Wishaw & District Housing Association

ISSUE NO. 9 SILVER JUBILEE YEAR JANUARY In this Silver Jubilee Issue Civic Reception Dinner Dance at the Concert Hall Housing Benefit News Development News Your Chance to Have Your Say About our Service to You What Sharing Owners Think Silver Jubilee Open Day Your Housing Officer What a Load of Old Rubbish! Knock Knock – No- one there… Lost Keys If You Lose Your Allpay Swipe Card Basic Facts on the Housing Association Water, Water Everywhere Finance Officer Retires The organisation has come a long way Housing Association, a voluntary group Attention All Harthill since those fledgling days in 1978 when set up to support the work of the Tenants! we took our first steps into the housing Association, arranged for presentations of Useful Telephone world so the board wished to say a big certificates of merit to people who had Numbers thank you to all those without whose help given the Association faithful and loyal Holiday Office we could not have come so far. service and those who had made a real Closures 2004 All the Association’s partners were contribution to the community the invited to a dinner dance held in Association serves. Motherwell Concert Hall on Friday 19th Pictured receiving their awards from September with guests including our the Association’s Chairperson Edward longest serving tenants, staff and board Mullen and Director Anne Cooper, are members, service providers and funders, Dominic Dale, Joe Mitchell and Jim affiliated organisations, colleague Housing Johnston, all members of our board of Associations and representatives from the management, Agnes Irvine, Finance Local Authority including Depute Provost Officer, and Helen Russell, former Member Tom Curley. Services Officer at Motherwell District The Friends of Wishaw and District Council and reporter at the Wishaw Press. JANUARY ‘04 WISHAW & DISTRICT HOUSING ASSOCIATION PAGE 2 Jubilee Civic Reception To celebrate our Silver Jubilee we were invited to a Civic Reception held in our honour in the Civic Centre, Motherwell where we were presented with a glass plaque recording the history of the partnership between our two organisations. The reception was hosted by the Depute Provost Tom Curley and the Convenor of the Housing Committee, Councillor Gerard McLaughlin, and was attended by our Chairman, Edward Mullen, our Vice Chairman, Joe Mitchell, our Secretary, Jim Johnston, our Honorary President, Dominic Dale, and staff members, Anne Cooper and Lynn Semple. How can I be in Arrears – I’m on Housing Benefit?

Many people could not keep the We will try and help claimants as ensure you contact them roof over their heads if it were not much as we can but at the end of immediately to arrange another for housing benefit to help pay the the day it is your responsibility to visit or your housing benefit claim rent. But it seems to us that lots of pay your rent, your responsibility will be cancelled. It is your people are taking housing benefit to claim your housing benefit. responsibility to do this – not ours. and the goodwill of the We do try to help in every way The Housing Benefits Office Association for granted and think we can and so we have an must be informed of any change in that arrears can’t happen or do not arrangement with North your circumstances whether you matter if benefit is “due”. Lanarkshire Council that you can These arrears do happen and obtain a housing benefit think this change is relevant or they do matter and we will application form direct from our not. If you have rent arrears then pursue them. office. The form and all relevant please discuss any changes with Even if benefit is “due”, if it has information can also be submitted your Housing Officer first. Again not been properly applied for or to the Association once you have this is your responsibility – not ours. people have failed to respond to a completed it. We will verify it and HOUSING BENEFIT REVIEW request for information they may pass it onto North Lanarkshire FORMS must also be completed not receive the benefit they should Council on your behalf. and returned on time. If they are have got. Sometimes this lost BUT PLEASE REMEMBER! all not then your claim will be benefit can never be recouped and requested information must be cancelled and you may never the sums involved must be found submitted before your housing receive the lost benefit. by the tenant themselves. benefit claim can be assessed and We must and will take these it is your responsibility to submit For any queries regarding housing arrears seriously because we must this - not ours. benefit then please do not hesitate safeguard the income that allows Every claimant will be visited by to contact North Lanarkshire Council us to continue to manage and a Verification Officer. If you are not on 01236 758040 or your Housing maintain the properties we own. at home when they visit please Officer here at the Association. JANUARY ‘04 WISHAW & DISTRICT HOUSING ASSOCIATION PAGE 3 News from the Development Team... Development Update

