2020 Winter ECHO LIVING magazine

P R OPERT Y / HO ME / L IVING

EVOLVE WITH US

LIVING echorealty doing property differently

It’s survey time! This gives you an opportunity to share your experiences as a tenant.

Page 3

ONLINE HELP

During challenging times like these, many people feel worried but help is available.

Page 5

school holidays

We are bringing the spirit of the school holidays to kids online.

Page 7

NEWCASTLE

A new affordable housing complex in the Newcastle CBD will soon be available to rent.

Page 4

ECHO LIVING MAGAZINE / ECHOREALTY

a division of Evolve Housing

July 2020 WINTER

2

ECHO LIVING

LIVING ECHOREALTY magazine

CONTENT

03

TENANT SATISFACTION SURVEY An opportunity to share your experiences.

04

STAY WARM It’s tempting to crank up the heating to keep your home warm, but should you?

05

NEWCASTLE New affordable housing complex in the Newcastle CBD available to rent.

06

COVID-19 & OUR SERVICE Our offices remain closed but you can easily reach us when you need.

06

GO! GRANTS Encourage your kids to get off the computer and out moving their bodies with Go! Grants.

THANK YOU

07

EchoRealty would like to acknowledge and thank those who help us deliver affordable housing: First State Super, Altis, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Willoughby City Council, Parramatta City Council, Centennial Property Group, Liby Australia Pty Ltd, HLWZ Developments Pty Ltd.

ONLINE SCHOOL COMPETITION We have a different competition for each week of the school holidays.

Did you know?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Do you know how to request repairs or maintenance for your rental property?

EchoRealty acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land where we deliver our housing and services.

We acknowledge and pay our respects to all Elders past, present and future.

Please contact your property manager directly, call 1800 693 246 or email info@echorealty.com.au with your repair request.

For after hours repair requests ONLY, please contact Willowdene Constructions on 0438 684 893 or 0434 433 145 for urgent maintenance.

In 2019, Evolve Housing commissioned Indigenous artist

Please note that if the repair is not deemed urgent by EchoRealty, you will be charged the cost. For further information about urgent and non-urgent repairs, please visit

Sal Lavallee to create an artwork.

https://www.echorealty.com.au/tenants/all-about-repairs/

Parramatta.

“Land, River, Home” will be displayed in our head office at

3 Hi...

Evolve with us Tenant Satisfaction Survey Please keep your eye out for our Tenant Satisfaction Survey, which will be emailed out to you this month. The survey gives you an opportunity to share your experiences as a tenant with us and give us feedback on how we can improve our services.

It is completely anonymous and will be managed by the Community Housing Industry Association NSW who will ensure that data is confidential.

Real Estate Business Awards

I feel...

Hello...

We are delighted to share the great news that EchoRealty has been recognised at the nationwide 2020 @Real Estate Business Awards in the category of Social and Community Service Program of the Year!

We were nominated for our affordable housing program, which we are proud to say provides over 1,400 homes at below market rent for people on low-to-moderate incomes. All of our profits are channelled back into the community housing sector.

$50 Westfield Vouchers The REB Awards are the benchmark for excellence in real estate, and we are truly honoured that we have been recognised in this national industry award ceremony.

Thank you to Real Estate Business, and congratulations to all other winners and finalists.

We would also like to thank our hardworking team, who make all our achievements possible, and our tenants for their ongoing support.

Everyone who completes the survey will go in the draw to win one of FIFTY $50 Westfield Vouchers. If you have any questions about the survey or have not received it by the end of June, please email us at info@echorealty.com.au.

4

ECHO LIVING

NEWCASTLE NSW

expansion

Stay warm this winter Winter has well and truly set in, and with temperatures plummeting, it’s tempting to crank up the heating to keep your home warm.

While heaters and reverse cycle air conditioning will definitely keep you toasty on those cold mornings, they may also lead to financial stress when it’s time to pay the electricity bill.

Luckily, there are many tips and tricks you can use to heat your home without using too much power.

These include: • Harness natural heat sources • Insulate your home • Maximise the effect of your heating • Don’t turn the heat up too high • Think of energy-free ways to heat yourself Check out the website to learn more tips at: fire.nsw.gov.au/winter

Recently completed property in Newcastle.

We are delighted to share that construction has been completed on a new affordable housing complex in the Newcastle CBD is now available to rent at below market rates for eligible applicants on low-to-moderate incomes.

The property, located at 4 Merewether Street Newcastle, includes 30 residential apartments dedicated for affordable rental housing, able to accommodate up to 78 people.

The complex includes 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments, with four being set aside for Specialist Disability Accommodation.

The properties will be leased through EchoRealty, Evolve Housing’s profitfor-purpose real estate agency that specialises in affordable housing, and are advertised on echorealty.com.au, realestate.com.au and domain.com.au.

