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Providing Quality Homes & Neighbourhoods

Cover Story Benefi ts Special We give you the low-down on the Bedroom Tax, Universal Credit and other benefi t changes on pages 10-13.

6,000 up for Decent HomesCelebrations as 6,000th property meets Government standard, on pages 4-5.

Garden CompetitionEnter this year’s competition! Details on page 6.

Inside this issue

www.a1housing.co.ukIssue 33 Spring/Summer 2013

Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk32

A1 HOUSING will continue to manage the housing arm of Bassetlaw District Council and act as its ALMO after Councillors gave the green light to start talks on a new contract.Following a decision by the Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday 4th December 2012, where the recommendations from a Housing Options Working Group were accepted, talks have now begun to extend the current contract which expires on 31st October 2014.Bernard Coleman, A1 Housing’s Managing Director said: “I’m pleased the Council has recognised the hard work that has been put in by A1 Housing since 2004 and look forward to a long and productive relationship with the Council once the details of the new contract have been agreed.”Mark Ladyman, Director of Community Services at the Council, who will be part of the contract negotiations said: “We’ve already begun productive talks on the best way for A1 Housing and the Council to work together for the years ahead. We appreciate the patience of staff and tenants over the last few months and look forward working together beyond 2014.”

Councillor Alan Chambers, Portfolio Holder for Housing added: “This decision follows a robust and vigorous review of A1 Housing’s performance over the last six years. The messages we received were pretty clear, A1 Housing has done a good job. This Council is committed in ensuring its housing tenants receive the best possible service and by continuing to work closely with A1 Housing we are confi dent that housing standards and services will continue to improve.”

2

Involving you & Community News

Welcome from Bernard SPRING is traditionally a time of new beginnings and this fact has never been truer for A1 Housing.For some time now, A1 Housing and Bassetlaw District Council have been in discussions about our future and the current Management Agreement, which is due to end in October 2014.But we are now able to look forward with a clearer certainty following the decision by the Council’s Cabinet that a new contract beyond 2014 can be renegotiated. This may seem a while off, but we now have some time to make sure we get the details of the contract right for everyone concerned. If you would like to know more, please read the story opposite.April will also see the Government’s changes to Welfare Reform start to take effect, especially for those households of a working age. We are more than aware of the potential impact of what has been dubbed the ‘Bedroom Tax’ and to help tenants who may face fi nancial hardship, we have employed a new offi cer to deal directly with Welfare Reform. You can learn more about this on page 12.The 2013/14 fi nancial year is the last one where we will receive support for delivering Decent Homes, and while we have brought more homes up to the decency standard than we originally

thought we could, not all properties will have received some decent homes work and the need to ensure properties remain decent goes on.Because of the diffi cult economic times we are facing, the focus of the A1 Housing Board and Management Team has been to look at ways for the organisation to work more effi ciently, whilst at the same time maintaining a high level of service and introduce new initiatives that improve the lives of tenants and leaseholders.With this is mind we are working with the Council to produce a programme of works that will maintain the decent homes standard over the next 20 years. There will be lots of things happening over the coming months that we will be able to tell you about in the next issue, including an exciting project involving Branching Out, and a number of other agencies, to develop a commercial nursery.

A message from A1 Housing’s Managing Director, Bernard Coleman

Welcome from DavidA message from In Touch’s Tenant Editor, David Smith

AS I was sitting here, beverage in hand, pondering what topic to turn my attention to for this issue, it occurred to me there is a fair amount of scaremongering and such that goes on in the news today.

Two that spring to mind recently have been the ‘Bedroom Tax’ and the horsemeat scandal. Now, I can already hear you saying; “What’s the horsemeat scandal got to do with A1 Housing tenants?” and my reply

would be nothing…unless you eat a lot of Findus lasagnas, but I especially like

the jokes going around! My particular favourite is the one about the punter at Kempton who buys a steak pie from the food stand, and when asked if he wants anything on it he says ‘yes, a fi ver each way.’Very funny, but back to the important stuff and a story that cannot be emphasized enough for tenants is the ‘Bedroom Tax’, which looks like it will affect more than 1,000 A1 Housing tenants.Now, before we cause too much of a panic, these changes only

apply to tenants who claim Housing Benefi t and are of working age (e.g. not claiming a pension).There are some pretty complex rules and criteria involved with this but the basics mean there will be a reduction in Housing Benefi t for tenants who are considered to be ‘under-occupying’ their home and have a ‘spare room’ or two.If you are a regular reader of this column you’ll know that I used to dish out tips and a bit of advice on how to save a bob or two. Well, one of the biggest tips I can offer is to have a read of page 11 which will explain how and when the ‘Bedroom Tax’ may affect you.If you’re still not sure, give one of A1 Housing’s Money Advisors a call and they can take a look at your circumstances.In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this issue and have a great spring and summer!

New dawn for A1 Housing and BDC

David

Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk3Our Call Centre is open from 8am to 5pm - to beat the rush, call after 2pm

SINCE the last issue of In Touch, Bassetlaw District Council has appointed a new Portfolio Holder for Housing after Cllr Alan Rhodes stepped down in December last year. Being a Portfolio Holder for Housing simply means a member of the Council’s Cabinet who is responsible for the policies and budgets that relate to all housing issues across Bassetlaw. Cllr Alan Chambers (pictured above) was named as the new Portfolio Holder for Housing in January and has already been out and about meeting with tenants and A1 Housing Managing Director Bernard Coleman.“Since taking on the role it’s been an exciting time and I hope to build on the excellent work of my predecessor,” said Cllr

Chambers, who lives in Retford and is the Ward Member for East Retford West. “When I was elected as a Councillor I wanted to be accessible and make a real difference for my ward. I now have the opportunity to do that across the whole of the District and I’m looking forward to working with both A1 Housing and the Council’s housing teams in the future.”A1 Housing’s Managing Director, Bernard Coleman welcomed Alan and said: “The next few years promise to be an exciting time for both A1 Housing and The Council and I am looking forward to working closely with Alan and offi cers at the Council.”