For a variety of reasons 2003 has been a very lean year for our development programme. But although we have not completed any new houses since January we have been working extremely hard behind the scenes to get several new projects off the ground. New housing in Crindledyke Despite our best efforts to start our new-build project at Crindledyke, Newmains in the summer of 2003 negotiations with the proposed developer were unsuccessful and the contract was put on hold for a number of months. We are delighted to say that we are now in a position to progress this project and are discussing necessary amendments to roads and planning with the relevant contribution to the regeneration Funding permitting we hope to be authorities. We intend to put this of this part of Coltness. in a position to start phase 1 of project out to tender at the this project in the summer of New housing in Craigneuk beginning of 2004 with a view to 2004. Phase 1 comprises the At Craigneuk Street, Craigneuk commencing the first phase of 36 refurbishment and improvement we are working with local new-build houses in early summer of 5 four apartment maisonettes developer Modern Housing on a 2004 – funding permitting. on Main Street. It is hoped that project to construct 25 new-build phase two –the conversion and New regeneration in flats and houses. This contract was refurbishment of existing Coltness due to start on site in November properties on Belhaven Terrace - Our new-build project at 2003 but has been deferred while will be extended to include the Innerleithen Drive/Walkerburn a legal matter is resolved renovation of an existing building Drive, Coltness has also regarding the boundary and some new-build units at experienced some delay, mainly treatment. We hope to have this Caledonian Road. This will give a due to the length of time taken to issue settled by the beginning of total of 12 new and refurbished secure a Roads Consent and to tie 2004 to allow a site start in units in phase two. up proposals and costs for the January. The development of 22 public utilities works (gas, water three apartment flats and 3 four Future plans... and electricity). We have apartment houses should, if this In addition to the above we are submitted our funding application happens, be completed by spring also in negotiations with various to Communities Scotland and, 2005. parties in connection with future funding permitting, we aim to Refurbishment in Wishaw developments in the Wishaw and start work on site in January 2004. Shotts areas. We hope, finally, to In central Wishaw we are working The Association, design team and progress our development at with a contractor to draw up contractor have been working in Easter Road in Shotts in 2004. proposals for the comprehensive partnership on this 51 unit new- Readers of this newsletter will refurbishment of existing build project which should be know that our Easter Road project tenemental properties on Main completed by spring 2005 and has been a long time in the Street and Belhaven Terrace. which will make a significant making! JANUARY ‘04 WISHAW & DISTRICT HOUSING ASSOCIATION PAGE 4 Your Chance to Have Your Say About our Service to You... Over the past two years the List of Policies Housing Association has been looking at the services we provide Available directly to our tenants, sharing owners, owner occupiers and Allocations people who apply to us for Used to ensure that available housing. As part of that we have property is let in a manner which reviewed a large number of the complies with good practice and policies that outline how we to those deemed to be in most actually provide these services housing need. with the result that a number of our policies have been re-written Internal Transfers and some new policies have been Enables the Association to meet developed. the changing housing needs of These policies are all “interim existing tenants and lets tenants policies” because under the know how they can go about Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 the getting a change of house. Association is obliged to consult with all our tenants before these Mutual Exchanges policies are fully implemented. to the tenancy after the death of a Provides guidance on how mutual tenant, and who may succeed. You