2021 Winter ECHO LIVING magazine

P R OPERT Y / HO ME / L IVING

Lejla’s dream home

LIVING

echorealty LEADERS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Living in an EchoRealty helped Lejla save enough money to buy her own home.

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KEEPING WARM

Stay warm without blowing out your electricity bill with these energy saving tips.

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SCHOOL’S OUT

There’s lots of FREE stay-athome activities for the kids these school holidays.

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Satisfaction Survey Complete the survey to go in the draw to win one of FIFTY $50 Westfield Vouchers. Page 5

ECHO LIVING MAGAZINE / ECHOREALTY

a division of Evolve Housing

June 2021 WINTER

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ECHO LIVING

LIVING ECHOREALTY magazine

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KEEPING WARM Stay warm without blowing out your electricity bill.

CONTENT

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OLYMPIC PARK High-quality apartments to eligible key workers at up to 25% off market rent.

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING Do you know anyone who’s eligible?

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SATISFACTION SURVEY Complete the survey for a chance to win one of FIFTY $50 Westfield Vouchers.

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SCHOOL’S OUT Do something for FREE with the kids in the winter school holidays.

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

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EchoRealty would like to acknowledge and thank our partners who

HOME HEALTH What is MOULD and how to control it!

help deliver affordable housing: Aware Super, Altis, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Willoughby City Council, Parramatta City Council.

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PROPERTY LISTINGS Our winter-list of available properties.

Did you know?

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

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

2021 NAIDOC Week NAIDOC Week is coming up, from the 4th to 11th July, and this year’s theme is ‘Heal Country’, focusing on securing significant and lasting change and also empowering and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, nations and heritage. If you’re interested in attending a NAIDOC Week event, see what’s going on in your area by visiting: naidoc.org.au/get-involved/naidoc-week-events

Acknowledgement of Country — EchoRealty acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land where we deliver our housing and services. We acknowledge and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.

We welcome all First Nations People to our services, as we walk together towards reconciliation.

3 First Home Loan SCHEME

Lejla’s

dream home

Like many Sydneysiders, Lejla and Amel thought they would never be homeowners but after seven years of living in an EchoRealty property and sticking to a savings plan, the young family’s dream came true.

Despite the couple having young children and earning moderate incomes, being able to access an affordable rental property allowed them to save a deposit, a goal that Lejla had previously thought was unattainable. After saving up a $30k deposit, she and Amel went to a mortgage broker who turned them away three times.

Their luck changed when the government launched its First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, which allowed them to secure a home loan with a 5% deposit rather than the traditional 20% that is often required.

Armed with a pre-approval, Lejla and Amel had three months to find a home within their price range of under $550, 000 in the notoriously expensive city of Sydney. They managed to find a beautiful home that suited their needs in the same western Sydney suburb they were already living in.

While getting into the property market isn’t achievable for everyone due to high prices, Lejla said that the government scheme she accessed was a huge help and that she would advise other aspiring homeowners to focus on sticking to a realistic savings plan.

While Lejla was very driven to achieve her savings goals, living in an EchoRealty property with discounted rent helped her to put money away for a deposit without feeing deprived or scrimping too much.

“In the 7 years while we were here, we managed to pay off our car loan, raise two kids, we went overseas to visit family and save a deposit for our first home,” she said.

For more information about the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and how it supports first home

“We still had a great time to do all kids activities like soccer, swimming and music, family time and lots of entertainment.”

buyers see: www.nhfic.gov.au/whatwe-do/fhlds/

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ECHO LIVING

OLYMPIC PARK We are proud to offer a range of high-quality apartments to eligible key workers at up to 25% off market rent as part of an Affordable Housing Program brought to you

by Sydney Olympic Park Authority.

The eligibility criteria for these properties are: applicants must be employed exclusively or predominantly in Sydney Olympic Park and may include athletes or those in sports training or development programs, coaches of athletes, technical staff and essential service workers. Income limits are: $66,300 for a single person, $86,200 for a single person plus one child, $99,500 for a couple, or $119,400 for a couple plus child.