Council’s Alan takes on housing role

Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk544 Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk5To report incidents of Anti-Social Behaviourout of offi ce hours call 0800 590 542

National award for Repairs Service

Landmark momen t for Decent HomesWHEN A1 Housing embarked on its Decent Homes programme back in 2007, the ambition of reaching the 6,000 mark seemed like a very long way off.But that ambition was fi nally reached earlier this year when Mrs Kathleen Green became the proud tenant of the 6,000th property to have received Decent Homes work in Bassetlaw.Having lived in her Tuxford bungalow for the last 27 years, Kathleen has benefi ted from a new kitchen, a wet-room and more recently Air Source Heating.So what does she make of all these improvements?“It’s much nicer now,” she said. “I was sat here like Orphan Annie when all the dust sheets were up during the works, but we managed.”“The wet-room has made life so much easier because I was struggling to get in and out of the bath. I’m slowly getting used to

the heating and we’ll see if it’s cheaper in the long run.”Kathleen, and her now late husband, were the fi rst people to move into their bungalow when it was fi rst built in 1986, and she has been there ever since.“We originally moved from Westwoodside in Lincolnshire to Tuxford more than 40 years ago. We were living on Fleming Avenue at the time and saw the bungalows being built. Every time we walked by them I thought, ‘I’d love that one on the front’.”“We’d been on the waiting list for a bungalow for a while and as luck would have it we must have been top of the list. So I felt very lucky to have got it and move into a brand new bungalow.”Despite being the grand age of 88, Kathleen has no intentions of moving out any time soon and added: “It’s my home and I wouldn’t ever want to leave here now. I always say I’m going to have to wait for that telegram from the Queen before I leave.”

Over the years we’ve installed...3,153 Kitchens... 2,044 Bathrooms... 2,214 Central Heating systems... around 19,700 Windows and 2,785 Doors.We’re attacking fuel poverty...By fi tting solar panels to 133 properties and renewable heating systems to 459 properties, this was recognised with an Edie award for Environmental Excellence.We’ve overcome some major diffi culties along the way...In January 2011 we had to re-bid for funding with no guarantee of getting the money. But having bid for £20.5M we received £11.8M and kept Decent Homes going.

When Connaught went into administration in 2010 work ground to a halt for six weeks. But, with the help of Bullock Construction, we did our best to get back on track, and on budget, as quickly as possible. Our efforts were even recognised with a national award from the Charted Institute of Building.We’ve made our money go further to make more homes decent...From an original promise of receiving a £62M grant from the Government, by the end of Decent Homes we will have received just over £53M...and we’ve far surpassed the original target of making 4,700 homes meet the decency standard. And we’re still going strong.

The hard work doesn’t stop here...“While this is the fi nal year of Government funding for Decent Homes work, A1 Housing is dedicated to maintaining decency in all our properties in the future,” said Don Spittlehouse, Director for Technical and Housing at A1 Housing. “We expect to make another 450 homes meet the decency standard this fi nancial year and have a programme in place to ensure that homes continue to be maintained to a high standard.“A1 Housing would also like to place on record the excellent work and relationship we have built with our Decent Homes partners, Bullock Construction and look forward to many more years of working together.”

The Decent Homes story so far...

Celebrations as Decent Homes hits 6,000 mark

We’ve maintained and made decency in 6,000 properties since the project started in Retford in 2007.

A1 HOUSING has won national recognition for its repairs service at the Association of Public Service Excellence’s (APSE) Performance Networks awards.The service scooped the awarded for ‘Best Performer for Building Maintenance of council properties’ and was also nominated in the ‘Most Improved Performer’ category.Don Spittlehouse, Director of Technical Services said: “This award is a signifi cant achievement for a small District to be awarded and it is a credit

to the employees working within this service area. “The award recognises the hard work and commitment of all staff concerned in their continued drive and determination to be one of the best building maintenance providers in the country.”Pictured (from left to right) are: Andrea Batty (Financial Analyst), Phil Brown (Commercial Manager), Kelsey Beth Crossley (Emmerdale Actress), Stuart Morris (Head of Finance) and Marie Bowler (BRS Manager).

TENANTS in Retford and Carlton may have noticed a few changes to A1 Housing properties over the last few months as homes in Holmes Road, Springfi eld Road and Hirst Road in Retford, as well as Dadley and Oxford Road in Carlton have received a bit of a make-over.The most notable addition has been external wall insulation, which provides a smart-looking heat saving skin to the outside of houses, but the work has also included new windows, doors and heating.The improvements have been part of the Government’s Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) that requires gas and electricity suppliers - in this case E:ON

- to help fund energy saving measures to homes areas identifi ed as having low incomes. CESP was designed to take a ‘whole house’ approach so that tenants’ energy bills can be reduced as well as cutting carbon emissions. And throughout the programme, E:ON has provided around £1.45million worth of funding, which was topped up by Bassetlaw District Council and A1 Housing.This scheme has now ended, but A1 Housing is working on a similar programme using the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) which will allow us to improve many more homes in a similar way in the future.

Retford homes get energy saving revamp

Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk76 Issue 25 Autumn 2010 www.a1housing.co.uk6 7 Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk

A1 HOUSING’S Branching out Team mixed it with DIY royalty this February after answering a cry for help from the BBC’s DIY SOS show. We can’t say too much about the project at the moment as the episode hasn’t yet been broadcast, but it will transform a really deserving family’s life forever.

The Producers and Stars of the show were full of praise for Branching Out and the role we played in DIY SOS’s biggest ever building project. Nick Knowles tweeted: “You guys were great.” Whilst Gabrielle Blackman called us: “Real heroes. Nine days backbreaking work in the snow for a deserving family. Amazing.”

THEY may not have been as intimidating as the real Dragons from the BBC’s ‘Dragons Den’, but BATRA’s answer to the fearsome foursome have made dreams come true for 10 community groups across Bassetlaw.The Bassetlaw Association of Tenants and Residents Association (BATRA) teamed up with A1 Housing to host a Dragon’s Den style event in March where groups were invited to pitch for a share of £10,000. To be eligible, the community groups had to have a connection with A1 Housing tenants and also make a contribution to the local community; for example, reducing Anti-Social Behaviour, supporting community development, working together to improve facilities and creating healthier and more active people, among others.Joan Linacre, Chair of BATRA said: “It was a fantastic evening and all 10 community groups made excellent presentations. We have tried to help as many people as possible and support projects that we feel will make a difference to our local communities.“While we may not have been able to grant people the full amount bid for, we have awarded amounts that with pay for certain pieces of equipment or renovations.”Sam Roberts, Customer Services Manager at A1 Housing said: “A1 Housing is delighted to support BATRA’s Den and I’m certain this funding will make a real difference to local community groups.”

