Tenants Newsletter Autumn 2020

TENANTS NEWSLETTER Development update...

AUTUMN 2020 Elba Street

Our latest development in Ayr’s Elba Street has just finished.

It consists of eight two bedroom flats and nineteen one bedroom flats. Twelve of the flats will be managed in partnership with the South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership. The flats will be cheap to heat thanks to excellent insulation, and efficient heating and ventilation.

We’re really pleased to have delivered these houses to our new tenants in spite of all the current restrictions, Congratulations to our contractor CCG who have been able to recover well from the March lockdown.

We are now building in Troon. This is part of the major development to the north east of the town. When complete in spring 2022, the site will comprise 52 two and three bedroom energy efficient homes.

Troon

A sign of the times!

Inside this issue

We went digital for this year’s AGM. Our Chair Simon Leslie was pleased to say “despite the challenges of Coronavirus, we’ve been able to maintain essential services to our tenants from the beginning of the lockdown. These are now getting closer to normal levels. Our staff have been excellent. Despite working from home, they have focussed on reassuring our tenants, particularly those facing new financial challenges in these difficult times”. We are pleased that three new tenants are joining our volunteer Board.

P2-4 - Maintenance Service update P5 -

Competition winners

P6-7 - Money Advice updates P8 -

Kids’ Corner

Ways to GET IN TOUCH T. 01292 880120 * E. info@ayrshirehousing.org.uk W. www.ayrshirehousing.org.uk

Message us through Facebook or Twitter. @ayrshirehousing

* Press option 1 for repairs and 2 for reception. Please note that our receptionists are NOT ABLE TO transfer you to your housing officer. Direct lines and email addresses can be found on our website.

COVID-19: UPDATE ON OUR REPAIRS SERVICE We are still here Our repairs and maintenance team are still primarily working from home due to the current restrictions put in place by the Scottish Government in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. This is limiting the number of calls that we can handle at any one time, but we are working hard, along with our contractors, to deliver the level of service that you expect from us. We appreciate your patience and please be assured that we are Emergencies working tirelessly on your behalf.

Emergency Repairs We are continuing to carry out emergency and other essential repairs as well as safety activities (such as gas safety checks, fire and smoke alarm testing and lift maintenance). You can still call us on 01292 880120 to report any emergency repairs.

Routine Repairs If you have an internal or external repair that you have previously reported that was not completed due to the earlier lockdown restrictions on our contractors, we are in the process of rebooking these works to clear the backlog. Please be aware that some of these jobs will take longer as our contractors are following social distancing requirements We are also taking calls to book new urgent and routine repairs, but our phone lines may be busier at the moment. In addition to this some repairs that would have been issued as urgent repairs will be now be categorised as routine repairs. These arrangements are in place to help allow our contractors the opportunity to “catch-up” with the backlog as well as the increasing numbers of new jobs being reported.

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Additional cleaning of all our common areas has been carried out since mid-March because of the pandemic. Our contractors are working hard to ensure the high standards of cleanliness are maintained. They are focussing on “high touch” points such as handles, bannisters, door entry keypads, etc. We would also, however, encourage tenants living in flats where there are communal areas such as closes, landings and stairs, to assist in keeping these areas clean and not just rely on the cleaning service that we are providing.

We can supply this document in a print size to suit. It is also available in Braille, audio and other formats, and in other languages. Our website also has several accessibility features which you may find useful.

COVID-19: UPDATE ON OUR REPAIRS SERVICE General maintenance Landscape and communal areas are still being maintained. We are also working to prepare houses for new tenants. We have also restarted some planned works. Unfortunately, some of this work may take longer to do and be more limited due the ongoing restrictions.

Current guidance from the Scottish Government states that work can be carried out in people’s homes, provided that the government advice on carrying out appropriate risk assessments, including social distancing and good hygiene is followed. Ayrshire Housing has put in place safe working practices to ensure that you and your family’s safety is paramount during any visits to your home. Before booking an appointment, we’ll ask you the following questions: 

Are you or any member of your family displaying symptoms of Coronavirus infection, such as a high temperature, a new or persistent cough, or loss of taste or smell?



Are you or any of your family considered vulnerable or self-isolating?



Are you happy for us to enter your home and do you understand that we may need further access within it?

If we or our contractor needs to enter your house we will:  Ask that you leave internal doors and windows open along with curtains and blinds in the parts of the house that we will need to see. 

We ask that all occupants, along with any pets either stay outside or in a closed room away from the areas that we need to inspect. This is so that everyone can comfortably keep a social distance.

Only one adult in the house should accompany our inspector or contractor during their visit. You should be prepared to open cupboards, drawers, doors and windows if asked to. This is to reduce unnecessary contact. By following these simple steps, we can help to keep everyone safe.

Please keep us informed...

If you or a member of your household has tested positive for Covid-19 (Coronavirus), is showing any symptoms, or is self-isolating following reporting a repair, it is vital that we are made aware of this.

