASB)In each issue of Stockport at home we provide you with a breakdown of the different types of legal action taken against the perpetrators of ASB.

Here is a breakdown of the legal action taken during October, November and December 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.

There are big changes planned by the coalition Government to the powers that social landlords have to tackle ASB, we will keep you updated on these changes.

Type of legal action July - September 2010

July- September 2011

ASBO 0 2

Notice of Seeking Possession 1 3

Postponed Possession Orders 0 1

Notice to Terminate (Introductory Tenants) 1 1

Notice to Extend (Introductory Tenants) 3 5

Demotion Notices 1 2

Injunctions 12 15

Undertakings 1 2

Noise Abatement Notices 1 1

Demotion Orders 0 0

Closure Orders 0 0

Committal 0 0

Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) 3 9

Total 23 41

Anti-social behaviourTOGETHER WE CANSTAMP IT OUT

Anti-social behaviour news


Stockport Homes’ anti-social behaviour

(ASB) Service is very pleased to

announce a new partnership with Victim

Support, which sees the appointment of

Gary Johnson from Victim Support to the

new position of ASB Support Worker.

This new post has been funded by Stockport

Homes to enhance the support service already

provided by the ASB Team. It will bring specialist

support to Stockport Homes’ customers whose

lives are affected by ASB.

Customers who feel they need further emotional

support while their case is being handled will be

referred to Gary by Stockport Homes Officers.

Gary will complete a full assessment for the

customer and offer emotional and practical

support. This could include arranging for extra

locks or security lights to be fitted or agreeing

regular contact with victims.

Should an ASB case go to court, Gary will be able

to take victims and witnesses to visit the court

before the trial so that they become familiar with

the layout and to help going to court feel less

daunting.

Gary will also be at Court with witnesses on

the day of the trial, making sure they feel

supported. This will include arranging for

witnesses to sit in a separate and comfortable

waiting area, away from the perpetrator.

Ongoing emotional support will be provided

byGaryand/orVictimSupportcommunity

volunteers for those customers who require this

service. This can include signposting or referral to

other agencies, as appropriate.

Stockport Homes looks forward to working in

partnershipwithGaryandVictimSupport.

For more information, please contact

Claire Wakefield, ASB Team Leader on

0161 474 4403 or email claire.wakefield@

stockporthomes.org

FOCUS ON...

Victim support

Anti-social behaviour news


Resettlement news

Housing management news

Off road bikes

Pre-tenancyworkshops

Riding an off road bike (quad bike / mini motorbike) in Stockport is illegal, anti-social and dangerous.

Guidance for young people and parents

Parents, before buying an off road bike for your child, please remember off road bikes are not toys and they have hidden costs such as:

• theyhavetobetaxedandinsured;• thebikecouldbeseizedandcrushed;• possibilityofprosecution;• largefine/imprisonment;• possibleunlimitedcivilclaims;and• itmayaffectyourtenancy.

Stockport Homes runs pre-tenancy workshops aimed at giving new customers the best possible start to their tenancies. The workshops can be tailored to meet the needs of groups or individuals. These can be done over three sessions or as a combined one day programme. They are very informal,withalllearningdonethroughquizzes,discussions and group work.

Topics covered include: understanding rights and responsibilities; your tenancy agreement; budgeting; debt advice; furnishing your home;

If you would like more information, please contact Stockport Council’s

Community Safety Unit on 0161 474 4143.

who is responsible for what; how to pay your rent and water charges; applying for benefits; how the Resettlement Team can help you, anti-social behaviour - what it is and how it’s dealt with; and being a successful tenant.

For more information or to put your name down for a workshop, please

contact Keir Taylor, Pre-Tenancy Officer on 0161 474 3057 / 474 3772 or email [email protected]

All attendees will receive a £10 high street

voucher and a certificate of attendance.


It is not always easy to make sure you have enough money, with food and energy bills rising all the time.

Therearefewerjobstogoaround,andthebenefits system is being changed (please see page 3), which means that some people will have even less money in the future.

To help customers, the ‘Making the most of your money’ section of the Stockport Homes website has now been improved so that there is more information available.

The website now covers:

• helpthatisavailableinStockport;• howtodoafinancialhealthcheck,budget,

and create a financial action plan;

OurWaterMeteringProjectOfficercanhelptoseeif you can save money by getting a water meter installed into your home or if you can reduce your charges by changing your water tariff.

If so, why not contact our Debt Outreach Worker?

He can provide you with debt, welfare, and benefit advice. Since 2008, the Debt Outreach Worker has secured £231,000 in extra benefits for customers.

• thecostsofrunningyourhome;• Benefits,Grants,andEmergencyLoans;• WelfareReform;• bankaccountsandsavingmoney;• borrowingmoney;• whattodoifyouareindebt;• reducingenergybills;• differenttypesofinsuranceandhowtogetthem;• planningforthelongtermfuture,including

information on pensions; and• usefultipsandtechniquesforsavingmoney.

To visit the new ‘Making the most of your money’ section, please go to www.

stockporthomes.org/money If you don’t have access to the Internet, why not pop down to your local library to use the computers there for free?