The groups that were successful include: Blue Skies Community Initiative (Mattersey Thorpe) - £800Hallcroft Senior Citizens Dance Club (Retford) - £992Forget-Me-Nots (Tuxford) - £1,625St Luke’s Church PCC (Langold) - £1,700Ranskill Bowls Club - £860Now Church (Langold) - £1,120Worksop Town Lindrickaires (Manton) - £535West Street Pre-School (Retford) - £266Langold Juniors FC - £1,000Bassetlaw Food Bank - £1,100

hand out 10,000 reasons to be thankfulBatra’s Den

SPRING has offi cially sprung and it’s the time of year that all ‘green fi ngered’ A1 Housing tenants have been waiting for – our annual Garden Competition!We’re now accepting entries in the following categories: • Traditional Garden - Filled

with perennial plants, bedding fl owers and luscious lawns.

• Fruit and Vegetable Garden - Does your patch produce some prize pumpkins or marrows?

• Modern Garden - You don’t need a lawn to have a stunning garden, so think gravel, potted plants and sculptures.

• Family Friendly Garden - Outdoor spaces that have something for all the family to enjoy, especially the kids.

• Community Garden - For people who have created a colourful communal space for their community.

All our individual champions will win a £50 prize, while the runners-up will each receive a £25 prize. The winner of the Community Garden Category will win the coveted A1 Housing Community Garden Trophy. Please note; there is no cash prize for this category.The judges will be looking for originality, colour, effort and inventiveness when they begin their tour around the district in July and the winners will be announced on Friday 19th July, 2013 at a prize-giving ceremony at Retford Town Hall. To enter, please complete the entry card included in this issue of In Touch. All entrants must be A1 Housing tenants. You can also get an entry card by calling Customer Services on 0800 590542. The closing date for all entries is Wednesday 19th June, 2013.

Enter our annual Garden Competition

Branching Out Answer

February after answering a cry for help from the BBC’s DIY SOS show. We can’t say too much about the project at the moment as the episode hasn’t yet been broadcast, but it will transform a really deserving family’s life forever.

Branching Out Answer

Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk98 Issue 25 Autumn 2010 www.a1housing.co.uk8



BASSETLAW’S new Joint ASB Team, made up of offi cers from A1 Housing and Bassetlaw District Council, is already proving to be a great success and has won praise from a Circuit Judge.Following an application at Mansfi eld Magistrates Court for an anti-social behaviour injunction, His Honour Judge Pugsley praised the Team’s action and approach in this and other cases in combatting anti-social behaviour.His Honour Judge Pugsley made reference to the use of legislation available that gives local authorities the power to address anti-social issues.

He complimented Bassetlaw’s Joint ASB Team in its use of measures taken where individuals disrupt the peace of the majority of law-abiding citizens in their communities.Don Spittlehouse, Director of Technical Services and Deputy Managing Director at A1 Housing said: “It is fantastic news that we have been recognised for our proactive efforts in tackling anti-social behaviour. The decision to establish a joint Council and A1 Housing ASB teams is clearly paying dividends.” Cllr Simon Greaves, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council said:

“I want to make it crystal clear, we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour in

Bassetlaw, and as the Judge has recognised, we will use every

power at our disposal to tackle ASB.”

A1’s Andy gets Gas Safe

Judge praises new Joint ASB Team

ASBOASBO • ASBO • ASBO • ASBO • ASBO • ASBO • ASBO

• ASB

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JAILJAIL • JAIL • JAIL • JAIL • JAIL • JAIL • JAIL • J

AIL •

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• JA

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Jail for ASBI breachVincent Peter Dyer was jailed for a second time after breaching of his Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction back in February.The terms of his ASBI state that he must not be in the locality of Rushey Close, Worksop to prevent residents from being abused or harassed and to prevent Dyer from causing a nuisance or annoyance. However, he was arrested at fl ats in Rushey Close on 4th February 2012, which was a clear breach of his injunction and was sentenced to 6 months in prison. His ASBI is due to last until January 2014.

ASBO served on PottsShauni Potts of Bircotes will have to abide by the conditions of his Anti-Social Behaviour Order until 22nd January 2015. The order forbids Potts from being in the areas of Shrewsbury Road and Droversdale Road, Bircotes and from associating with a number of his friends both in the vicinity of Harworth and Bircotes and the wider area.He is also banned from riding any motorised vehicle other than on a public road unless he has written permission from the landowner.

ASBO for persistent offenderCharlie Wayne Scott of Manton, Worksop has been served with a full Anti-Social Behaviour Order until 22nd January 2016.Just some of the strict conditions of Scott’s ASBO include setting foot in a residential property or business premises without the express permission from its owner or authorised occupant.He is also banned from Clumber Park, Worksop’s two golf courses and from possessing any infl ammable material, except for a lighter or matches for the purpose of smoking.

More ASBO success for joint ASB Team

ASBOASBO • ASBO • ASBO • ASBO • ASBO • ASBO • ASBO

• ASB

O • A

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A1 Housing has increased its commitment to keep all of its tenants ‘Gas Safe’ thanks to a new initiative from the Association of Gas Managers.

Heating, Mechanical and Electrical Manager, Andrew Steen has gained the VRQ4 Gas Safety in Social Housing qualifi cation and has also become a founding member of the Gas Managers Yorkshire Forum.This new forum allows Contract Managers and gas industry professionals to meet and discuss changes that are affecting the gas industry and implement and bring in policies. This ensures consistencies and ultimately leads to safer systems and safer environments for tenants.Members of the Yorkshire Forum include: Bassetlaw District Council and A1 Housing, Leeds City Council, Kirklees Housing, Rotherham Homes, Yorkshire Housing, St Leger Homes, Nottingham City Homes, Hull City Council.

