Autumn Tenant Newsletter

TENANTS NEWSLETTER

Our annual general meeting took place last month. With restrictions beginning to ease, we were able to hold this both in our office, with limited numbers, and also virtually.

Board Chair, Simon Leslie, summarised last year’s performance by saying, “there was a real fear during the lockdown that housing associations would struggle due to mounting arrears and not being able to let houses. Amazingly due to the commitment of our staff now working from their homes we actually saw arrears fall. We also managed to get our letting activity back on track and keep our repairs service going with a focus on safety related work. All this has paid dividends in a continued strong financial position. This will ensure that we can get our planned improvement works back on track and continue to acquire and build much needed new housing”.

The results of the Board elections were also announced, in which six of the existing members were re-elected. Kelsey Kane (right) was successful in the Community category. Kelsey is the CEO of Ayr based homelessness charity, SeAscape. Unfortunately we had to say goodbye to outgoing Community member David Porte. David was a great member of the Board and his expertise in supporting our community engagement has been a great asset.

You can find out more about our Board members on our website:

www.ayrshirehousing.org.uk/about/staff

T. 01292 880120 E. info@ayrshirehousing.org.uk Remember, you can pay your rent, report non-emergency repairs, update your household details and much more on MY HOME. www.ayrshirehousing.org.uk/your-home

W. www.ayrshirehousing.org.uk @ayrshirehousing

North East Troon Our latest development in Troon is really starting to take shape with several properties already well underway.

The houses are part of the new Taylor Wimpey estate at the north end of the town. We expect the properties to be finished by Spring 2022. In total there will be 52 energy efficient homes, several of which will be fully accessible for those with disabilities.

North East Troon

Local jobs for local people

New recruits joined by representatives of Ayrshire Housing

The local Ayrshire community has benefited from more than just new affordable homes, thanks to the ‘added value’ aspect of the current development in partnership with

Cruden Building Group. Four new jobs have been created, including a four-year joinery apprenticeship and a trainee site manager as part of our latest affordable housing development. Our Director, Jim Whiston, said, ‘As well as providing much needed quality affordable housing which will make a big difference in the quality of life for residents, it is also fantastic to see ‘community benefit’ in action – offering apprenticeships and work placement opportunities to local people.’

2

M O N E Y

A D V I C E

Benefits and help with money after someone dies Your income and financial circumstances may change if your husband, wife, partner or child dies.

You may be entitled to financial support to help you during this difficult time.

Bereavement benefits and payments A range of financial support is available to those who have suffered a family bereavement.  Funeral Support Payment – help towards the cost of a funeral if you're on low income and live in

Scotland.  Bereavement Support Payment – if you're under state pension age and have a husband, wife or

civil partner who has died in the last 21 months.  Guardian's Allowance – if you're bringing up a child whose parents have died. You may be able to

claim if you're bringing up a child who has one surviving parent.

Benefits and payments you are already receiving You'll have to make new applications for some benefits and payments that your husband, wife or civil partner was getting for your family. The death may also affect benefits you’re already getting. Contact the organisations that pay the benefits or payments to you. For more information contact:

Department for Work and Pensions Bereavement Service - 0800 731 0469 Dealing with the benefits and payments of the person who died  Report the death to the government organisation who paid the benefits to the deceased. You

should do this as soon as possible after receiving the death certificate.  Contact

Tell Us Once.

This is a service that allows death to most government

you to report a organisations at the same time. A registrar will explain the process when you register the death. Contact Tell Us Once online: www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once  Notify your Housing Officer who will give you appropriate advice about the tenancy.

If you are struggling to navigate your entitlements following a death, please get in touch with our Money Advice Officers at Ayrshire Housing. You can ring 01292 880120 and ask for us to contact you if you have any questions about your income and benefits.

3

M O N E Y

A D V I C E

When you are thinking about getting a Will made, it’s best to have this done by a solicitor.

Will Aid is a scheme to have a Will drawn up by a solicitor in exchange for a donation to charity.

NOVEMBER is WILL AID month.

Every November, participating solicitors waive their fee for writing a basic Will. Instead, they invite you to make a donation that is shared between the Will Aid charities. Suggested minimum donations are £95 for a single basic will, or £150 for a pair of basic mirror wills.

There is more information on the Will Aid website at www.willaid.org.uk. The website has a tool that lets you search for a participating solicitor by area.