Making the most of your money

Money advice online

Save money on your water bills

Do you need advice on your debts or benefits?

For more information, please contact Paul Wallington, Water Metering Project Officer on

0161 218 1669 or email [email protected]

To receive energy advice on your doorstep, please see the article on page 8.

For more information, please

contact Paul Robinson, Debt Outreach Worker on 0161 218 1304 or email [email protected]


This service improvement was recommended by a leaseholder in

Offerton

This service improvement was recommended by a leaseholder in

Cheadle

Contents insurance

If you would like to purchase your contents insurance with Zurich they can now offer a five per cent discount. To receive a quote, simply call 0800 86 86 86 and request a ‘contents only’ quote, advising the sales team that you have existing buildings insurance policy with Stockport Council (please quote the policy number which can be obtained from Tracy Nield).

As you may be aware, Stockport Homes also offers a comprehensive contents insurance cover to both tenants and leaseholders. This has now been extended to other occupiers such as family members of tenants of an unfurnished let (leasehold properties only).

For more information, please contact the Customer Finance Team on 0161 474 2820.

Leaseholder news

Changes leaseholders need to know about Ground rent

From April 2012 Stockport Council will no longer issue leaseholders with their annual ground rent invoice because this service has been transferred to Stockport Homes. We hope leaseholders will benefit from this in the following ways:

• StockportHomesoffersanumberofpaymentoptions;

• forthosewhopaytheirservicechargesbydirect debit, we will include this charge in the instruction which we hope you find more convenient;

• ifyouhaveaqueryregardingyourinvoiceorpayment option, the Leaseholder Officer can deal with the enquiry promptly;

• thechargewillbeincludedonyourstatementswhich makes it easier for you to monitor; and

• changesofcircumstancearedealtwithatonepoint.

Building insurance

The Leasehold and Customer Finance Teams have being working hard to set up a new building insurance policy which is value for money. The good news is that the new contract, based on the same policy cover as before, will result in a reduced premium rate from April 2012. The new standard* rate per thousand pounds insured will reduce from £1.99 to £1.484** which is a great saving in the current financial climate.

Remember: If you no longer live at the property or the property is empty for more than 30 days it is vital that you advise Tracy Nield, Leasehold Officer on 0161 218 1364 to prevent any issues should you need to make a claim.

*The standard rate does not include exceptions, such as non-standard builds or some instances of sub-letting where there is a higher risk to the insurance provider. **Confirmation of the new insurance charge was sent to leaseholders at the end of February.

For more information, please

contact Tracy Nield, Leasehold

Officer on 0161 218 1364 or email

[email protected]


Customer news

Fair processing notice

Stockport Homes needs to make sure that the information it holds about its customers is accurate and up-to-date. This is a requirement of the Data Protection Act.

Stockport Homes works with companies that compare customers’ information, such as names and address, against records held by other organisations to see how closely they match. This is called Data Matching. If Data Matching identifies incorrect records, the reasons for this can be investigated and they can be corrected.

When Stockport Homes works with other companies in this way, a written agreement is put in place. This is to make sure that the other companies manage customers’ information to the same standards as if Stockport Homes was doing work itself.

If you have any questions about data protection or the way in which Stockport Homes manages the

information it holds about you, please contact Jeremy Beatty, Governance Manager on 0161 474 2850 or email [email protected]

BLOW THE WHISTLE ONHOUSING CHEATS

If you suspect someone of tenancy fraud, please call us on freephone 0808 901 9300, email [email protected] or visit www.stockporthomes.org/fraudYour report will be treated in the strictest confidence and can be given anonymously.

Contact us on freephone 0808 901 9300

email us at [email protected]

or visitwww.stockporthomes.org/Fraud

Diversity and accessibility

You can get free copies of newsletters and other documents from Stockport Homes on audiotape, CD or in large print.

For more information, please contact Phil Rhodes on telephone 0161 474 2860 text 07891 949 399 email [email protected] or write to Social Inclusion Team, Directorate of Housing Management, 2nd Floor,1 St. Peter’s Square, StockportSK1 1NZ

Please recycle this newsletter in an appropriate way

This newsletter includes information about Stockport Homes’ events and services. A free interpreting service is available if you need help with this newsletter. Please telephone Stockport Interpreting Unit on 0161 477 9000. Email:[email protected]

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Polish

Home Contents Insurance that gives you extra - for no extra

Sound good? Why not find out more by contacting the Customer Finance Team on:

0161 474 2820or contact your Area Housing Office

All the cover you need• No excess to pay• You don’t need to have special door or window locks or an alarm• Covers theft, water damage, fire, flood and other household risks• Covers damage to internal decor • Covers accidental damage to sanitary fixtures such as toilets and washbasins• Covers accidental damage to fixed glass in doors and windows for which you are responsible • Covers lost or stolen keys and freezer contents • Premiums from just £1.35 a week (for tenants aged under 60), or from 90p a week (for tenants aged 60 and over)

• Premiums payable weekly with your rent• Extended accidental damage automatically included. Optional extensions available for an additional premium

• Quick and easy to apply for cover using a simple application form.

Made for tenants &leaseholders

customer newsletter spring 2012

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