Liberty help FOYPIB projectA GROUP of Young People in Bassetlaw are a step closer to an African adventure of a lifetime thanks to the Liberty Group’s annual charity donation. Over the last 12 months the ‘First Visit’ scheme has seen Liberty pledge a pound for every A1 Housing property they can access fi rst time to carry out a gas safety check and service tenants’ appliances.And for the fi fth year running, Liberty has hit their £3,000 target which this year will help Focus on Young People in Bassetlaw (FOYPIB), and in particular group of young people from the district undertaking volunteer projects in Africa.Vicky Rawson, from FOYPIB said: “We are enormously grateful to Liberty Gas and to A1 Housing for their continued support of Focus on Young People in Bassetlaw. This donation will go towards the work of the charity which supports young people aged 8 – 25 in their various ventures. Stephanie Askew from Liberty Gas added: “We are very pleased to be able to support A1 Housing and this year’s chosen charity, Focus on Young People in Bassetlaw. The First Visit partnership

allows us to play a positive role in the local community and I am delighted that the benefi ts of this year’s donation will be felt both here and in communities in Africa.”

Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk1110 Issue 25 Autumn 2010 www.a1housing.co.uk10 Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk11

OVER the last few weeks it will have been almost impossible not to have heard about how Welfare Reform is starting to impact on the lives of people who claim benefits.The term ‘Welfare Reform’ basically refers to the ways the Government is changing the benefits system, for example, how they are calculated, how much you can get and the way they are paid.There has been a lot in the news recently on issues such as ‘The Bedroom Tax’, Universal Credit or the Benefits Cap.

Hopefully, if you claim benefits, you will already know about all or some of these changes, especially the ‘Bedroom Tax’, or to give it the correct title, the Under-Occupancy penalty, which was introduced in April this year.If you don’t already know about these changes, the next three pages will tell you all you need to know about what has already changed and what will be changing over the course of the next few months.So, can you really afford not to read on?...

A Money Matters benefits special THE Government’s Bedroom Tax came into force in April this year and has meant that around 1,000 A1

Housing tenants have had their Housing Benefit reduced under the new rules.

If you are of working age and have one spare bedroom, your Housing Benefit will have gone down by 14%. This means you will have to pay approximately £11 a week towards your rent.

If you have two or more spare bedrooms there is a 25% reduction which is likely to be around £20 per week.

Please note that this only affects tenants of working age and does not affect those people who are already collecting Pension Credit.

If you have been affected by these new rules you have a number of options of how you can manage the reduction to your Housing Benefit. These are:

DownsizingIf you’re interested in downsizing to a property with fewer bedrooms and would like some information on the HomeSwapper Scheme, please call into one of our Property Shops or contact Customer Services on 0800 590542.

Take in a lodgerIf you are interested in taking in a lodger to help make ends meet, then have a look at our Lodgers Guide, available at www.a1housing.co.uk or from any of our property shops.

Discretionary Housing Payment SchemeIf you live in a property that has been significantly adapted for a disabled person and it would be impractical for you to move, please contact our Money Advice Team for information about a Discretionary Housing Payment Scheme that could help you.

Talk to usIf you want to stay in your home but think the reduction to your Housing Benefit might make it hard for you to make up the shortfall in your rent, please contact our Money Advice Team on 0800 590542.

The Bedroom Tax

There have been some recent changes to the way the Bedroom Tax is applied to certain families or individuals. These include:

Severely Disabled ChildrenWill be allowed their own bedroom in circumstances where they would seriously disrupt the sleep of another child at night if they were to share a bedroom.

Adult children in Armed Forces Parents who have sons or daughters in the Armed Services who still live at home but are away on operations will be allowed to keep their spare bedrooms.

Foster CarersWill be allowed a spare bedroom.

Don’t get confused about bedroom sizeIt doesn’t matter how big or small your spare bedroom is, if it is classed as a bedroom by your landlord it will be part of the new under-occupancy rules.

For example; if your home has a main bedroom and a box room and your rent is for a two-bedroom house, flat or bungalow, the Bedroom Tax will apply to you.

SToP PreSS! SToP PreSS! SToP PreSS!HAVE the kids have moved out of home, are you finding that your council house is getting too big to cope with or you’re going to be affected by housing benefit changes and under-occupancy? If you answered yes to any of these questions, A1 Housing can give you cash for downsizing.We’d like to hear from any existing tenants who are living in a house which is too big for their needs and would consider moving to a suitable flat or bungalow if you are a senior citizen.If this sounds like you, A1 Housing will pay you £250 for every bedroom you release as it means the house that you occupy can be used by a family.

For example, if you currently live in a three-bedroom house and move to a two-bedroom flat or bungalow you’ll receive a cheque for £250. You’ll also be made a priority for re-housing and, because you are downsizing, your rent may be reduced.For more information on this contact our call centre on 0800 590542A1 Housing tenants can also register for a mutual exchange through Homeswapper.This is where, with the permission of their landlord, Council tenants can swap properties with each other, not just in Bassetlaw, but across the country.Visit www.homeswapper.co.uk for more details.

are you looking to downsize?




EVERY other month we select two lucky winners of our Clear Rent Account Prize Draw who each win £150, just for being up to date with their rent.Latest winners are:

November 12Mrs Linda Morris - Harworth

January 13Mrs Doris Finch - WorksopMr Neil Stevens - Worksop

March 13Mrs Gillian Olito - WorksopMiss Gwyneth Brett - East Markham

THE Government is combining a range of benefi ts into a single payment called ‘Universal Credit.’ This is to be phased in from October and will replace:• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance• Income Support• Child Tax Credits• Working Tax Credits• Housing Benefi tUniversal Credit will be paid directly to a claimant’s bank account by one payment each month.

Because Housing Benefi t is being replaced by Universal Credit, A1 Housing will no longer automatically receive the Housing Benefi t part.

This means that all tenants who receive Universal Credit will be responsible for paying their rent to A1 Housing. You will need to open a bank account, if you do not already have one, our Money Advice Team can help you with this.