are invited to read these exchanges work and the policies and to comment on them. mechanism for gaining our Rent Arrears Your comments or suggestions will approval. be treated in the strictest Explains how we assist tenants and confidence, will be considered by End of Tenancy sharing owners to manage and the Board of Management and, control their rent accounts and Clarifies the procedures that prevent arrears, and defines what where appropriate, will be should be adhered to in order to incorporated into the policies we do if tenants/sharing owners terminate a tenancy in the correct do get into arrears. before they are finally approved. manner. We have listed below all the Lodgers policies that are currently available Abandoned House Defines the terms to be met by for consultation and you are This policy is used whenever a tenants wishing to apply to take in invited to request a copy of any or house is abandoned (i.e. left a lodger and why we set these all of these policies and submit empty without proper termination conditions. your comments to the Association procedures being applied) and before Friday 19th March 2004. explains how we will go about Sub-Letting You can request copies of getting repossession where we Defines the terms to be met by policies and submit your believe that the tenants are no tenants wishing to sub-let their comments by: longer in occupation and do not house and why we set these •Telephoning the Association intend to return. conditions. on: 01698 377200 Assignation Anti-Social Behaviour •Writing to the office at: Provides a structure to ensure that Aims to ensure that residents have 55 Kirk Road, Wishaw, tenancies of Association properties protection from anti-social ML2 7BL are not passed on in an illegal or behaviour and/or neighbourhood • Faxing your request on: uncontrolled manner. nuisance, and explains how we 01698 358712 deal with anti-social behaviour. Succession • E-mailing: robert.mcalpine Clarifies the conditions which Harassment @wishawdha.org.uk must be met for a legal succession Details the procedures for JANUARY ‘04 WISHAW & DISTRICT HOUSING ASSOCIATION PAGE 5 combating harassment (verbal or physical abuse on the basis of What Sharing Owners factors such as race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation or Think... disability). In early August 2003 the Association conducted a Satisfaction Survey Special Needs to seek the views and opinions of our 104 sharing owners on the Defines how the Association takes service we provide and on ways in which we can improve. account of special needs in all its The survey consisted of 46 questions on every aspect of shared services including construction, ownership housing and included questions such as: allocations and management. “How did you first hear about shared ownership housing?” Translating and “How did you find the process of buying your shared ownership Interpreting house?” Helps promote equality and social “Do you know the procedure for selling your share in the house?” inclusion by ensuring that the A date of 22 August was set for the return of the survey forms and resources and services of the a prize draw for a £50 and a £25 voucher at a selection of High Street Association are made available and stores was offered as an incentive to complete and return the survey understood by all social, cultural forms. At the closing date a very encouraging 34 forms had been and ethnic groups. returned, which was a return rate of 33%. The Association is currently analysing the survey returns and a Estate Management variety of issues will be addressed as a result. Some of the likely Shows how we manage the outcomes will be the production of a sharing owners’ handbook and a environment surrounding the variety of information leaflets on specific issues. The Association may Association’s houses. also consider a sharing owners section in our future newsletters. We will report on the survey results and our response in the next edition Factoring of this newsletter. Outlines the service we offer to Pictured below are the 2 lucky winners of our Prize draw – Mrs owners and sharing owners to Pearson of Valley View, Motherwell and Mrs Roebuck of Brendan Way, manage communal property and Motherwell, along with the Association’s Chairman Mr Edward Mullen to ensure that mixed tenure and our Housing Officer for sharing owners, Alan Richardson. estates are well looked after. Decoration Allowances and Compensation Provides guidelines on when it would be appropriate to offer a decoration allowance or other compensation, usually at the start of a tenancy or after works have been carried out. Reactive Repairs Ensures that we meet our legal repair obligations and defines our repair service and what tenants can expect of us. Planned and Cyclical Maintenance Shows how we maximise the lettable lifetime of every property through a comprehensive planned and cyclical maintenance programme. JANUARY ‘04 WISHAW & DISTRICT H Silver Jubile

