SWT Housing News Autumn 2020
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AUTUMN 2020 Housing News Great Homes for Local Communities Introduction from Cllr Francesca Smith (Housing Portfolio Holder) Welcome to the Somerset West and Taunton Housing Newsletter. We have not produced a full newsletter for some time so there is lots of information in this edition which we hope you find useful. There is certainly lots going on and to tell you about. This document is also available online at www.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk . We have all been through so much in the last few months, and as a landlord our main priority is to protect the wellbeing of our tenants and this means continuing to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. We have put measures in place to limit non-essential face to face contact and whenever possible we will engage with you by phone, text, email or in writing. We continue to get all of our services back to a “new normal” where we can safely, but it will take us a bit more time to do this fully. While we do this, we thank you all for your ongoing support and patience. In this newsletter we also signpost you to a wide range of support that is available to you if you should need it, and I would encourage you all to make contact if you feel this is right for you. Lastly, you may in the coming weeks pick up in the media about current discussions concerning the future of Local Government in Somerset. We will keep you fully informed of any changes and any impact on tenants in due course. SWT Housing Objectives We have established three objectives for the Housing Service to support our ambition to provide Great Homes for Local Communities where our homes are safe and secure and we will build many more homes in which tenants will thrive. 1. Delivering more new homes 2. Providing great customer service 3. Improve our existing homes and neighbourhoods 1 Responsive Repairs Throughout the coronavirus lockdown SWT continued to provide an essential emergency repairs service, ensuring we put in place measures to keep both residents and staff safe from coronavirus whilst work was carried out. We have put in place the necessary safety precautions to complete all work at a distance. If we have to enter your property to carry out a repair, we ask that you allow us to access and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Please do not have work completed in your property if you or a member of your household has coronavirus symptoms. Instead please contact SWT immediately so we can re-book your repair. Non-emergency repair requests were also logged during this time, and we have now started to tackle these tasks; again with appropriate safety measures in place. It will take some time to get through these and the incoming new repairs requests, so please bear with us as we work to catch up. Property Safety Gas Safety Checks - The annual gas safety checks to all Council owned gas appliances were continued during the lockdown period, with required coronavirus additional safety measures in place. These checks are essential for your safety, so please make sure you provide access for our engineers when contacted to arrange an appointment. Fire Safety - SWT has been continuing with regular inspections of communal areas to make sure these are kept clear to help keep everyone safe in the event of a fire. We are also looking to carry out some fire safety improvement works to some areas, e.g. replacement fire doors, upgrading emergency lighting, etc. Asbestos - Following the easing of the lockdown, SWT is shortly due to recommence the asbestos survey programme to individual homes. Gulley Howard is the chosen contractor to undertake the surveys. They are fully accredited asbestos surveyors and will undertake the surveys safely. You will be advised by letter if you are on this programme, they will need full access to all areas of your property. Electrical Safety - Electrical safety checks to communal areas have recommenced following the easing of the coronavirus lockdown. SWT is now looking to plan electrical safety checks in individual homes, so again please help by allowing our electricians access if you are contacted. Major Work Programmes All major work programmes (e.g. kitchen/bathroom/window replacements, and heating upgrades) ceased during lockdown. SWT is arranging for contractors to start these works again once they are ready, as many furloughed their staff. We are working with all our contractors to ensure works can be undertaken safely, allowing for social distancing, and this may mean some works take longer to complete. We have returned to work on our external painting and replacement roof line (plastic gutters, rainwater goods, fascia and soffits) programme. 