Get ready for changes to

Universal CreditClear Rent Account Winners

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mILLS’ moNeY maTTerSMoney advisors...We’re here to help

Council Tax Benefit changes hitCOULD you be one of the many households in Bassetlaw who receive Council Tax Benefi t and will now have to make a contribution towards your bill?Changes from the Government mean that anyone of working age (not old enough to collect pension credit) who previously had their Council Tax fully paid for them will now have to pay a portion of their tax bill.Local Authorities such as Bassetlaw District Council have been forced to reduce their level of subsidy following a Government funding cut to Council Tax Benefi t. This means diffi cult choices had to be made on the level of subsidy the Council would continue to provide.Following a district-wide consultation during September and October 2012, The Council announced that those eligible for future Council Tax Benefi t will only have to pay 8% of the full bill.However, some exemptions will still be in place for pensioners and severely disabled residents who will continue to

have their bills paid in full.Cllr Sylvia May, portfolio holder for Revenues, Benefi ts and Support Services at Bassetlaw District Council said: “This situation has been imposed on us by the Government but Local Authorities are having to take full responsibility for managing a 10 per cent cut in overall funding, while still protecting the most vulnerable.” “We’ve done the best we can and have secured one of the lowest rates in the Country.”The average Band A Council Tax bill in Bassetlaw is £1,056 per year. A householder who receives Council Tax Benefi t will now pay around £85 per year – equivalent to just over £7 each month.A helpline has also been set up for any queries. Call 01909 533440 to speak to a Council Tax advisor.

However, some exemptions will still be

disabled residents who will continue to

Cllr Sylvia May, portfolio holder for Revenues, Benefi ts and Support Services at Bassetlaw District Council said: “This situation has been imposed on us by the Government but Local Authorities are having to take full responsibility for managing a 10 per cent cut in overall funding, while still protecting the most vulnerable.” “We’ve done the best we can and have secured one of the lowest rates in the Country.”The average Band A Council

Changes to

Council Tax Bene�t

The new Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2013/14

Reduction

Darrell BerridgeMoney AdvisorHaving spent the last 12 years helping and supporting the unemployed back into work, Darrell will be on the front line speaking to tenants and giving them vital information and support.

Claire WraggIncome Recovery Assistant We’ve borrowed Claire from Bassetlaw District Council’s Housing Needs Team for a while to help tenants cope with the Welfare Reform and try to prevent them getting into debt or ultimately lose their home.

DARRELL: We’re here to provide tenants with the information they

need, not just about the ‘Bedroom Tax’, and help them explore all the

options available to them; for example, downsizing, taking in a lodger or

going through the Homeswapper scheme. We’ll also be helping tenants

to set up bank accounts or register with 2Shires Credit Union.

We’re able to look at someone’s individual circumstances, provide

support on an on-going basis and help them to link up with other

agencies.

CLAIRE: That’s right; we’ve been identifying those tenants who are

affected by the Bedroom Tax and offering advice and support. The

majority of tenants are not behind on their rent, but with the introduction

of the Bedroom Tax and Universal Credit later in the year, we could see

many people getting into debt because of these changes.

We don’t want to see anyone in hardship because of these changes

and from the company’s point of view, we need to make sure that A1

Housing’s income isn’t harmed.

DARRELL: Universal Credit will affect

many more people and it will be

a big change to the way that many people do their household

budgeting. So, it’s important that if you have

any worries or problems about

benefi ts, paying your rent, bills

or just money in general you can speak to myself, Claire or

Adam Mills.

In Touch caught up with them to f ind out a

little bit more about what they will be doing...

You can contact our

Money Advice team

by calling

0800 590542

£

WE’RE pleased to introduce you to the latest additions to the A1 Housing team, Darrell and Claire, who will be supporting and helping tenants through the Welfare Reform changes.

Issue 29 Autumn 2011 www.a1housing.co.uk151414 Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk15

Clear rent account winners cash in

TENANTS got a chance to hear what the next 12 months has in store for A1 Housing during this year’s Annual Tenants’ Conference.Held at Worksop Town Hall, it was also the fi rst time that the Tenants’ Conference and Meet the Team Day had been held together, which allowed many more tenants to learn more about the services that A1 Housing provide.Top of the agenda was the future of A1 Housing and Managing Director, Bernard Coleman outlined some of the challenges the ALMO will face over the next year, and talked about some of the elements that make up our Local Service Offer.This included how our Tenant Scrutiny Panel will take on a bigger role, the Decent Homes standards, adaptations, our ‘Care for you, Care for your home’ visits, Facebook, fuel poverty and the Government’s Green Deal, among other things.Those who attended the conference also had the chance to ask questions of the key offi cers who were there. Just some of the questions asked were about Solar Panels, vacant properties and garages and how we are keeping a hold on anti-social behaviour in these areas.If you would like to know more about our Local Service Offer, this can be viewed online by visiting the A1 Housing website or by calling 0800 590542.

Tenants gather for Annual Conference

THIS is Angela Kirkbright, you may recognise her as a previous winner of our Community Awards, but she also plays an important role as a member of A1 Housing’s Tenant Scrutiny Panel. In Touch spoke to her about her role, so we’ll let Angela tell you the rest...Hi, I’m Angela and I’m part of A1 Housing’s Tenant Scrutiny Panel. ‘What on earth is the Tenant Scrutiny Panel?’ I hear you ask! Well, let me explain who we are and what we do. In simple terms...The panel is made up of 10 tenants who are split into two groups - Tenant Inspectors and the Quality and Impact Panel.Ultimately we work as a team and look into the workings of A1 Housing. In the nicest possible way, we poke our noses into how A1 Housing conducts its business and have the ability to challenge them, should we think a service could be improved for the benefi t of tenants.How does it work?...Well, we take a procedure, for example, we’re currently

looking at the new ‘Tenant Experience’, and we examine the way A1 Housing handle the concept from beginning to end.If we fi nd something that is not working as well as we feel it should, we then make a recommendation to the Board of Directors, which they consider and try to resolve.The boring (but important) technical bit...The Tenant Scrutiny Panel is completely independent and tenant led and scrutinises the services, service delivery, performance, benchmarks and business decisions of A1 Housing. We also help to ensure that guidelines set by the Government are being adhered to and challenge the standards that have been set.If that last bit hasn’t put you off too much and you would like to know a little more about the work we do, or more importantly, feel you might like to join us, then please do not hesitate to contact me on 07523 306 710 or you can email me at [email protected]

Looking a little closer...A personal tale of our Tenant Scrutiny Panel

You can be heard from homeIn October we asked if you thought that A1 Housing needed to communicate better with tenants...It was a close call but 55% of you thought that we did.The main areas you thought we needed to improve on were In Touch, home visits and for mobile phone users.We’re always trying to keep up to date with the types of articles or information you’d like to see in these pages, so if you have any suggestions for features, news or information in future issues, please let us know!You can let us know your suggestions via: email: [email protected] call: 0800 590542.In December we asked a series of questions around how you manage your money, if you have a bank account and how you prefer to pay your rent.

