ANNUAL REPORT TO TENANTS 2017 50 YEARS OF BHA
1960’s 1970’s 1980’s 1990’s 2000’s 2010’s
1966 1971 1980 1996 2005 2011 BarnsburyKen Loach’s Cathy ComeStreet BHA’sMilner first homes Square at Tenants' Association Secretary BHA’sBarnsbury first new homes Park for TheUpper Beech Tree, Street one of the first AfterLiverpool over 30 years service,Road Home first screened on the Barnsbury street were first and BHA resident, Geo Lewis, almost 20 years at Beech ClaringbullGreat Trees of London, Court is sadly Geo Lewis stands down BBC and a couple of weeks occupiedMorland after having Mews been is appointed Chief Executive BeechTree Close andTree Barnsbury Close removed from Beech Tree Close as CEOBelitha Villas later Shelter is formed savedGissing from demolition Walk Ocer of BHA Park open Caledonian Road 2008 BHA move their oce from 60 Morland Mews to 303b 1967 1973Lofting Road 303 Upper Street is acquired Highbury View Upper Street Barnsbury Housing BHA’s work at Barnsbury Street from Bethnal Green & Victoria Association is formed by receivesPugin a Civic TrustCourt award Park Housing Association a group of Islington-based for “Making an outstanding 2013 professionals, including contribution of the local scene” Claringbull Court, named Construction at Liverpool David Baker, Ken Pring & after former BHA Chair Jack Road is complete Alan Slater 1974 Claringbull, is opened.
BHA's new homes at Milner 2015 Belitha Villas refurbishment 1968 Square are complete is complete Barnsbury Street properties are acquired from GLC 1975 and work begins in BHA’s developments of 2016 renovating them Morland Mews, Lofting Road, Construction at Caledonian Pugin Court and Gissing Walk Road is complete are complete 2017 1977 BHA celebrates its 50th anniversary BHA receives a Commendation from the Department of Housing 40 homes at Highbury View are acquired from Crown Simmons Housing Morland Mews
303B Upper Street, Islington, London N1 2TU 020 7704 2324 [email protected] www.barnsbury.org DECEMBER 2017
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EDEN GROVE HOLLOWAY ROAD (4 HOMES) GEORGE’S ROAD NEW HOMES DUE 2018 CLARINGBULL HIGHBURY COURT VIEW (40 HOMES) HIGHBURY (11 HOMES) FIELDS ABOUT US
MACKENZIE ROAD
LIVERPOOL ROAD PARADISE We are a small neighbourhood-based housing CALEDONIAN ROAD PARK CALEDONIAN ROAD CALEDONIAN STATION LOUGH ROAD HIGHBURY ST. MARY FIELDS MAGDALENE association managing 295 homes in and around the GARDEN Barnsbury neighbourhood of Islington. MACKENZIE ROAD SHERINGHAM ROAD WESTBOURNE ROAD HOLLOWAY ROAD ROMAN WAY
HIGHBURY AND Our mission is to provide quality affordable rented housing BRIDE STREET ISLINGTON STATION and a quality service. ELLINGTON STREET
ARUNDEL SQUARE HIGHBURY STATION ROAD CANONBURY By doing so, we aim to help keep Barnsbury affordable BEECH TREE ROMAN WAY ARUNDEL SQUARE GARDEN CLOSE LAYCOCK STREET (9 HOMES) OPEN SPACE and help our residents thrive. We aim to:
LIVERPOOL ROAD UPPER STREET ROAD BELITHA VILLAS WHEELWRIGHT STREET CALEDONIAN ROAD (4 HOMES) BARNSBURY be responsive and caring & BARNSBURY PARK OFFORD ROAD (7 HOMES) know our residents as individuals CANONBURY LANE
BARNSBURY PARK ISLINGTON PARK STREET help build self-reliance in our community BELITHA VILLAS
OFFORD ROAD BEWDLEY STREET CALEDONIAN be open (to new ideas, improvement) and accessible ROAD (2 HOMES) GISSING WALK BARNSBURY (45 HOMES) HEMINGFORD ROAD HEMINGFORD LOFTING ROAD SQUARE BROOKSBY STREET be nimble and creative, willing to try new things THORNHILL ROAD (30 HOMES) MILNER be a connected and effective partner LOFTING ROAD SQUARE (12 HOMES) BARNSBURY STREET MORLAND MEWS
LOFTING ROAD FLORENCE STREET
CALEDONIAN ROAD UPPER STREET aim high and punch above our weight.
