At the Heart Winter 2015

Magazine for tenants and leaseholders

www.havering.gov.uk

Winter 2015

Help us win Britain in Bloom - see page 16

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At The Heart Winter 2015

housing services

Dear residents

Contact us

Welcome to the winter edition of At The Heart.

You can report, apply and pay for a variety of housing services online.

For all enquiries please visit

www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

Send your comments about At the Heart or ideas for future issues to attheheart@havering.gov.uk

Visit our office

Chippenham Road Harold Hill RM3 8YQ 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday You can follow us on Twitter @LBofHavering To like our Facebook page, log in and type Get Involved - Havering Council tenants and leaseholders into the search box.

Your Council @

Your Council updates

News and information about

O N L I N E Havering Council’s housing

Your sign up to Council email updates @

Sign up for the regular email updates from Havering Council www.havering.gov.uk/enews

Cover photograph Gladys Collier tends some of the planters at Royal Jubilee Court, Romford.

This edition gives details of our new shared equity scheme, which aims to help you start buying your own home in easy-to manage stages. This is a scheme that can help you get a foot on the housing ladder and I hope you will check out the details to see if they suit you and your family.

We also concentrate on services which are moving online as part of the Council’s drive to improve services for residents and reduce costs at the same time.

The latest service to go online is reporting non-urgent repairs and we would ask you to use that way of letting us know of repairs that are needed in your home. The system will automatically send you text messages updating you on the progress of your repair request.

Nearly half of the Council’s tenants are now signed up to receive At the Heart Online – our monthly email update. If you’re not yet signed up, go to www.havering.gov.uk/enews so you don’t miss out.

As we enter 2016 there are a number of changes taking place. Universal Credit will begin in Havering from this spring, replacing a number of benefits.

This summer Havering is representing London in the Britain in Bloom competition. Many of our housing areas look fantastic each summer thanks to the planting done by tenants and the work of our grounds maintenance staff, but we want them to look even more colourful.

Our centre-spread contains some practical tips to help you make your garden look great. Do look out in the next issue of At the Heart for details of the Housing in Bloom 2016 competition, which has some great prizes on offer for everything from the tallest sunflower or best hanging basket to the best front or back garden.

I am sure that together we can help Havering succeed in the Britain in Bloom competition.

Councillor Damian White Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Housing

Published by Havering Council Job no. D4534 Winter 2015

www.havering.gov.uk

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First steps to owning your home

Havering is launching a brand new scheme to give Council tenants the opportunity to buy discounted shares in their home. The scheme is aimed at residents who are unable to buy their home outright.

Under the Social HomeBuy scheme existing Council tenants may buy a lease of the property for a minimum of 25 per cent of its value, through savings and/or a mortgage.

Those eligible to apply for the scheme are residents who’ve lived in their home for five years or more and will be able to buy a minimum share of 25 per cent of its market value. Further shares, of more than 10 per cent, can be bought based on their finances.

Councillor Damian White said: “This scheme is intended to increase opportunities for Havering Council tenants to take the first steps into home ownership by purchasing a share in their existing Council home.

“Tenants who buy through this scheme will become home owners, and be responsible for repair works and maintenance to their home. Each applicant who wishes to buy through HomeBuy will receive mortgage advice, as well as a financial assessment.”

Havering Council is one of only a handful of London authorities who run this scheme.

Social HomeBuy increases a tenant’s chance of eventually becoming a home owner.

For more information on the scheme, contact the Council’s Home Ownership team.

Our staff will be more than happy to answer any questions you have.

More info www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

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At The Heart Winter 2015

Seeking satisfaction Communal During November every tenant received a Composting survey seeking their views on the service they get from the Council and, by the deadline of Wednesday 9 December 2015, more than 2,600 replies were received.

Ever thought about how much kitchen and other household waste could If you completed the survey our thanks go to be kept out of your black you for taking the time to do so. The results sack by composting? are now being analysed and a full report will Fruit and vegetable peelings, egg shells, be in a future issue of At the Heart. teabags, toilet and kitchen roll tubes and We will also be reporting on who the three cardboard can all be composted. lucky winners of the iPad were.

If you have given us permission to contact you for more information we will be doing that soon so we can get more details of your concerns.