This was in anticipation of the changes that are taking place with the benefi ts system and how we can help and support tenants when these changes happen.As a result of your answers we have been able to refer more people to 2Shires Credit Union and our new Money advisors can provide better advice to those tenants who need it. In February we asked if you knew about our Estate Based Posters and where they were displayed.It turns out that the majority of people didn’t know what they were or where they can fi nd them! Our Estate Based Posters contain lots of information specifi c to your area, such as; who your Neighbourhood Housing Offi cer is, events, community news and some useful phone numbers.And thanks to your answers, we’ll be displaying them in more areas and including some extra information.

OVER the last few months we’ve been asking our Be Heard From Home group lots of questions about how we can continue to improve certain services at A1 Housing. Here is selection a selection of just some of the questions we’ve asked...and what we’re doing about them!



Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk17Send a text to A1 Housing on - 07860 021511


HAVING a party? Need a venue for your community group?

A1 Housing has 11 Community Centres throughout the district that you can hire for daytime and evening events.The centres are based in the heart of our communities and are all fully equipped with tables and chairs, kitchens and other facilities.All are available at a very reasonable hourly rate; from £10 with discounts available for Under 16s and senior citizens groups.For more information or to make a booking, call 0800 590542 (8am to 5pm Monday to Friday).

Hire out our Community Centres

Centres are located in:WorksopBalmoralCrown PlaceKilton ForestKingston CloseRayton SpurThievesdale

RetfordHallcroftWesthill Road

HarworthDevonshire Road

Carlton in LindrickCleveland Close

TuxfordThe Beeches

Community Surgeries Advice and information from your Neighbourhood Housing Offi cer

Location Service

Kilton - Rayton Spur Community Centre, Rayton Spur, Worksop First Thursday of each month, 10.30am to 11.30am - Chris Eyre

Sandy Lane - 1 Sandhill House, Worksop First Wednesday of each month, 10.30am to 11.30am - June Pocklington

Prospect - 91 Lancastrian Way, Worksop Second Tuesday of each month, 10.30am to 11.30am - Caroline Hurt

Carlton - 24-28 Sycamore Road Every Tuesday, 2.15pm to 3.15pm - Michelle Hoggard

Mattersey Thorpe - Community House, 3 Cunningham Close Last Tuesday of each month, 2pm to 3pm - Donna Bell

Tuxford - Mine of Information, 2 Market Place First Tuesday of each month, 9.30am to 11.30am - Paula Owen

Misterton - The Misterton Centre, High Street First Tuesday of each month, 10am to 12noon - Adele Hewison

Harworth - Scrooby Road Information Offi ce Every Monday, 10am to 12noon - Adele Hewison

IF you’re new to one of our areas, looking to make some new friends or get more involved with your community and A1 Housing, then why not get in touch with your local Tenant and Resident Association?You’ll fi nd there’s plenty going on and all the TRAs are ready to welcome new members. They also regularly speak with A1 Housing and may be able to resolve any issues you have.All the numbers and locations are below, so why not give them a ring and fi nd out when their next meeting is?

In the places where there is no TRA, we still want to make sure that the voice of tenants is still getting through to us. That’s why we have volunteers in many areas who represent their community. These ‘Tenant Voices’ speak with A1 Housing and other tenant representatives on a regular basis and can help you with any tenancy or estate related issues and put you in touch with the right people.If you would like to become a Tenant Voice, please contact Jim Fieldhouse on 01909 533242. We are currently recruiting for the areas of Manton Villas, Thievesdale and Clarborough.

Find your nearest TRA Find your Tenant Voice

Be part of your community

Worksop AreasPriory Estate, WorksopTaylor Holmes 07749 820155Old MantonKaren Searles 07425 249446Mid-MantonShaz Cook 07984 623620

New MantonTrish Hobson 07825 338488Retford AreasRampton Village & surrounding districtRoy Hewitt 01777 248754

Worksop areas

Prospect 01909 532192

Balmoral 01909 730893

North Carlton 01909 730766

Langold 01909 731260

Retford areasOrdsall 01777 708040Hallcroft 01777 701790Tuxford 01777 871792Mattersey Thorpe 07510 451097Harworth & Bircotes 01302 746393

In the places where there is no TRA, we still want to make Find your Tenant Voice

Estate inspections make a differenceEVERYONE should have a feeling of pride about their local community, and having a tidy and well maintained estate is the fi rst step towards this.Estate Inspections allow us to look for things that will improve the area or make it look better for the residents, such as broken walls and fences, graffi ti, overgrown gardens and illegal parking.Each community will have at least one inspection per year and they are carried out by the Neighbourhood Housing Offi cer for that particular area. Other people are also involved, for example, offi cers from Bassetlaw District Council, Nottinghamshire Police and other agencies. This means that we have specifi c people on

hand that can address any specifi c problems.We also encourage tenants to go on Estate Inspections, after all it is your estate and nobody knows it better than you.If you would like to know when the next estate inspection is taking place, visit our website www.a1housing.co.uk and a diary can be found in the ‘Your Tenancy and Estate section’.All Estate Inspections start at 10am and involve a walk around your estate and take about two hours. If you would like to join an Estate Inspection, please contact your Neighbourhood Housing Offi cer.