Changes to our service due to Covid-19

5 If you need help

Please note that the reception areas at both our Penrith and Parramatta offices remain closed at present to keep our staff and tenants safe from the risk of Covid-19. Please be assured that our staff are still working hard to support you and can be accessed by phone or email. If you need to come into the office, for instance, to drop off or pick up keys, please book an appointment in advance by calling 1800 my echo (1800 693 246) or emailing info@echorealty.com.au.

Preventing the spread of Covid-19 The government is currently advising all Australians to help stop the spread of coronavirus by practicing social distancing (maintaining a space of at least 1.5 metres between themselves and other people), avoiding non- essential travel, and maintaining good hygiene practices (washing hands for 20 seconds with soap and water regularly or using hand sanitiser, and coughing or sneezing into elbows or a tissue.

For more information about COVID-19 including symptoms and tips on how to reduce your risk of being infected, visit health.gov.au.

Go Grants!

With Covid-19 restrictions easing gradually, kids sporting activities may soon be operating again.

If you want to get your kids involved in a sport or physical activity but are under financial stress at the moment, you can apply for our Go! Grants, which provide up to $350 per household annually for two years. The grant can be used to fund any sport or physical activity class (including equipment used for the class) for residents aged 18 years and younger.

To apply or for more information, email community@evolvehousing.com.au or call 1800 693 865.

Mental health support During challenging times like these, many people feel worried, anxious or overwhelmed.

You can visit lifeline.org.au to get some mental health and wellbeing tips and strategies. If you need someone to talk to, you can get in touch with Lifeline by calling 13 11 14 (available 24/7), texting 0477 131 114 (operating 6pm– midnight 7 days a week), or accessing web chat via lifeline.org.au Kids who need support can call Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

Beyond Blue is also available on 1300 224 636 or at beyondblue.org.au.

Food and resources If you are in financial stress, there are organisations that may be able to help you to pay bills and purchase essential items such as food.

Anglicare, call 1300 111 278 or visit anglicare.org.au Vinnies, call 1800 606 724 or visitvinnies.org.au Salvation Army, call 1300 371 288 or visit salvationarmy.org.au

6

ECHO LIVING

School Holiday competition ONLINE events

7 Programs/events

KIDS ONLINE Kids can’t enjoy many in-person events at the moment, so we are bringing the spirit of the school holidays to them.

We have a different competition for each week of the school holidays, designed to inspire young people’s creativity and curiosity. You can win awesome prizes including a cool flip robot toy valued at $165, or a $50 gift voucher.

Week 1

Week 2

Send us a drawing, painting, photo,

Imagine what you can create with lego!

poem or short story based around the

The theme is ‘My robot friend’. Build a

theme ‘If I were a robot’.

cool robot out of lego! Your entry must

Entries close Friday 17th July. To enter,

be an original build from pieces you

send your creation by email with the

have at home (if you don’t have lego,

subject line ‘Imaginate Competition

other blocks are okay). We are looking

Week 1’ to community@evolvehousing.

for creativity and imagination and extra

com.au in PDF or Word. If you’re

credits for robots with moving parts!

sending in a photo, try to make sure

Entries close Friday 17th July. To

it’s in focus too. You can also post your

enter, send in a photo (in focus

entry to ‘Evolve Housing Attention:

please) or video of your robot by

Community Team, 9–13 Argyle Street

email with the subject line ‘Imaginate

Parramatta NSW 2150’.

Competition Week 2’ to community@ evolvehousing.com.au.

available Properties

7/56-66 Lakeside Parade, Jordan Springs Unit: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Rent: $360 per week Available now This unit offers two bedrooms with mirrored built ins, modern kitchen with stone bench tops and gas cooking, modern bathroom and ensuite plus an internal laundry.

Features include split system air-conditioning, security intercom and secure underground parking.

Eligibility criteria applies.

PLEASE SEE: realestate.com.au/agency/echorealty-parramatta-MMYBCP

12/1 Cliff Road, Epping Unit: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom Rent: $416 per week Available now Eligible key workers can enjoy this light-filled property up to 20% off market rent. It features one bedroom and a study, a modern bathroom, laminate timber floors throughout, modern kitchens with stone benches, Miele appliances and gas cook tops and built-in wardrobe. There’s also ducted air conditioning, a spacious balcony with gas BBQ point, secure parking and intercom/lift access.

206/17–19 Rookwood Rd Yagoona 5/2-4 Rangihou Crescent, Parramatta Apartment: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom Rent: $390 per week Available 19 July Perfectly located within minutes from the heart of the Parramatta CBD, these brand new apartments provide peaceful and modern living. Features include security intercom, alarm system, gas cooking, stainless steel appliances, split system air-conditioning, built-in wardrobes, balcony and car space.

Apartment: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Rent: $400 per week Available now This apartment includes two bedrooms with mirrored built-ins, an ensuite to the main bedroom, fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher and gas cooking, split system airconditioning, balcony off lounge room, modern main bathroom, internal laundry with dryer, intercom and basement parking.