Havering’s Recycling Team is hoping to work with residents at Hillrise and Highfield flats, in Collier Row, to start a communal composting pilot.

In the meantime thank you for taking part and we hope you will find the results interesting.

If there are any keen recyclers or gardeners out there who would like information please let us know.

More info www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

More info www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

Looking for a new role?

Happy with the repair?

We want to make sure that when a repair is done it is completed to the right standard and are asking you to help.

If you’re thinking of a new career for 2016 don’t miss the recruitment event taking place at the YMCA, Rush Green Road, Romford, RM7 0PH between 2pm and 7pm on Wednesday 24 February.

At the event there will be information about job opportunities, apprenticeships, traineeships, work experience and volunteering as well as help if you are writing a CV or making a job application.

More info www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

When a repair has been done please can you complete our quick online feedback form so we know your views?

The information gathered will be used to improve the service and to work with our contractor to make sure repairs performance improves.

More info www.havering.gov.uk/repairsurvey

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At The Heart Winter 2015

Damp and mould

Winter months often bring patches of damp and mould on walls and ceilings. The cause is often condensation and there are some simple steps you can take to reduce the problem.

More info www.havering.gov.uk/damp

Condensation top tips 1. During winter months and cold snaps keep a constant temperature of above 18°C in your home.

2. Treat existing areas of mould growth with fungicidal washes.

Mould does not grow on dry surfaces so it is really important that you wipe off any condensation from your windows or surfaces every morning to stop mould growing.

3. Keep doors closed while cooking or taking a bath/shower.

After taking a bath or shower there will be excess moisture in the air. To stop condensation forming, keep the bathroom windows open and extractor fans turned on.

Tenants responsibility Heating • Keep your home at a constant temperature above 18° C Ventilating • Do not dry wet clothes on radiators • Vent tumble dryers • Keep large items away from external walls • Dry washing outdoors on a line • Use extractor fan/trickle vents if your home has them.

Cleaning • Wash down black spot mould • Wipe down condensation from windows or surfaces every morning to prevent mould growing • Frequently clean and treat mould growth if occurring.

4. Reduce moisture in your home by avoiding drying clothes inside.

Dry clothes outside if you can. If you can’t, put them in a closed room and keep the window open. If you use a tumble dryer make sure that the ventilation pipe runs to the outside your home.

5. Air your home by using extractor fans and trickle vents if your home has them.

Keep your home well ventilated by opening windows every day to ensure regular air changes. You should also make sure that trickle vents in your windows are open to allow additional airflow. If you have condensation on your window it is likely that it will also be elsewhere in your property.

Council responsibility Heating • Bridging of damp proof course • High ground levels Ventilating • Water leaks from windows, roof, overflow pipes, gutters and drainpipes • Loft insulation if the property does not have it • Advise tenants on how to reduce condensation.

www.havering.gov.uk

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Report repairs online for better service If you have a non-urgent repair we’re asking you to report it online.

This means you can report a repair at any time of day or night and any day of the week, free of charge, through the internet.

If you don’t have online access through your own SmartPhone, computer or iPad you can use the computers in your local library, at the Housing Office in Chippenham Road, Harold Hill or at the Public Advice and Service Centre (PASC) in Romford.

When you have registered with See My Data it’s easy to

Door being repaired

A housing repair being done

report any repair you may need.

Text messages By noon on the next working day you’ll receive a text message telling you when the repair will be done – always within 28 days.

You will also receive a text the day before the appointment reminding you when the repair will be done and a Sink being repaired third text on the day when the repairman is on his way. you and helps save the Reporting non-urgent repairs Council money – online is more convenient for a winner all round.

More info: www.havering.gov.uk/SeeMyData

Is it up to me?

Tenants and leaseholders are responsible for many basic repairs to their properties so before logging a report please check if it is up to you to do the repair or whether the Council is responsible.

More info www.havering.gov.uk/TenantsRepairs

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At The Heart Winter 2015

Volunteering brings big benefits

BRAG working for residents

Being a volunteer is an excellent way to make new friends and help the local community at the same time.

Havering Council has volunteers who give a helping hand to tenants in a number of ways, some of which are highlighted below.