THORNHILL STREET BARNSBURY SQUARE MORLAND SQUARE MILNER
MEWS ROAD LIVERPOOL (56 HOMES) PUGIN COURT UPPER (24 HOMES) CROSS STREET STREET (4 HOMES) In early 2018, we will be moving to BARNSBURY HOUSING Cloudesley Street, N1 and look forward BARNSBURY LIVERPOOL ASSOCIATION STREET ROAD OFFICE (12 HOMES) ST. MARY’S (39 HOMES) CHURCH GARDENS to welcoming residents to our new office. About us
303B Upper Street, Islington BARNSBURYAbout us London N1 2TU 020 7704 2324 HOUSING [email protected] ASSOCIATION www.barnsbury.org JANUARY 2018 M T W T F S S
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2017 was an exciting year for BHA. We carried out improvements to 98 of our homes As well as it being our 50th anniversary, we have taken over We continue to run very efficiently and have the management of 40 properties streamlined our board and committee structure in Highbury from another landlord. We welcome all the residents of We had an independent review of our community Highbury View to BHA. investment programme, so we can make sure we offer valued and relevant community services in the future. Some other highlights of the year include: We wish all of our residents a very Happy Christmas We have raised our ambitions to develop more new and best wishes for 2018. homes, in line with government expectations Martyn Waring, Chair
BHA BOARD MEMBERS BHA is run by a voluntary Martyn Waring Chair Jonathan Bunt Nancy Korman Board of Management Aaron Elliot Vice Chair Stephane Croce Karl Phillips who meet 6 times a year. Patrick Lynch Resident Charles Culling Barbara Sidnell Member Fiona Kilminster Julie Kettle Honorary President Chair’s report Chair’s
Chair’s report FEBRUARY 2018 M T W T F S S
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£609,000 40 1126 Invested new homes repairs carried maintaining taken over at out, mostly on our homes Highbury View the same day or next day
11 new bathrooms 100% 11 of our homes homes let during 14 had a valid the year, in an new kitchens gas certificate average of 28 14.7 days new boilers
Over 150 53 started building residents now regularly reports of anti-social 4 receiving e-newsletters, behaviour dealt with new homes increasing our online presence Our highlights of the year MARCH 2018 M T W T F S S
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£2,043,298 WAS OUR TOTAL INCOME FOR THE YEAR 4% Developing new homes Property service charge costs 6% 28% Reserves put aside Looking after our properties 8% for future investment (day to day repairs)
Housing property 17% depreciation
22% Looking after our properties (major and cyclical repairs)
How we spend your rent 16% Running the organisation APRIL 2018 M T W T F S S
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30 1 2 3 4 5 6 LOOKING AFTER OUR HOMES
In 2017, we spent £609,000 looking after our homes.
Of this, £452,000 was improvements to our homes, including the second year of a major roof repair programme on our main estate, Morland Mews. Looking after our homes MAY 2018 M T W T F S S
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28 29 30 31 1 2 3 DELIVERING VALUE FOR MONEY
Each year we review how efficient we are compared to others. This shows we run BHA in an efficient way that minimises waste. However, compared to similar-sized organisations, we spend twice the average amount maintaining our homes and, overall, our tenants owe more rent compared to others (4.2% compared to 2.6%). We also do more repairs per property than average.
During the year, we have improved our efficiency by: In 2017/18 we will improve efficiency still further by: Streamlining our governance, so we have Carrying out a building survey so we understand fewer meetings and use less paper our future stock investment needs better
Reviewing our community investment, so we Modernising communications with Board can be sure that tenants are receiving services members and residents, using more electronic that suit their needs communications to cut down on paper and postage
Securing more than £40,000 extra income for Exploring how we can make better use residents through our welfare advice service of our stock to provide more homes
Winning a bid for the transfer of 40 homes from Offering tenants more ways to pay their rent. another landlord, helping us to spread our costs.
