Celebrating the TMO's 18Th Birthday
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SPRING 2014 ISSUE 55 THE MAGAZINE FOR RESIDENTS OF KENSINGTON AND LinkCHELSEA TENANT MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION Celebrating the TMO’s 18th birthday SPRING 2014 Welcome What’s inside by Fay Edwards, Board Chair 3 New housing director appointed On 1 April the TMO was 18 years old. In this issue we mark this landmark achievement by looking back on pages 10-11 at the long and heroic process by which leading residents 4 Welfare reform: one year on eventually succeeded in forming the TMO. It’s incredible how much time and energy they put in over the years to 6 News from the TMO make it happen. On a lighter note, pages 12-13 take a look back at Link 8 Eduard Alla of Repairs Direct covers over the last 18 years. It’s fascinating to see how the look has changed over that time. 10 A history of participation We can truly celebrate our eighteenth by recognising the strong position we’re now in. There was a resounding endorsement last September, when 86% of you who voted 12 Link covers 1996-2014 in the test of opinion said that you wanted the TMO to carry on managing your homes on behalf of the Council. 14 From the Council There was a record participation in the vote, with 3,420 taking part i.e. 32% of all residents. This is 122% higher than the last test of opinion in 2006, when 1,535 took part. 15 Home ownership Overall satisfaction is at its highest also, with 75% saying they were happy with the service which the TMO provides. 16 Focus on Resident Engagement These results followed a successful five year review by the Council. We’re now developing our next five year business 18 Domestic violence plan. This will build on these achievements. We can also look forward to increased investment in our homes by 2019 19 Back in time and the benefits which will come about from carrying out the majority of our own repairs through Repairs Direct. 20 Party pictures Our history is both diverse and exciting. We’ve achieved so much and there’s still a lot to look forward to. 21 Performance chart 22 Residents’ corner 23 Membership form Cutting the beautiful celebration cake made by Samantha DeHaan, Resident Engagement Officer. The retro street sign hangs at Network Hub. This word cloud is made up of Link articles and gives prominence to words that appear the most! ENT I ID D S E A In this issue: We’ve got lots of E We need photos, stories, and R • • R E news and updates to share, but if A S E ideas from you! Contact us I D D I E T N you’d like to request a specific news 2 [email protected] item please get in touch! New housing director appointed New Director of Housing takes up the helm She went to work for Hammersmith & Fulham Council in 2007 as Anti-Social Behaviour Manager. This job involved a widescale review of policy and procedures to ensure there was a robust approach at both an operational and strategic level to tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB); the result was commended by the Home Office as a model of good practice. Her main achievement was bringing in a professional witness service, which was used by housing associations in the area. Teresa became Hammersmith & Fulham’s Head of Neighbourhood Housing Service in 2010. The service included neighbourhood housing, sheltered housing, occupancy and a tenancy fraud initiative. She also set up a new residents’ involvement panel and repairs working group (developing new KPIs with the groups), and a new tenancy check system. She told Link: “I’m thrilled to have joined the TMO. I’ve had a really good welcome and my first impression has been of an organisation which is really committed to providing a first class service. There’s an excellent ‘can do’ attitude around the Teresa at Pond Place in South Kensington place and a lot of expertise. “But having spoken to a wide number of residents and colleagues already, I know there are some important issues Teresa Brown has been appointed the TMO’s new Director of to tackle. These include reviewing the ASB policy to reflect Housing and took up the post in March. the changes in legislation that come into effect later this She has been working in local authority housing management year; developing the contact centre so that we can deal with for 25 years, in a variety of areas: neighbourhood a range of issues at the first point of contact; and giving management, concierge, neighbourhood wardens, sheltered estate services assistants handheld devices, to speed up the housing, caretaking, and resident engagement. She started off processing of actions from their block and estate inspections.” in Brighton and has worked in Merton, Hounslow (helping it to win a 3* rating) and Hammersmith & Fulham. Home contents insurance for residents We’re helping tenants and home owners obtain home KCTMO residents who can benefit from a flexible contents insurance easily and at an affordable price. contents insurance policy for as little as £2.17 a fortnight. While everybody hopes that nothing will ever happen Also, there’s no excess to pay when making a claim. to their belongings and other items, sometimes things can go wrong unexpectedly. Every householder is responsible for insuring the contents of their own home of course. Further information We’ve therefore teamed up with a special scheme called My Home, which has been set up by the National www.thistlemyhome.co.uk Housing Federation. This is a bespoke scheme for Become a member for free! Contact us for your membership pack or download one online 0800 137 111 kctmo.org.uk 3 SPRING 2014 Welfare reform: one year on Audrey and Rosemary approach tenants who have been affected by the changes to their Housing Benefits to discuss the different options available to them, and how the TMO can help. Audrey explains: “We’re here to assure tenants that the TMO will do whatever it can to support them over the impact of the welfare reform. One of the most positive things we can do is when someone needs to find work – whether because of unemployment or underemployment. We support residents to gain training or to develop the key skills required to gain employment so we work closely with the Clement James Centre and Nova New Opportunities, who provided tailored support.” Audrey Giscombe and Rosemary Sawyer Another very helpful initiative for those looking to move from a property that’s too big for them is mutual exchange. Just under a year ago the TMO responded to the need Rosemary says: “There are many tenants living in to provide residents with advice in the wake of the overcrowded properties and many who wish to downsize; government’s welfare reform. mutual exchanges help people to find a property which suits their needs as it involves one tenant swapping their property Two welfare reform officers were appointed: Audrey with another’s. Giscombe for all residents living north of Notting Hill Gate and Rosemary Sawyer for residents in Lancaster West and “The best way to find an exchange is through Homeswapper all those living south of Notting Hill Gate. They started by or Exchange Locata, but the TMO also runs mutual exchange helping residents affected by the Social Sector Size Criteria events to help tenants meet face to face and find someone (the bedroom tax), before moving on to those whose they could swap with. They’ve been a great success so far benefits were capped from August 2013. They originally and we’re holding more soon – the next one will be 12 noon prioritised the tenants who were worst hit and those already - 7pm on 22 May at the Kensal Resource Centre in North in arrears, before contacting all the affected tenants. Kensington. Whether tenants want to downsize to a more affordable property, or find a larger one to suit their growing Their work started with the list provided to us by the Council’s family, a mutual exchange can be a great way to achieve this.” Housing Benefit section of those whose Housing Benefit has reduced, due to them having one or more spare bedroom, and those who are affected by the benefit cap. This information is updated monthly, so the welfare reform Further information officers can continue to contact tenants who are affected. Audrey Giscombe Rosemary Sawyer Audrey and Rosemary’s first task was to assist tenants in applying for short term financial help from RBKC in the form 020 8964 6095 020 8964 6185 of discretionary housing payments, before discussing what [email protected] [email protected] they can do in the longer term. homeswapper.co.uk exchangelocata.org.uk This table shows all the caseload activity since 1 April 2013 Number of tenants affected Number of tenants receiving DHP Social Sector Size Criteria Implemented April 2013 419 29 Most recent figures (March 2014) 344 208 Is there an event happening Having problems paying your rent? in your area? Tell us about it Call to speak with a welfare reform officer 4 and get published in Link! 0800 137 111 or 020 3617 7080 020 7605 6346 [email protected] Rosalind Grimes Rosalind Grimes, who lives in North Rosalind said: “Thanks to Audrey’s initial Kensington, was a refuge case worker help and support I’m now very happy for five years until 2011. After leaving working in the Golborne area of North that job she couldn’t find any work Kensington.