If you have an hour or two to spare and would like to help please do get in touch.

Mystery Shoppers We already have some residents being mystery shoppers and would like to expand this list. Full training is given to test our housing services and report back findings. Travel expenses covered.

Clean-up day co-ordinators Four times a year we have a clean-up day on estates and invite residents to get involved and help clean them up.

Activity co-ordinators in sheltered housing In our sheltered housing schemes we are building up a vibrant community. We need volunteers to run activities such as arts and crafts, sport, music, dance, and quizzes.

More info: www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

Members of BRAG celebrate another successful year

If you live on the Briar Road estate in Harold Hill, you have a team of volunteers working on your behalf to represent your views. They also run the Briar Information Shop at 17 Briar Road, which is a focal point for advice and guidance for local residents.

More info: www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

Volunteers needed at local libraries There are already more than 290 local residents who volunteer at the 10 local libraries and the local studies and family history centre.

But we need more. So if you have a couple of hours to spend, please get in touch.

Volunteering in your library not only helps your community but looks good on your CV when looking for a new job.

Among the things we are looking for volunteers to do are: »» Promoting books, reading

and learning »» Delivering books to residents who are stuck at home »» Running events and activities for children, young people and families »» Offering IT sessions to improve computer and digital skills - from setting up email accounts to ordering shopping online »» Joining our shelving squad, making sure that the books are where our customers need them »» Helping residents explore our local history and archives.

More info: www.havering.gov.uk/LibraryVolunteers

www.havering.gov.uk

Housing on Facebook Do keep checking the Havering Housing page on Facebook. You can see when the Do It In A Day repair teams are in your area, when the Cabinet Member for Housing is holding a surgery as well as the latest housing news.

More info: www.facebook.com/haveringhousing

Past issues Past copies of At the Heart are available on the Council website so you can check an article from an earlier issue anytime.

More info: www.havering.gov.uk/AtTheHeart

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Don’t miss out on the news Every month we email out At the Heart Online to more than 6,100 Council tenants and leaseholders providing them with the latest news and information about housing issues.

Make sure you’re not missing out and sign up to receive your copy.

We have also launched a Library News email update providing subscribers with information about what’s happening at their local library, including regular groups that meet there and special events taking place.

Sign up now to make sure you keep up-to-date.

More info wwwww.havering.gov.uk/enews

Your Council, anytime More of the Council’s services are now available online, so you can access them day or night when it suits you, and we can provide them more costeffectively.

On average an online transaction is 20 times cheaper than using the phone, 30 times cheaper than the post and 50 times cheaper than a face-to-face meeting.

You can now Report, Apply or Pay online, such as reporting

a pothole or missed rubbish collection, applying for a blue badge or parking permit, or paying your Council Tax. Please help us

c il , Coun Yo u r ti m e y an

to help you, and contact the Council online next time you need us.

More info www.havering.gov.uk

Contact your Council Online when you’re not so ‘Beesy’...

EEB AM

DNARG

apply u pay u report u www.havering.gov.uk/myhavering

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At The Heart Winter 2015

Halloween at Highfield

David Alabaster turns Kacey, age four, into a painted pumpkin

Monsters make great cup-cakes for pumpkin Jensen Musgove

Community spirit flows strongly at Highfield House in Collier Row. One of the events organised by the committee was a fantastic Halloween Party.

Resident Sarah Grierson said: “We’ve only lived here a year and we never had this sort of thing where we lived before. It’s a really good way to meet people.”

Fellow resident Natalie Dootson said: “It was a good event and was a way for children to meet each other and make friends.”

The Grierson family join in the fun – Aimee, age four, Hollie and Chloe, both age two, Ivy age one with mum, Sarah, and dad Gary

a wide range of costumes were worn for the event

Every princess needs a crown so Victoria, age seven, and Keira, age six made their own

The Committee provided ghastly refreshments – Mark and Beverley Adler, Penny Reid and Sue Limbert

Letting options for Havering landlords Guaranteed monthly payments  no hidden costs

Property leasing service

Shared accommodation service

 Long leases

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 100% guaranteed rent paid in advance with no hidden charges  Some free repairs  Guaranteed rent even if the property is empty  Free annual gas safety checks  Property management service

increase your income  Pay for the gas, electricity, water and Council Tax bills  Intensive property management  Weekly cleaner  Monthly gardener

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For more information call 01708 431515 email libertyhousing@havering.gov.uk visit us at 163 High Street, Hornchurch RM11 3XS

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At The Heart Winter 2015

A day in the life of Estates Repair Surveyor Daniel Hadrava It’s 8am and Estates Repair Surveyor, Daniel Hadrava, is already on site for his first meeting of the day.