2 Supported Housing During lockdown, SWT made phone calls to many tenants including all sheltered and extra care, to check on their welfare and remind our tenants of support available. SWT also referred to Village Agents for practical support for those shielding. Food parcels were delivered to tenants in crisis and in-person welfare checks for those not contactable by phone. Many tenants were also added to the Deane Helpline daily welfare calls schedule, to support those who were unable to get support from family or friends. Sheltered tenants are receiving a monthly welfare check by phone. Home visits are made only when necessary and safe to do so. Tenants needing aids and adaptions are assessed by phone, and visited, where necessary to complete the assessment. Extra Care Tenants were requested not to have visitors, to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus. SWT staff and care providers have worked together to ensure tenants have food and medications and that they are not feeling isolated. The Supported Housing Team and the patch areas they cover are listed below: Dawn Lingard, Case Michelle Dunn, Case Manager Supported Housing Manager Supported Housing Taunton - Calway Road, Taunton - Crossways, Harnell Close, Milton Close, Moorland Close, Moorland Monmouth Road, Normandy Place, Newton Road, Drive, Seabrook House, Trinity Ruishton - Dinhams, Road. Stoke St Gregory - Polkesfield, Creech St Michael - Sycamore Fay Coleman, Case Manager Walk. Supported Housing Wellington - Bovet Street, Kath Jones, Case Manager Bulford, George Street, Lodge Supported Housing Close. Taunton - Broomfield House, Creedwell Close, Creedwell Georgina Farebrother, Case Orchard, Darby Way, Dorchester Manager Supported Housing Road, Enmore Road, Quantock Taunton - Bruford Close, Road, Slapes Close, Chapman Court, Churchill Way, Wellington - Squirrel Court, Henderson Close, Manor Drive, Stedhams Close. Middleway, Roland Close, Willie Wiveliscombe - Plain Pond. Gill Court, Tauntfield Close, Charter Walk, South Road. Deborah Ayres, Case Manager Supported Housing Richard Lynett, Case Monkton Heathfield - Manager Supported Housing Bungalows Elm Estate, Taunton - Cheddon Road, Heathfield Drive, Richards Dowell Close, Kilkenny Court, Crescent, Triscombe Road, Wellesley Taunton - Fletcher Close, Street, Kingston St Mary, Grange Walk, Hope Corner Leaches Field, Lane, Lyngford Place, Lyngford Road, Treborough Close, Warwick Road. 3 Reopening of Sheltered Housing and Extra Care Meeting Halls SWT plan to partially re-open meeting halls at the extra care and sheltered housing scheme sites, in line with government guidance, through the Autumn. Officers who work in the Supported Housing Team will be offering a weekly morning appointment based service for tenants within the schemes. This is all about offering tenants more support and contact, as needed. On the same day, during the afternoon, Officers will also be carrying out visual checks of the schemes and gardens and also visiting tenants within their homes, if necessary. Help with Rent It is important that all tenants continue to pay their rent on time, if you’re already in receipt of benefits these will continue and if your Universal Credit includes an amount for your housing costs it’s important that you use this to continue to pay your rent as normal. If you have been affected by coronavirus or self-isolation and this has meant you are going to miss a rent payment or not pay the full amount, then it is very important that you contact us as soon as possible on 0300 304 8000 so that we can discuss this further with you. SWT do not want anyone to lose their tenancy as a result of the virus. If you are having problems paying your rent either because you can’t pay by your usual method or you’re having financial difficulties, please call us on 0300 304 8000. It is very easy for tenants to pay their rent without having to leave the house. We encourage all tenants to set up a Direct Debit, which is the simplest way to pay and this can be done by asking us to set this up by calling 0300 304 8000. Council Tax Support If you are making a claim for Universal Credit and you are liable for Council Tax please call our Benefit Case Managers on 0300 304 8000 to make a claim for Council Tax Support. Normally we receive a notice from the Department for Work and Pensions once you receive Universal Credit. This can take several weeks so we are asking you to call our Benefit Case Managers immediately to see if we can award you any help with your Council Tax quickly. We will carry out a telephone claim and award support based on your income until we get your Universal Credit award details. Deane House Hub open for appointments The customer services team are continuing to answer calls between 8am – 6pm, and people are being encouraged to access services online. However, when a face to face meeting is the only way to solve an issue appointments can now be made at the Deane House Hub in Belvedere Road.