All our tenants, sharing owners and factored owners will remember receiving an invitation to our Open Day in October last year. Well, we are very pleased to be able to report that it was a great success according to the people who managed to come along and meet the staff and board members and take a look at the stalls. We had Strathclyde Police to talk about crime prevention and drugs and alcohol awareness, and what to do to make your family safer in today’s troublesome world. Strathclyde Fire Service were there to give advice on how to avoid fires in the home and how to teach children all about fire safety. It’s a sad fact that most accidents occur in or around the home and North Lanarkshire Council’s Home Safety Advisor was able to give practical advice and tips on how to avoid these, and to demonstrate some products on the market which can area and what the library had to make your home safer. offer people of all ages – but one Welfare Advisors were present of the most popular stands of all to talk about money issues and was the one on digital inclusion the Clydesdale Bank came along where people had a chance to to help people understand the surf the internet and play with a maze of different accounts digital camera, taking available these days. photographs which could be seen Energy Efficiency Advisors on screen and printed out helped people think about ways instantly. to reduce their fuel costs and The buffet lunch went down increase insulation standards in well and so did the prize draw. their home. The prizes were a microwave Building Futures in Lanarkshire oven donated by our auditors, talked about opportunities for Findlay & Co, and Houses of local people to obtain training or Parliament Whisky donated by our jobs in the construction industry. MP and MSP, and a host of super Wishaw Library told people toys and chocolates. about facilities and events in the A good time was had by all! HOUSING ASSOCIATION PAGE 7 ee Open Day

Reaching out to our communities... the Association’s Open Day offered residents a chance to discuss issues of local interest, try out new technology and a win a gift in our Prize Draw. JANUARY ‘04 WISHAW & DISTRICT HOUSING ASSOCIATION PAGE 8 Who is Your Housing Officer?

If you are a sharing owner, or an If you live in the areas below and are If you live in the areas below and are owner occupier receiving a factoring a tenant with the Association, then a tenant with the Association, then service from us, and you are your Housing Officer is your Housing Officer is resident in any of the areas below, Elaine Hyslop. Susan Tait. then your Housing Officer is Alan Richardson.

Auchter Avenue, Newmains Barons Road, Motherwell Auchter Avenue, Wishaw Barons Road, Motherwell Brendan Way, Motherwell Baton Road, Shotts Bourhill Court, Netherton Caledonian Road, Wishaw (184- Braedale Crescent, Wishaw Braedale Crescent, Newmains 194) Bute Crescent, Shotts Brendan Way, Motherwell Carbarns/Mid/East & West, Calder Drive, Shotts Calderwood Court, Wishaw Netherton Calderwood Court, Wishaw Caledonian Road, Wishaw Charles Street, Craigneuk Caledonian Road, Wishaw (293-323, Cambusnethan Street, Wishaw Clyde Terrace, Motherwell 327-363, 356-370) Carbarns West, Netherton Crathes Court, Wishaw Cambusnethan Street, Wishaw Cleland Road, Wishaw East Academy Street, Wishaw Cleland Road, Wishaw Clyde Terrace, Motherwell East Thornlie Street, Wishaw Deer Path, Harthill East Academy Street, Wishaw Edzell Gardens, Wishaw East Hamilton Street, Wishaw East Thornlie Street, Wishaw Graham Street, Wishaw Glasgow Road, Wishaw Edzell Gardens, Wishaw Hill Street, Wishaw Hallinan Gardens, Wishaw Finnie Wynd, Motherwell Kitchener Street, Wishaw Hawthorn Avenue, Wishaw Hawthorn Drive, Shotts Ladysmith Street, Wishaw Hawthorn Drive, Shotts Leighton Street, Wishaw Leighton Street, Wishaw (11-17a & Innerleithen Drive, Coltness Louisville Avenue, Cambusnethan 12, 16-26 & 31-49) Kirk Road, Wishaw Mavisbank Street, Newmains Margaret Drive, Motherwell Leighton Street, Wishaw (75, 79, McInnes Court, Wishaw McInnes Court, Wishaw 83-87, 91-105) Merryton Road, Motherwell Merryton Road, Motherwell Mavisbank Street, Newmains Mid Carbarns, Netherton Muirhouse Drive, Motherwell Mill Road, Harthill Millbank Road, Wishaw Nelson Crescent, Motherwell Millbank Road, Wishaw Minard Road, Shotts Rice