Daniel thinks the cause may be condensation, but has called in Drainfix to do a CCTV survey to make sure.

Daniel is joined by John Currington of Breyer to agree repairs to a bin shed wall

Lifting the nearest manhole shows the channels to be bone dry so there may be a blockage and that’s what the camera will discover.

The report from Drainfix shows the drain was blocked by tree roots and will be cleared. Daniel reports that An earlier routine check back to the resident and her showed that a wall on a bin store at flats in Cranham had carer a couple of days after the visit. cracked along the mortar and was bulging, probably due to the roots of a nearby tree, so he’s meeting with John Currington of contractors Breyer Group plc to agree what repairs will be done to make it safe and allow easy monitoring to avoid future problems.

CCTV survey Twenty minutes later and we’re on site in Hornchurch waiting for Drainfix to arrive, as a resident with learning difficulties has got black mould inside her home and her carer thinks it may be due to a blocked drain.

Blocked drains are checked with CCTV

Daniel explains to a resident the work that will be done following a new boiler installation

New boiler Next stop is another address in Hornchurch where a new gas boiler has been installed for resident, Patricia McGovern. Daniel discusses with Graham White from gas contractor Castle Point and Patricia how best to finish the area to accommodate the washing machine and the boiler, while still making the area look pleasant.

New bathroom When council contractors finish a job it needs to be checked. That’s another job for Daniel, who calls in to check on a bathroom recently installed for a tenant in some flats in Hornchurch.

www.havering.gov.uk

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a tree surgeon to take a look to see what can be done.

Collapsing fence

A newly installed bathroom is checked before contractors are paid

blocking the guttering on the flats.

Daniel takes some photographs with his digital camera, and promises to get

A resident stops Daniel to explain that birds in the tree are causing problems when drying washing

While there, the tenant mentions damp in the bedroom so out comes the hi-tech damp meter, which quickly shows the wall is “bone dry” and the problem is likely due to condensation.

Daniel gives advice to try and reduce the problem and is then asked to go to the communal drying area, where the resident explains that birds sitting in a nearby tree make some of the drying racks impossible to use, and that the tree is also

A garden fence in bad state of repair becomes a priority

A resident, who has disabilities and a seriously ill wife, has asked for his boundary fence to be renewed but the length exceeds the £1,000 limit for repairs under the Breyer contract so Daniel calls in to check the details.

He knows from the tenant’s record that the family have rarely asked for any repairs to be done, so he is sympathetic to their request.

A quick check shows that the fence is not secure and wouldn’t keep neighbour’s dogs from coming into the garden, so he tells the tenant he’ll seek approval for the work to be done.

On the way out he makes a note to call back when the fence is repaired, as the front garden wall and path look as if they need repairing and a new gate added, but that will be a job for another day.

The new damp meters can identify rising damp or condensation problems

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At The Heart Winter 2015

Leaking roof On to an address in Romford where the resident has reported a leaking roof.

Some work has been done replacing some roof tiles, and repointing the coping stones, but the resident says the problem still exists.

Daniel uses the damp meter in the children’s bedroom and the reading shows no damp is present, but there is water staining on the ceiling.

There is no loft ladder available so he agrees to come back with a Breyer representative and a ladder, so they can check the loft

and see if there is a way for water to get in. He also suggests installing some insulation under the eaves to help reduce condensation.

Fire safety Last job of the morning is a fire safety inspection of some flats. The annual inspection used to be done

by London Fire Brigade, but budget reductions mean the job now falls to Daniel and his colleagues.

Out comes the checklist and the inspection begins, immediately finding a pushchair being stored in a stairwell, which could cause

problems for people leaving the building in a hurry. The owner will be contacted and asked to stop storing it there.