For a full list of income criteria, see: https://echorealty.com.au

Keeping warm WITHOUT BURNING UP YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL

KEEPING WARM Winter has well and truly set in, and with temperatures plummeting, it’s tempting to crank up the heat 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.

Try these cost saving tips: •

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Harness natural heat. The sun is a great, free source of warmth that you can take advantage of. Don’t forget to open your curtains in the morning to let the sun shine in and warm up your home, then close them in the evening.

Insulate your home. Unless you have carpet, it’s likely that your floor gets cold and affects the temperature in your home. You can prevent this by insulating the floor with rugs to help keep the indoors warm. Ensure there are no gaps in your doors or windows

5 that are letting cool air in or warm air out — trying using door ‘snakes’ to fill in the gaps if there are any.

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Maximise the effect of your heating. When you do need to turn the heating on, be sure to close the doors to any rooms that you aren’t using. This stops the heat moving into unoccupied parts of the home.

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Don’t turn the heat up too high. Resist the temptation to turn the temperature on your heater or air conditioner up too high. Use the lowest temperature that feels comfortable. Just a 1° degree reduction in the temperature setting on your heating can reduce your bill by 10%.

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Think of ways to heat yourself. Layer up with jumpers, socks, scarves, long sleeves and blankets to keep your body warm. You can also warm up with hot drinks like tea, or use hot water bottles.

For winter safety tips, visit Fire and Rescue NSW: www.fire.nsw.gov.au/winter

2021 Resident Satisfaction Survey Please keep your eye out for our Annual Tenant Satisfaction Survey, which will be mailed or emailed out to you by the end of June 2021.

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 the data is kept confidential.

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 July 2021, please email us at: myevolve@evolvehousing.com.au.

Key worker housing programs

EchoRealty are the leaders in affordable housing property management, and we deliver a number of different programs.

If you know anyone who you think may be eligible for this program, or you are considering moving into a new property and think you may be eligible, please contact us by email: info@echorealty.com.au

Key Worker Housing Key worker housing is affordable housing reserved for people who are employed as a key worker in front line services that are important for the community. Key workers who may be eligible are those working in essential industries such as aged care, health care, education, emergency services, law enforcement and childcare. Offering these workers affordable housing allows them to live nearby their place of work without falling into housing stress, benefiting the wider community by ensuring that there is a steady supply of key workers in the area. Key worker housing eligibility rates vary depending upon the property.

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ECHO LIVING

SCHOOL’S OUT Free activities for the KIDS FREE STAY AT HOME ACTIVITIES FOR THE KIDS The new Covid restrictions applying in New South Wales have affected many people’s plans for the winter holiday break, but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of family friendly fun you can enjoy. Check out our ideas below!

Taronga TV Together in Art This website, run by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, features video guides that show kids how to create their own art projects at home!

Projects include making watercolour postcards, bush brushes and monoprints, cardboard sculptures, collage portraits, toilet roll dolls, flower patterns and more.

To check it out, visit www.togetherinart.org/kids

Sydney’s famous Taronga Zoo may be closed temporarily at present, but you can still get your dose of cute animal goodness by tuning into Taronga TV, which offers 24/7 live streams of cameras at the zoo. Animals with their own live streams include the zoo’s two year old male lions, Lwazi and Ato, an Asian elephant herd, and Sumatran Tiger cubs. To watch, visit: www.taronga.org.au/tarongatv#animallivecams

ABC Kids

Cosmic Kids Yoga Stay active indoors in a fun way with Cosmic Kids Yoga, a free resource available on YouTube that offers a range of themed yoga classes for young people to enjoy. Videos range from just a few minutes, for younger kids with shorter attention spans, to up to 50 minutes.

Visit www.youtube.com/user/cosmickidsyoga

ABC Kids has loads of free things for kids to watch and do online. Their ‘How To Do Stuff Good’ series takes kids on 18-minute creative journeys based around a different theme each episode, including stress busting tips and health hacks. Watch online at: www.iview.abc.net.au/show/how-todo-stuff-good The ‘Make’ section on the ABC Kids website is also packed with fun, free boredom busters including colouring in sheets, a recipe book, and easy craft activities. Check it out at: www.abc.net.au/abckids/make

7 National Geographic Kids The National Geographic website has plenty of science-based articles and activities to entertain curious young minds. The main page has articles and quizzes for kids: www.natgeokids.com/au Parents can also visit the resources page to check out fun educational activities to do with their kids: www.natgeokids.com/au/teacher-category/ primary-resource

Scratch Coding lessons for Kids The Scratch website, run by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a free resource that teaches kids how to code and lets them program and share their own interactive media such as stories, games, and animation with people from all over the world.