Way, Motherwell Mission Gardens, Coltness Money Grove, Motherwell Russell Street, Wishaw Minard Road, Shotts Muirhouse Drive, Motherwell Roberts Street, Wishaw Newark Drive, Coltness Nelson Crescent, Motherwell Shaw Crescent, Wishaw North Kilmeny Crescent, Coltness Pather Street, Wishaw Shieldmuir Street, Wishaw Pather Street, Wishaw Raven Wynd, Wishaw Station Road, Wishaw Raven Wynd, Wishaw Rice Way, Motherwell Valley View, Motherwell St Ninian’s Grove, Coltness Station Road, Wishaw Stewarton Street, Wishaw Tulloch Gardens, Motherwell Swift Close, Wishaw Valley View, Motherwell Victoria Street, Harthill Webster Groves, Cambusnethan West Main Street, Harthill Wren Place, Wishaw Wren Place, Wishaw JANUARY ‘04 WISHAW & DISTRICT HOUSING ASSOCIATION PAGE 9 Knock Knock – No-one there… While the majority of tenants do keep appointments there have been a number of occasions recently when our maintenance staff and contractors were unable to gain access to properties when they attended for pre- arranged visits. This is simply bad manners. And remember, our time is your money. Your rent pays for us to provide the service so What a Load of when you waste our time you are wasting your money. We must also remind all our tenants that, under the Old Rubbish! terms of the tenancy agreement, you are obliged to grant The Association is having an access to our maintenance staff and contractors to enable them to carry increasing problem with out inspections, repairs and particularly, gas safety checks. household rubbish, including If you are unable to keep a pre-arranged appointment you should discarded furniture, being left contact the Association in advance so that the visit can be re-arranged. This will allow us or the contractors to re-schedule the work and outside to rot. Sometimes the minimise any abortive expense. If you fail to do so then you will be householder does not telephone charged for the contractor’s time –usually one hour’s minimum labour the Cleansing Department to let charge. them know it needs to be uplifted and sometimes the Cleansing Department simply I’ve lost my keys... fails to collect it, and the householder doesn’t pursue it. I’m locked out... This old rubbish looks awful and it can smell and become a health or a safety hazard. This is Help! not fair on your neighbours. We have heard this particular cry for help many We assume everyone would many times over the past year. We agree that it’s a prefer to live in a clean and horrible and often a frightening situation to be in but pleasant environment so please we have to remind everyone that your keys are your help by phoning the Cleansing responsibility – not ours. Department on 01698 302010 If you ask us to do so we will help by arranging for a joiner to get if you need to dispose of your door open and if necessary, change the locks, but you will have to household items. The service is pay for this service. (Depending on the circumstances you might be able free. We cannot phone on your to make a claim on your home contents insurance). behalf because we, as a We do not keep spare keys to anyone’s home. business, do not get the service free. Please do not assume that If You Lose Your Allpay once you have notified the Cleansing Department this Swipe Card... means the rubbish is no longer your responsibility. If the item is As from 1st January 2004, a charge of 95 not picked up within a pence will be made to all tenants who need reasonable timescale please a replacement Allpay swipe card. Prior to ensure the Cleansing this date the Association paid for Department are contacted replacement cards, but we cannot continue to do so again as a reminder. It’s your because so many cards are being lost or misplaced. From now on payment for replacement cards will be the rubbish and you are responsible responsibility of the card holder, and the charge due will be added to for it until it has been taken your account. away. Please look after your Allpay Card. JANUARY ‘04 WISHAW & DISTRICT HOUSING ASSOCIATION PAGE 10 Basic Facts on Wishaw & District Housing Association Sub-Letting Where you don’t, we refuse. And what are these What is sub-letting? conditions? Sub-letting is when you are not We wish to be satisfied that: living in your home for a period of • The proposed charges to the time, and rather than leave it sub-tenant and, if applicable, empty you choose to let someone the deposit, are reasonable. else live in it whilst you are away, whether rent is charged or not. • The terms and conditions of This is not the same as taking in a the sub-letting agreement are lodger, because when you take in acceptable. a lodger you yourself are still living •The