Reports Since the check is completed, it’s back to the office to enter reports on the morning’s visits against the record of each tenant, so the call centre and colleagues have full details of the latest information available if they are contacted.

Then it’s time to reply to emails, grab a bite of lunch, and get ready for the afternoon’s appointments.

How the contract works Breyer Group plc is the Council’s main contractor and receives a fixed monthly sum to undertake the repairs that are reported by Daniel and his colleagues.

If the repair is going to cost more than £1,000 special authorisation is needed.

When the repair is completed it is inspected to ensure the right standard has been met.

Daniel’s details

Daniel is 36 years old and has worked in the building industry for 18 years.

He has worked for Havering Council since 2013.

He is currently doing an HNC in Construction on day release.

He lives in Cranham and has a strong commitment to Havering.

He makes an average of 10 visits per day – usually pre-booked His day can be changed if an emergency occurs and the call centre asks him to deal with it.

He is one of a team of 4.5 staff, each covering a different part of Havering.

Fire safety checks are an integral part of the job

He keeps in his head more than 100 cost codes for repairs that need to be done.

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At The Heart Winter 2015

Help us win Britain in In 2015 Havering won 47 awards in the London in Bloom competition, which means we represent London in the Britain in Bloom 2016 competition.

The Housing in Bloom competition attracts an increasing number of entries each year and we want to encourage residents in every

Council house, flat or property beautiful Borough. Whether it or a full garden, we hope you’ green fingers, as in each issue some helpful hints.

Haskell’s Hints Martin Haskell is Havering Council’s Grounds Maintenance Manager and has been looking after green spaces for more than 35 years. That’s quite a job as Havering is London’s second greenest Borough.

Martin said: “To some of us it’s a football pitch, a race track, a playground or a place for making mud pies. For others it’s a place of tranquillity, to relax with a cold drink and a good book on a summer’s evening. Or maybe we just go out and cut the lawn and pull a few weeds. .“Whatever your relationship with your garden, we can all benefit from getting the best from our gardens all year round, providing us with fresh air and exercise while we keep our little bit of England looking presentable.

“Here are some tips on what to do each month.”

January Take care to avoid walking on frosty lawns, but there’s still plenty to do outside. Now’s the time to be planting bare root trees, shrubs and hedges, available from the garden centre at a fraction of the price of container grown plants. If you have a pond, break the ice so the fish can breathe, and take your real Christmas tree to the recycling scheme run by the

Council at Gidea Park. Take regular breaks, and drink your coffee outside while surveying your handiwork!

February Dig over bare soil to allow the frost to break it down, and don’t forget to feed the birds and other wildlife. Don’t leave food on the ground or you might get unwanted visitors like rats and mice. If you have roses, now is the time to give them a haircut – be

Mike Droy rakes a flower bed at Thomas Sims Court

brave and cut the stems back by about half.

Climbers can be cut back to the frames or wires and stems that have flowered can be cut out too. If you have any training canes in the garden, put something on the top to prevent you poking yourself in the eye when you bend down to weed!

March In like a lion, out like a lamb!

The weather can’t decide if it’s going to be warm and sunny or bitter cold, so check out the weather forecast before doing

www.havering.gov.uk

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n Bloom

y to help us make it a blooming t’s a hanging basket, a window box ’ll join in, and you don’t even need e of At the Heart we’ll be giving anything drastic like mowing the lawn. If you can adjust the height on your mower, raise it up a bit, you may still get a sharp frost. You can still plant bare roots, but you had better hurry. You might also want to think about ordering any bulbs, and maybe give the hedges and shrubs a quick short back and sides before the birds start to nest.

Careful planting of a border at Rush Green including plants to give height

New planting at the heart of Aldingham Court

Quality planting boosts estates The Grounds Maintenance team has been busy throughout the autumn grass cutting, hedge trimming and tidying up shrub beds.

They have also carried out a considerable amount of planting around various locations, using a wide variety of shrubs including Choisya, Fatsia, Hydrangea,

Berberis, Hebe, Coronilla, Ceanothus and Photinia.

We plant container grown shrubs and trees, which have been sourced from the nursery that supplied all the plants for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, as quality is important.