You can read our Value for Money self-assessment online at: www.barnsbury.org Delivering value for money JUNE 2018 M T W T F S S
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Our aim is to help build a self-reliant We held our popular annual 50th and thriving community. Anniversary Funday in September, Our priorities are to: with this year’s voted the best ever
combat loneliness and We run a Bursary Scheme to reduce social isolation support residents into employment or education and gave out grants combat financial exclusion totalling £650 during the year and reduce poverty. We provided 140 subsidised We run events and tickets for residents and their activities including: families to the annual panto trip
Exercise Classes We are Food Bank partners, Improving your working with the Trussell Trust Digital Skills Stop Smoking Clinic St Mungo’s helped 33 residents Coffee mornings with welfare or money worries, Football Coaching bringing in over £41,000 additional income for residents. Supporting our tenants JULY 2018 M T W T F S S
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30 31 1 2 3 4 5 LETTING OUR HOMES
We work closely with Islington Council to make sure Two more tenants moved through a Mutual Exchange scheme. that our homes are let quickly and fairly. This year, we let 11 homes. We always try to make best use of each empty property by arranging a ‘chain’ of moves where people need to move to Four were internal transfers, where people need larger or smaller homes, or move to a ground floor property to move to a larger or smaller home for medical reasons.
Four were to people nominated by Islington We also take the opportunity to upgrade homes when they Council, under Choice-Based Lettings become vacant, by fitting new kitchens and bathrooms where they are needed. Next year, we plan to review our ‘lettings Three were to key workers on low incomes standard’ so tenants know what to expect when they move working in Islington. into one of our homes.
If you are interested in a mutual exchange, please visit www.homeswapper.co.uk For advice and guidance contact Felicity Singh, your Housing Manager Letting our homes AUGUST 2018 M T W T F S S
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During the year we dealt with 53 reports of anti-social behaviour. The main complaints were about loud music or other noise, or reports of drug or alcohol misuse.
We work in close partnership with Parkguard and the local police to keep our residents safe and our estates crime-free. As well as their regular patrols, Parkguard monitor the football pitch at Morland Mews and also Islington’s Council’s bulk rubbish removal service co-operate with BHA staff to provide extra support as 020 7527 2000 and when needed. Any residents concerned about anti-social behaviour We also make good use of CCTV and, in 2017, fined two please call the Police on 101 (unless it is an residents caught illegally dumping rubbish on the estate. emergency) or Islington’s ASB line on 020 7527 7272 Keeping our homes and estates safe SEPTEMBER 2018 M T W T F S S
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The Government and the Mayor of London want to see us build more new homes to help tackle the huge housing shortage in the capital. One of the main challenges for us is how to provide more housing in what is one of the most expensive parts of London.
Buying land on the open market isn’t an option for us, so we have to look for other opportunities. This year, we have:
Started building four new homes at Eden Grove, N7, with funding from Islington Council and the Greater London Authority – ready in Spring 2018
Taken over 40 homes in Highbury from another landlord, allowing them to invest in building new homes in their area of operation
Explored how we can use garages on our main estate to provide a number of new homes for
Building new homes affordable rent. OCTOBER 2018 M T W T F S S
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29 30 31 1 2 3 4 GETTING INVOLVED
We want to make it easy for tenants to get involved in events and services and to give us your views. Look out for ways to get involved in our email newsletters and our regular newsletters. You can also send back the repairs feedback forms to let us know how we’ve done.
You can also get involved with the Tenants’ Association.
The Tenants’ Association aims to promote community spirit, support social activities and give residents a voice and Calling our office on Visiting our website discuss any issues that may be affecting them. 020 7704 2324 www.barnsbury.org The Tenants’ Association meets six times a year and all residents are welcome to attend.
Emailing us at Post or by visiting us at [email protected] 303b Upper Street, For more information please contact London, N1 2TU [email protected] Getting involved NOVEMBER 2018 M T W T F S S
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You can contact us regarding any housing or maintenance issues on 020 7704 2324
We are open 9.30-5.30 every weekday, though closed for lunch between 1-2pm
If you have any emergency repairs outside those hours that cannot wait, please call 020 7704 7300
You can email us at [email protected] or visit our website www.barnsbury.org Contact us DECEMBER 2018 M T W T F S S
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31 1 2 3 4 5 6 Barnsbury Housing Association 303B Upper Street Islington N1 2TU W: www.barnsbury.org T: 020 7704 2324