proposed sub-tenant has in the house and have only let out no history of anti-social • Arrangements for the payment part of it. behaviour with the of council tax. Why do people want to Association. sub-let? • The house will not be When might the Association refuse There are many reasons why overcrowded. permission? someone might not be able to live • If you have a joint tenancy, in their house for a while, the that both of you are agreeable • When the proposed sub-let most common of which is to the application to sub-let. causes overcrowding or temporary employment in another underoccupancy the house area of the country. In these • All parties are fully aware of (although we may, in certain situations people often do not their obligations and circumstances, allow want to leave their home responsibilities . underoccupancy). unoccupied, and appreciate some •You intend to return to your income to help with the rent. • When the property is in poor home within a stated period of condition due to tenant Is being able to sub-let a time and to resume using the damage or neglect (you would right or a privilege? house as your only or principal be given the chance to put this home. right and re-apply). The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 gives you the right to sub-let, but In considering the reasonableness • Where we have begun legal only if you have your landlord’s of the proposed charge to the action against you for re- permission. If you sub-let without sub-tenant, the Association will possession of your home permission then you are breaking take into consideration; because you have broken a the terms of your tenancy • The size of the property and condition of your tenancy. agreement. the current rent being charged • Where you have taken, or At the same time we cannot by the Association. intend to take from the sub- withhold permission unreasonably. • Furnishings and facilities such tenant, a payment other than So, when would the as furniture, white goods, a deposit in return for sub- Association grant audio and visual equipment letting the home. permission, and when etc that are being made • Where the rent you propose is would it refuse? available for the sub-tenant’s too high. use. We set certain conditions that you • Where the sub-letting must meet. The law allows us to • Arrangements for the payment agreement you propose is do this. Where you can meet these of utilities such as gas, unfair or does not comply with conditions we grant permission. electricity, phone etc. housing law. JANUARY ‘04 WISHAW & DISTRICT HOUSING ASSOCIATION PAGE 11

• Where the proposed sub- Does my sub-tenant have tenant has a history of anti any responsibilities? social behaviour. Yes, they are responsible to you Please note the above list cannot be for complying with the terms of exhaustive as it is impossible to say their sub-letting agreement. in advance all the potential reasons They are not responsible to us. why we might refuse permission. Does my sub-tenant have How long can I sub-let for? any rights? It is a condition of sub-letting that Water, Water Very few. the situation is temporary and that They have no right of Everywhere you intend to return to live in the permanent residency and can Over the last few years, many house, so permission is never remain in the house only so long people have suffered the misery given for more than 6 months. If as we maintain the permission for of flooding and the loss of a you find you need longer you will the sub-let. If the conditions of lifetime’s collection of furniture have to re-apply no later than one consent are broken then they and treasured personal month before the end of the sub- belongings. Unfortunately let period. must leave the house. many were not insured. If it looks like the sub-let is Should you die they have no But how do you go about becoming a permanent right of succession and must leave the house. finding a suitable and arrangement then we will not affordable insurance policy allow it to continue. What if I find things aren’t when there are so many to It I sub-let my house do I working and I want to choose from? still have any responsibility change the agreement or One option is SFHA ask the sub-tenant to go? Diamond, a policy designed for it? especially for Housing You have all the responsibilities You cannot change the agreement Associations. It has been you had before plus some new without our permission. Your developed by the SFHA ones. agreement with the sub-tenant (Scottish Federation of Housing The relationship between you should detail the circumstances Associations) in partnership as tenant and the Association as and the