Container grown

A newly planted border at Dunningford Close

They plant container grown stock, which is more expensive than bare root, because it stands a much better chance of survival, the compost rich soil around the delicate root systems is not disturbed, so the plant

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At The Heart Winter 2015 you need a bit of height and immediate impact in a planting scheme.

Planting time Planting takes place during the late autumn and winter for a number of reasons. Firstly, the team is usually busy cutting grass in the summer. Secondly, if the weather is hot and dry the plants will need watering, this is not part of their normal work so it has an extra cost unless someone local is willing to take care of the watering, otherwise the plants just shrivel up and die.

Tallest sunflower: Mrs R Miles, Romford

suffers less trauma and is more drought resistant.

Bare root plants are cheaper, but they are extremely time sensitive; every minute they are out of the ground the roots are drying out and becoming less likely to thrive.

The shrubs are supplied in a variety of container sizes, for the recent planting they came in two, three and 10 litre containers.

The small ones are good value and useful for ground cover, while the larger plants are good for establishing features or getting a bit of structure into the planting, sometimes

Another reason for winter planting is that the foliage tends to become dormant while the roots keep on growing – much better for getting established.

Local knowledge The shrubs selected are usually chosen by the team, they have a huge amount of experience and know the sites to be planted better than anyone, whether the soil lies wet, or if it’s well drained, stony, acid or alkali, which direction it’s facing, whether it’s sheltered or exposed and whether there will be windows (to avoid planting anything too tall).

More info www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

Cabinet Member’s Surgery Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Damian White, is holding regular surgeries across the Borough, so Council tenants can call in and discuss housing issues with him The surgeries will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and any tenants are welcome to come along. All discussions will be confidential.

Date

Time

Venue

Fri 22 Jan

4 – 6pm

BRAG shop, 17 Briar Road Harold Hill RM3 8AH

Fri 19 Feb

4 – 6pm

HASWA, Kilmartin Way Hornchurch RM12 5NB

Fri 11 Mar

4 – 6pm

CCTV Control Centre, Waterloo Road, Romford RM7 9BH

Fri 22 Apr

4 – 6pm

Highfield, next to Highfield Towers, Hillrise Road Collier Row RM5 3DQ

www.havering.gov.uk

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New law means dogs must be micro-chipped

If you own a dog, a new law means it must be microchipped before Wednesday 6 April.

During 2014-15 Havering Council picked up 245 stray dogs but only five were returned to their owners. The A dog gets micro-chipped by The Dog's Trust at an event in Harold Hill rest were found new homes but it means 240 people no microchipped, unless it longer had their own pets. is less than eight weeks old, The new law will help and you will have to update Havering Council, or the the database with your Police, return stray dogs to The Dogs Trust is providing details when you get their rightful owners. some free microchipping the puppy. events in Havering so New owners come and get your dog Recover costs If you become the new microchipped before the An authorised officer from owner of a dog, you will be April deadline. committing an offence if you Havering Council can serve Thursday 11 February do not update the microchip notice on a dog owner, 11am – 3pm requiring them to microchip database with your details.

Dunningford Close their dog.

It will also be illegal to Hornchurch, RM12 5JJ If they fail to do so, they are transfer a dog to a new Thursday 24 March committing an offence and owner if the dog has not 11am – 3pm Havering Council can seize been microchipped.

Kingsbridge Circus the dog, microchip it and So, if you buy a puppy after Romford RM3 8PB recoup their costs from this date, the breeder must the owner.

More info have had the puppy www.dogstrust.org.uk

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At The Heart Winter 2015

Thinking of becoming a leaseholder?

When you buy your flat, you do not buy the property itself, you buy a lease which gives you the right to live in the property for a set period of time.

Havering Council owns the freehold and is your landlord. We are responsible for completing repairs to communal areas, providing cleaning services to communal areas and maintaining the grounds, etc.

Although leaseholders do not have to pay a weekly rent you are required to pay annual 'ground rent' and a service charge.

Leaseholders are looked after by the Home Ownership team, which is part of the Council's Housing Services.

The Home Ownership team does its best to cut through the jargon to make sure prospective and new leaseholders know the all the ins and outs of what they own and what their responsibilities are.