Further information about Wills is available at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/family/death-and-wills/wills-s/

As you'll have seen in the news, energy prices that firms pay are at unprecedented highs, which means higher bills for us as they pass these increases on to customers. Due to this extreme situation, there are now no deals meaningfully cheaper than the price cap (which standard default tariffs follow). In fact, very few providers even allow switching at the price cap rate. As a result, you'll almost certainly see prices a lot higher than you would expect when you do a comparison and a lot fewer tariffs than usual. There are some places you can seek support for utility specific issues: OFGEM - www.ofgem.gov.uk/news-and-views/blog/energy-bills-are-rising-and-what-you-can-do-about-it Citrus Energy / Lemon Aid - 07973 847981 – can help customers tackle fuel poverty by liaising with energy suppliers for affordable payments and searching for possible emergency support.

Citizens Advice Scotland - 0800 028 1456 – for general advice regarding utilities and debts.

Stepchange – scotland.asp

for

independent

Debt

Advice

www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/debt-advice-

It is also important that you register with your supplier for the Warm Home Discount if you are eligible. Each utility company has its own process. Most company schemes are open now and are available to register online if you have not already done so.

4

M O N E Y

A D V I C E

In Scotland, Disability Living Allowance for children is being replaced by Child Disability Payment. Payments will now come from Social Security Scotland instead of the Department for Work and Pensions. People who are already receiving Disability Living Allowance for children do not need to apply for Child Disability Payment and will not be reassessed. Their award will be transferred automatically.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW  As part of Scottish Devolution, certain benefits, like this one, are transferring to Social

Security Scotland so if you currently receive this payment, it will no longer come from the Department for Work and Pensions.  The amount that you currently receive will not change under the new rules. People will get

the same amount, to the same account and at the same time as they get their payments right now.  Starting in November 2021, all DLA claims for children aged between 16 and 18 will be

moved to the new system with claims for all others transferring by Spring 2023.  Social Security Scotland will contact you when it is time for your child to transfer over from

DLA to Child Disability Payment and again when the process is complete and when you should expect payment. It is expected it will take about 3 months to move over.  New claims for Child Disability Payment are only open

in some trial areas at present but should be available to claim in all areas from 22nd November 2021.

Our money advice team are here to help should you need any assistance or information on this scheme.

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.

5

We have received this poem from one of our tenants, we’d like to thank them for their kind words. If you would like to be featured in one of our newsletters please get in touch. Whether it’s poetry, painting, suggestions, stories or recipes, we are sure other tenants would like to hear from you!

A caring landlord helps to turn Your house into a home Replacing things when they get worn Soon as you lift the phone Helping out when troubles land Imparting free advice Ready with a guiding hand Employing staff so nice.

Hearing all you have to say Our homes they always tend Using kindness every day So like a caring friend Informing us when things must change Newsletters through the door Giving us a second chance So, who could ask for more?

Removing rubbish from our street Even mowing lawn So roads and parks look like a treat In shining – dusk and dawn Delivering houses – shake of palm Each tenancy is grown Neighbourhood disputes they calm Communities they own Each day they unblock every jam So your house becomes a home.

6

IGGY

Thank you for all your entries to this year’s pet competition.

The judges had a hard job deciding on the winners. The entries were split into cats and dogs and we had two joint winners in the cat category. They were: Iggy who belongs to Wendy Nimmo from Tarbolton and Poppy who is owned by Catherine Main of Ayr. Top prize in the dogs category went to Roxi and Diesel who are owned by Clare Doolan of Ayr. Commendations were awarded to: Archie who belongs to Tam Kean of Ayr and Mischa who is also being fostered by Wendy Nimmo. Well done Wendy and all the other winners. We hope you enjoy your prizes.

POPPY

ARCHIE

ROXI & DIESEL

MISCHA

Our green fingered tenants did not disappoint in this year’s garden competition. It was clear that many of you have relished the chance to spend time in your outdoor spaces and for some it has really helped them to cope with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. We loved seeing all your entries. This year, we had joint winners in the garden category: Ayr tenants Mr and Mrs Currie of West Sanquhar Place and Mrs Gilmour of Thornyflat Place. Top prize in the container section went to Mrs Green from Maybole. Our runners up were: Mrs Bletsoe of Dalrymple and Mr and Mrs Bell of McLean Street in Ayr. Well done to you all!

7

Can you find all the plain pumpkins hidden throughout our newsletter? If you manage to guess the correct number you could win a £10 toy shop gift voucher. To enter, email your guess to info@ayrshirehousing.org.uk.

Please include your name, address, age and a contact number. Closing date is Friday 3 December.

Colour in the picture then cut around the pieces. Ask a friend or family member if they can put your puzzle together again.