The main Scratch website is aimed at youngsters aged 8 to 16, while there is also a ScratchJr website that offers a simplified version for kids aged 5 to 7.

Scratch: www.scratch.mit.edu ScratchJr: www.scratchjr.org

HOME WINTER TIPS

HOME HEALTH What is MOULD and how to control it!

Mould is a type of fungi like mushrooms and yeasts. Mould grows in dust and organic matter using moisture. Mould can be black, grey, green or white. Mould often looks like a stain or smudge, and may smell musty.

Parts of the house that are prone to mould growth are those areas with condensation or high humidity (such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundries), but also places that have restricted ventilation, such as in corners and/or cupboards where the inside temperature is lower than outside in winter.

Ventilation Moisture is required to grow mould. The cheapest and easiest way to reduce moisture is to open a window or door.

Make sure all areas of your home are regularly ventilated with a continuous air flow. Use exhaust fans in areas where

Art Ninja Kids can join along with Ricky Martin the ‘Art Ninja’ as he creates mini masterpieces and makes incredible art in unexpected places.

View on ABC iView: www.iview.abc.net.au/ show/art-ninja

moisture is created.

How to remove mould Mould should be removed as soon as it appears.

Eliminating mould can take some persistence.

Small areas of mould can be cleaned by using a bleach mixture (1 part bleach to 3 parts water) or a suitable commercial product (always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using these).

Free printable activities

Wear rubber gloves,

Print out Australian themed colouring in pages and activities for free at this website: www.montessorinature.com/australiathemed-free-printables

take care not to splash the cleaning solution and make sure the area is well ventilated.

available Properties

You can find more available properties at: www.realestate.com.au/agency/echorealty-parramatta-MMYBCP

89–93 Wentworth Avenue, Wentworthville Apartment: 2 bedroom 2 bathroom 1 car space Rent: $416–464 per week Available now We have brand new apartments available in Wentworthville for eligible low to moderate income earners. These modern apartments are located just moments from Wentworthville train station and local shops. They include a modern bathroom and ensuite, modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances, gas heating, lift access, basement parking, split system air conditioning, security intercom and CCTV.

55 South Street, Rydalmere

39/37–43 Balmoral Road, Northmead

Apartment: 2 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1 car space apartment Rent: $400 per week This stunning two bedroom apartment includes split system air conditioning, built-in wardrobes, and an en suite to the main bedroom. The kitchen includes stone benchtops, a ducted rangehood, Fisher & Paykel induction stove and electric multifunction oven, double bowl sink, and microwave space.

Common facilities include CCTV, an intercom system, a lift, a common area lobby and landscaped grounds.

Apartment: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 car space unit Rent: $400 per week We are proud to offer this apartment to eligible key workers as part of an affordable rental housing program brought to you

by Aware Super. Features include: three bedrooms, built in wardrobes, light filled spaces, modern kitchen, internal laundry with dryer, modern bathroom and two car spaces.

Key workers who may be eligible are people who work in essential industries such as aged care, health care, education, emergency services, law enforcement and childcare.

34 Cecil Avenue, Castle Hill 2 bedroom 2 bathroom 1 car space unit Rent: $420 per week Available 1st July This spacious unit offers oversized bedrooms with built-in wardrobes, split system air conditioning to all rooms, and grassed backyard areas with side access and separate balcony. There is plenty of natural light flowing into the open plan living, dining and kitchen area to enjoy. The unit is located in a small block with an intercom system, a storage cage, and a car space with extra area to park a motorbike or bikes. Walking distance to local shops and transport.

10/375 Kingsway, Caringbah Unit: 1 bedroom studio Rent: $292 per week

20–24 Mcintyre Street, Gordon Apartment: 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1 car space Rent: $480–488 per week