The way we handle complaints is changingIF you are unhappy with the way that A1 Housing has dealt with a complaint or are unhappy with the outcome of your complaint, the way this is resolved has now changed. Previously you could contact the Ombudsman with your complaint once it had been through A1 Housing’s full Complaints Procedure. However, since the introduction of the Localism Act, the Housing

Ombudsman has asked landlords to try and resolve matters locally using a Designated Person.A Designated Person is someone who acts on your behalf and will negotiate with A1 Housing, within the currently agreed policies and procedures, to reach a suitable compromise that would be acceptable to both parties.A designated Person can be:• A Bassetlaw District Councillor from any ward• Any MP, it doesn’t have to be the MP for Bassetlaw• A Tenant Panel*If the Designated Person is unable to resolve your complaint you can ask them to refer it to the Ombudsman on your behalf for investigation.If you do not want to use a Designated Person, you can contact the Ombudsman direct but you must wait eight weeks from the date you received your fi nal response from A1 Housing.For more details please contact A1 Housing’s Complaints Offi cer, Sally Vernon on 0800 590542.* A1 Housing is currently consulting on whether or not you would like a tenant panel to act as a Designated Person. You can have your say by fi lling in the questionnaire on the A1 Housing website or by calling us on 0800 590 542.

A1 HOUSING provides a Lifeline Service for anyone who feels vulnerable or may need extra reassurance in their home.Put quite simply, Lifeline allows you to make an emergency call from anywhere in your home or garden just by pressing the button on a pendant that can be worn around your neck, on your wrist or on a belt. Your call will be answered by one of our highly trained operators and you can request assistance from a family member or friend or a call to the emergency services.Our Lifeline Service includes access to a 24-hour control room, linked through your telephone line, quarterly warden visits and a full support plan.All of this is available for a one-off installation fee of £16 and a weekly charge of £2.95 which covers the 24-hour monitoring service and regular maintenance of the equipment.And, for a small additional charge, we can fi t added extras such as smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. For more information or to have Lifeline installed in your home please call 01909 533735.

Issue 25 Autumn 2010 www.a1housing.co.uk18


Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk19For gardening and handyperson services, call Branching Out on 0800 590 542

A SPATE of house fi res caused by cooking has prompted Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to remind tenants of the importance of keeping an eye on the cooker and not getting distracted by the TV, the phone or anything else. Between October and December last year (the latest fi gures available), there were 15 accidental fi res in Bassetlaw homes and nine of them were caused by cooking. Older people were involved in two thirds of those nine fi res.To make sure you don’t end up in the same situation, take pans off the heat if you leave the kitchen or, at least, turn the heat right down, use a timer, preferably one you can carry with you into another room, and double check that the cooker is turned off when you’ve fi nished.In addition, the following tips should help prevent most cooking fi res:• don’t overheat wheat-fi lled bags or put metal in

microwave ovens• don’t leave saucepan handles sticking out or within reach

of children• use a deep fat fryer with a thermostat instead of a chip pan• keep the cooker clean to prevent a build-up of

fl ammable grease• keep loose clothing tucked away from the hob• don’t keep tea towels or other cloths near the cooker• don’t leave toasters near curtains, kitchen roll or other

fl ammable items.

If a pan does catch fi re, you should never throw water over it or move it. Turn the heat off, if it is safe to do so, but don’t try to tackle it yourself. Then get out, stay out and call 999.A1 Housing is in the process of fi tting smoke alarms that are permanently wired into their Sheltered Schemes and fl ats. If you live in a property that does not have this facility, fi t a battery-operated smoke alarm, preferably on every level of your home, and test it every week.For further advice on fi re safety, contact your local fi re station or visit www.notts-fi re.gov.uk and www.facebook.com/fi rekills

Make sure it’s only your chips that burn

Could A1 Housing give you a lifeline?

A1 HOUSING Tenants are being warned to be on the lookout for scam letters after residents in Bassetlaw received fraudulent paperwork claiming they had won large amounts of money. The letter which claims to be from the ‘International Financial Transfer Board’, asks for personal details in order to be able to process the prize claim. Proof of identifi cation in the form of an electricity or telephone bill and a copy of a passport or identity card are also requested.A1 Housing recommend that you do not respond to these fraudulent letters and never disclose your personal or fi nancial details to anyone you do not know or trust.

If it’s too good to be true…it probably is!




IF YOU are thinking of owning your own home and are currently an A1 Housing tenant, this could be the perfect time to buy your home. Your home could be an asset and an investment for years to come, for you and your family, giving you the security that home ownership brings. You’ll have more freedom to make the changes you want like decorating, landscaping the garden or making major changes to your home.To apply for the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme you must have been a Social Housing tenant for more than 5 years and your discount will refl ect the length of time you have been a tenant. Under the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme you may be able to get a maximum discount of up to £75,000, dependent on the market valuation of your home and if you have been a tenant for more than 30 years.Remember, buying your home is an important decision for you and your family and for most people it is the biggest investment they make. If you would like to know more about the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme visit www.communities.gov.uk/righttobuy or if you would like specifi c information on a right to buy application on your A1 Housing property, contact us on 0800 590542.

November 2012Presentations to the A1 Housing Board included:• Draft Objectives for 2013/14 Annual Service

Delivery Plan• Housemark Benchmarking Report• Annual Effi ciency Update• Annual Branching Out Report• STAR (Tenant) Survey Results

January 2013Presentations to the A1 Housing Board included:• Performance Report for Quarter 3• Customer Insight Programme for Quarter 3• Updated Risk Register for 2012/13• Tenant Scrutiny Panel presented their report

into the complaints process• Health and Safety Update, specifi cally: Fire,

Training and Incident Statistics• Board Attendance at A1 Housing meetings

Your right to buy: picture yourself as a homeownerEACH year the A1 Housing Board, which is made up of tenants, Bassetlaw residents and representatives of Bassetlaw District Council set targets for us to work towards.These are spread across all areas of A1 Housing, such as Housing Management, Customer Services and Repairs and make sure that we are giving you a good level of service and continue to meet high standards.There are more than 120 targets that we have to work towards,

and so that you can see how we are doing, we have shown just a few of these in the table below.The information tells you how we performed in a selection of areas between April 2011 and March 2012, how we are currently performing, and our targets for 2012/13. The colour coded faces tell you whether we are on target, slightly below or doing better than we expected.

Area What we measureHow we

performed in 2011/12

Latest performance

Our target for 2012/13

How are we doing?