procedure to follow if you with leading insurance brokers landlord is unaltered and you must need to regain possession of your Jardine Lloyd Thompson and it abide by the terms of the tenancy property. is supported by Wishaw and agreement, including payment of District Housing Association. rent, just as you always have done. How do I apply to sub-let The policy is available to all You are also responsible for the my home? tenants, sharing owners and owner occupiers living in conduct of your sub-tenant, and We have an application form for ensuring that the persons living properties factored by the which you must complete and Housing Association and it is in your house are the same as return to us. those for whom permission was designed to cover most of the Following receipt of this we events which could damage or granted. must notify you within 28 days You should particularly note destroy your contents such as whether we give or refuse that if your sub-tenant misbehaves theft, fire or flood. Coupled permission. it is you that the Association takes with easy payment options (annually or monthly, by Direct action against, not your sub- If you refuse or impose Debit or Girobank), this scheme tenant (we have no relationship unreasonable conditions with your sub-tenant) and that can give you peace of mind for can I appeal? as little as 12p per day. any breach of your tenancy For further information, agreement will result in permission You can appeal under our contact SFHA Diamond on to sub-let being withdrawn. Complaints and Appeals 0845 601 6006. You are also jointly responsible Procedure, a copy of which is Do it now, before the rainy along with your sub-tenant for available on demand from the season. Oh sorry, we forgot, it’s ensuring all appropriate office. always the rainy season in notifications are made regarding Our full sub-letting policy is Scotland!!! council tax, housing benefit etc. also available on demand. JANUARY ‘04 WISHAW & DISTRICT HOUSING ASSOCIATION PAGE 12

Finance Officer Retires Useful This September, Wishaw and District Housing Association saw the retirement of Agnes Irvine, our Finance Officer of some 20 years Telephone standing. These days, 20 years is a long time to work for one employer Numbers and the Association is very grateful for Agnes’s loyalty. However, Agnes has now opted for a life of well deserved leisure, hobbies and holidays!! And who can say she does not deserve it!! Scottish Power We are sorry to have to say goodbye but we know we must accept Emergencies: 0845 2727999 the inevitable. She is replaced by Andrew Whitehead who joins us from Transco (Gas) Cunninghame Housing Association in Ayrshire and who brings with him Emergencies: 0800 111999 excellent qualifications and experience as a financial analyst and accountant. Our financial affairs continue to be in capable hands. Scottish Water Emergencies: 0808 1005333

Police: 01698 483000 Motherwell, Wishaw and Shotts

Wishaw & District Housing Association: 01698 377200 01698 372776 Opening Hours: Mon-Thur 9.00am - 4.30pm Fri 9.00am - 4.00pm Closed for lunch: Mon-Fri 12.30pm - 1.30pm

HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURES 2004 The office will be closed on the following days in 2004. Our emergency repairs system will Attention All Harthill Tenants! be in operation on these days. Easter The Association is continuing to operate a monthly surgery in Harthill 9th and 12th April 2004 between 2.00pm and 3.00pm on the last Thursday of every month (with the exception of July and December). May Days 3rd, 28th and 31st May 2004 The surgery gives tenants the opportunity to discuss matters of concern with the Housing and Maintenance Officers. Fair Holiday 16th and 19th July 2004 The following dates have been allocated for 2004: September Thursday, 29th January 2004 Thursday, 24th June 2004 24th and 27th September 2004 Thursday, 26th February 2004 Thursday, 26th August 2004 Thursday, 25th March 2004 Thursday, 30th September 2004 Christmas Thursday, 29th April 2004 Thursday, 28th October 2004 24th, 27th and 28th Thursday, 27th May 2004 Thursday, 25th November 2004 December 2004 Hope to see you there! New Year 31st December 2004, 3rd and 4th “W&DHA matters” Newsletter is the Association’s way of keeping in touch with its Tenants. January 2005 We value your input, so if you have any questions to ask or points to make, then please contact us Please note that the office will be open on at: Wishaw & District Housing Association, 55 Kirk Road, Wishaw ML2 7BL Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th Tel: 01698 372776/01698 377200 • Fax: 01698 358712 • E-mail: [email protected] December 2004.