We will not cancel your job, we will simply rearrange it for a time that Government guidance allows us to do so safely.

Ayrshire Housing is committed to ensuring that all our tenants receive a first class service at all times even in difficult circumstances. We are very appreciative of your support and your patience while the pandemic continues to affect the delivery of our services.

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Helping to reduce our carbon footprint Ayrshire Housing is committed to reducing its carbon footprint. We have recently upgraded the common area lights in one of the blocks in Blackfriars Court in Ayr to an integral sensor LED fitting. Following very positive feedback from tenants, we will now be installing these lights throughout all of the common close areas in all our developments. This technology reduces the lighting to 10% when not in use, but reverts instantly to 100% when activated. We are now going to switch all our common area lights to LEDs. These small changes allow us to help reduce our carbon footprint without causing disruption to our tenants.

Your Tenant Handbook contains helpful tips on how to save energy. You can download a copy on our website: www.ayrshirehousing.org.uk or by going to the My Tenancy tab on My Home.

feedback on

Tenant Comment:

“The recently installed lighting in block 5 is a great success”.

MY HOME

Have you reported a repair to us recently?

Did you know that you can send us feedback on your repairs through My Home?

All you need to do is log into My Home and go to the “My Repairs” tab or panel to view your latest repairs.

To send us feedback, simply click the black speech bubble next to the repair and fill in the short satisfaction survey.

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Competition Winners Kuma

Snowy

Bella

Cheeky chap Teddy the schnocker pup, is our Runner up. He lives with Jayne Burdon of Prestwick.

Congratulations to adorable Lexi the Boston Terrier who is our Winner in the pet competition this year.

Lexi is companion of Mrs Gibb from Coylton.

Receiving commendations this year were Snowy from Girvan, Bella from Maybole and Kuma from Troon.

Our winner in the Garden category for this year is Mary Bletsoe of Dalrymple. Mary has been working hard in her garden and the judges thought it was a worthy winner.

Runner up in the Garden category was Mr and Mrs Currie of Corton Howe, Ayr. Mr Penman of West Sanquhar Place was runner up in the Shared Garden category. Well done!

Congratulations to the tenants of Good Shepherd Court in Ayr, who scooped the top prize in the Shared Garden category. Proof that teamwork makes the dream work!

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Money Advice - important updates Social Security Scotland Updates Pregnancy and Baby Payment available now…

The Pregnancy and Baby Payment is part of Best Start Grant, a package of three payments that give extra money to low income families during the early years of a child’s life.

This payment is £600 for a first child and £300 for other children. There is also an extra £300 if clients have a multiple birth. The payment has been designed to help with expenses in pregnancy or having a new baby, for example to buy maternity clothes or a pram. See mygov.scot for more details on this grant.

Look out for Scottish Child Payment in November 2020...

The Scottish Child Payment scheme is being launched by the Scottish Government in November. It aims to give eligible families £10 per week per child under six.

Although the benefit won’t officially be available before February 2021, Social Security Scotland will start processing forms from November to manage the demand for this new payment. For more information on this benefit, visit gov.scot.

Jacqueline and Wendy from the Money Advice Team are here to help all tenants and their households. They can assist with maximising income, applying for benefits, appealing decisions and representing at Tribunals.

If your circumstances have changed, or you need general advice, please contact us: Tel: 01292 885581 or 01292 885583 Email: info@ayrshirehousing.org.uk Click on the ‘Money Advice’ tab in My Home.

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Money Advice - important updates WARM HOME DISCOUNT - OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS You may be eligible for help with your electricity bill through the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The scheme entitles eligible people to a one-off payment of £140 to their utilities account.

Eligibility varies slightly from provider to provider but the general criteria are:  

you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you are on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme.

If you are unsure if you will be eligible, please contact your energy provider.

If you have previously had Warm Home Discount and are on Pension Credit Guarantee, then you may automatically be entered into the scheme this year by your provider.

Wendy and Jacqueline from the Money Advice Team can provide further information and assist with applications. Call us on 01292 885583 or 01292 885581 for more details.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, then you are entitled to a one-off top-up whether you pay monthly or have pay as you go meters.

STAFF NEWS We are delighted to announce that Housing officer, Michelle Reid, recently gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl called Abbie. Mum, dad and baby are doing well.

Want to get in touch with your housing officer?

Simply go to our website where you will find direct dial numbers and email addresses for all our housing and maintenance officers. www.ayrshirehousing.org.uk/contact/your housing-officer/ 7

Name: …………………………………………………………………………..

Address: ……………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………… Tel: ……………………………….

If you are aged 3 to 12 and would like to be in with a chance of winning a £10 gift voucher, all you have to do is colour in the picture below and post to: Ayrshire Housing, 119 Main Street, Ayr KA8 8BX. You can also email it to us: info@ayrshirehousing.org.uk. Closing date for entries: Friday 27 November 2020. Good luck!

Age: …………………..

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