CustomerContact

Average Time Taken to respond to complaints (Working days) 5 6.00 5.00

CustomerContact

% of Direct Dial Telephone callsanswered in 10 seconds (excluding Contact Centre)

No data from BDC

No data from BDC 96.00

HousingManagement Average time taken to relet properties 21.68 20.30 20.00

HousingManagement

% ASB closed cases in the current reporting period which have been resolved 98.57 97.92 98.00

HousingManagement

% of Estate Inspections completed and results posted on A1 Housing website in 15 working days 93.33 95.35 100.00

HousingFinance Current Rent Arrears (£’s) 262,423 305,926 247,000

HousingFinance Proportion of rent collected exc b/f arrears 99.67 99.46 100.06

Repairs % emergency repairs completed in timescale 99.91 99.88 100.06

Repairs Non emergency repairs - % of appointments made that are kept 99.67 99.85 99.75

Repairs % repairs completed “Right First Time” (based on recalls within 28 days of completion) 99.71 99.25 99.75

Adaptations Average time taken to complete Adaptations for all works (calendar days) 50.64 47.16 43.00

DecentHomes

Overall Customer Satisfaction with Decent Homes works 92.05 97.50 85.00

SupportedHousing

Response rate to warden intercom calls received at the Tunstall Contact Centre. % in 60 seconds 98.17 98.16 99.00

How are we doing?

KEY

Just Below Target

Above / On Target

Below Target

If you do not understand any of the information or would like to know more about the information we have provided, please call our Customer Services team on 01909 534 520.

Some fi gures measure our progress as we work towards the fi nancial year end target for 2012/13 (April 2012 - March 2013).

Key Board Decisions

Day Date Venue Time

Tuesday 28 May 2013 Worksop Town Hall, Ceres Suite 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Tuesday 25 June 2013 Rhodesia Village Hall, Tylden Road, S80 3HL 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Tuesday 30 July 2013 Retford Town Hall, Council Chamber 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Tuesday24 September 2013 Board & AGM

Worksop Town Hall, Assembly Room Ceres Suite

3:30 - 5pm5:30 - 7:30

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Retford Town Hall, Council Chamber 4pm - 7pm

Tuesday 26 November 2013 Carlton Forest, Meeting Room 4pm - 7pm

Tuesday 28 January 2014 Worksop Town Hall, Ceres Suite 4pm - 7pm

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Retford Town Hall, Council Chamber 4pm - 7pm

Tuesday 25 March 2014 Worksop Town Hall, Ceres Suite 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Board Meetings

The fi rst 15 minutes of each meeting are set aside for tenants to ask questions on relevant issues. Individual or personal issues cannot be discussed and these should be taken up with the appropriate offi cer.

A1 HOUSING is managed by a Board of non-executive directors who meet nine times a year to discuss and review everything that happens within the organisation.

Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk2322 Issue 25 Autumn 2010 www.a1housing.co.uk22 Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk23For the latest information on A1 Housing visit www.a1housing.co.uk

SUDOKUSUDOKUSUDOKUwinner

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN HIGH STREET SHOPPING VOUCHERS!Each coloured block needs to make 45

Cut out your completed Sudoku puzzle and entry form and send it to: A1 Housing, Customer Services, Carlton Forest House, Hundred Acre Lane, Worksop, Notts S81 0TS.

The deadline for all entries is 1st July, 2013 and the fi rst correct entry drawn will receive £15 worth of High Street shopping vouchers.

2 3 7

4 6 8 3 7

7 1 2

1 8

2 3 6 9 7

5 2

6 1 7

3 4 7 1 9

5 2 4

Sudoku - Competition Entry FormName. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Postcode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Telephone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Email . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Every issue we have £15 worth of High Street

shopping vouchers up for grabs if you can

correctly complete our Sudoku puzzle below.

competition winners

Congratulations to Kyle Marriott from Worksop who spotted me on Page 9 of the Spring issue.I’m hiding again somewhere in this issue and if you can fi nd me, you can win a family pass for Savoy Cinemas.When you have found me, write down the page number together with your name, address and a contact telephone number and send it to;

And the winner is... Mrs Cain from Retford who entered

our Winter competition and was the fi rst person to be drawn out of the hat.

Sudoku

A1 Housing Customer Services TeamCarlton Forest House, Hundred Acre Lane, Worksop, S81 0TS

Facebook and Tweets

Or email your entry to; [email protected] date for all entries is 1st July, 2013

IT’S good to talk, but did you know you that A1 Housing is now on Facebook and Twitter? If you’ve got something you want to tell us and prefer using Facebook or you want to be part of the conversation on Twitter then join us online. Over the last few months we’ve had some great tweets and facebook messages. We think these are the top fi ve…

SudokuSudokuClosing date for all entries is 1st July, 2013

ENTERNOW!

www.facebook.com/

a1housing

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competition winnerscompetition winnerscompetition winnerscompetition winnersWhere’s Alfie?

For repairs, rent payments and all general enquiries call:

0800 590542

How to contact usThere are a number of ways you can contact us.

All of our offi ces are open Monday to Fridaybetween 8.40am to 5pm

We can arrange for a copy of this document in large print, audiotape, Braille or for a Language Line interpreter or translator to help you. Our contact details:

0800 590542

e-mail: [email protected]

Mandarin

Urdu

Punjabi

Polish

If you need any help communicating with us or understanding any of our documents, please contact us on 01909 534519.

Foreign language versions

Issue 33 Spring/Summer 2013 www.a1housing.co.uk

You can pay your rent by direct debit or credit card, by phoning Automated payment line 01777 713864 Contact Centre 0800 590542 Online at www.a1housing.co.uk

£

On-line Visit our website at www.a1housing.co.ukEmail us at [email protected]

Text message 07860 021511TxT

By visiting us If you want to talk directly to a member of staff, you can visit us at our property shops. We can also arrange to visit you at your home or meet you at one of the council’s community houses if you prefer.You can call into our property shops without making an appointment. However, you may need to make an appointment if you want to see a particular member of staff.Head Offi ce Carlton Forest House, Hundred Acre Lane, Worksop, Notts S81 0TSRetford Property Shop Town Hall, 17B The Square, Retford, Notts DN22 6DBWorksop Property Shop Queens Buildings, Potter Street, Worksop, Notts S80 2AH

By writing to us A1 Housing Bassetlaw LimitedCarlton Forest House, Hundred Acre Lane, Worksop, Notts S81 0TS

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