Solicitor needed You’ll need a solicitor to help you buy the flat, and they should explain to you that what you are buying is a lease on a property for a certain number of years.

A lease is the contract between the leaseholder and the landlord – in the case of Havering Council’s properties, your landlord is the Council.

The lease will tell you what you own as the leaseholder. This will include what is inside the four walls of your flat as well as the garden and the outbuilding (if a garden and outbuilding come with the flat).

Charges As a leaseholder you’ll need to pay service charges to the Council. These are for facilities such as CCTV, communal electricity, communal cleaning services, Community Wardens, door entry and grounds maintenance, day-to-day repairs and buildings insurance. You will also be required to pay a ground rent annually.

Repairs and improvements You’ll need to make any repairs to your cables or pipework.

If you want to make any other alterations, there are some for which you’ll need to get a PTI (Permission To Install). These include all structural alterations or changes to the fabric of the building such as removing or building walls/chimney breasts, renewing doors or windows or renewing your boiler.

Havering Council aims to keep its properties in the best condition, which sometimes means major works have to be done.

If we do this sort of work, which could include replacing roofs or windows or doing internal or external decorations, consultation will be carried out with you and, as a Leaseholder, you will be required to contribute to the cost of such works.

More info www.havering.gov.uk/leaseholders

Don’t miss out Are your contact details up to date? Please let the Home Ownership Team know of any changes to your circumstances using the online form. More info www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

www.havering.gov.uk

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Grounds maintenance is paid for through the service charge

Get involved – speak to Sandy

Keep this date free

Havering Council’s Home Ownership Team, with the help of the Leasehold Focus Group, continuously seeks more efficient ways of working and transfer savings made to leaseholders.

Sandy Stevenson is the Chairman of the London Borough of Havering Leaseholder Focus Group and she can help you bring general leasehold issues to the attention of Home Ownership.

The group meets four times a year with the aim of improving the service provided by the Home Ownership team.

If anything about your lease is on your mind, feel free to email Sandy on sandystevenson44@aol.com

Havering Council Housing Services will be holding a Leaseholder Conference on Saturday 19 March, at Havering Museum.

If you are a leaseholder please keep the date free and come along to hear the latest information about any changes and your responsibilities as a leaseholder.

More info www.havering.gov.uk/leaseholderconference

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At The Heart Winter 2015

Helping you stay safe online

The Community Wardens are currently visiting sheltered schemes to ensure that residents are fully aware of the dangers of using the internet and how to stay safe online.

There are various scams targeting elderly and unsuspecting internet users and we are trying to supply residents with information that can keep them safe.

We also provide crime prevention and personal safety advice to combat the scam-types of crime that increase at this time of year.

Clare Mitchell at Park Lane sheltered housing scheme

The visits will be continuing during the spring so do look out for when they will be visiting your scheme.

Keeping in touch During December the Community Wardens completed a series of welfare visits to residents over the age of 85 years to make sure they were well and ready for winter.

During the visits details of the befriending service of our partners, Tapestry, as well as our new inclusion service at our sheltered complexes, were discussed and information left with residents.

»» Any areas that required re-decoration were referred to tenancy services.

Manager John Smith has said these will all be processed and then referred to maintenance for appropriate action. »» The names of residents interested in Helping hand attending sheltered activities were passed to the community engagement team, The Community Wardens also kept an eye which is contacting residents, many open for things that needed doing and their of whom are now attending activities reports have already led to some good results, organised at our sheltered schemes. including: »» All repairs found during the visits were passed over to the handyman service and have been completed.

More info www.havering.gov.uk/communitywardens

www.havering.gov.uk

Better deals on fuel The Big London Energy Switch is a collective switching scheme currently run by over 20 London Boroughs, including Havering.

It works by bringing together a large group of residents and using their collective buying power to secure better deals from the companies that supply their gas and electric, by allowing them to compete in a ‘reverse auction’ to supply all the registered residents.

Residents can sign up to the no-obligation scheme until midnight on Monday 1 February 2016. The auction will take place within a few days of the closing date.

During the auction period, energy suppliers will submit their best prices in the hope

that the residents who have signed up will choose their tariff.

Be ready for an emergency

No obligation Residents do not have to take up the tariff under the scheme if they don't want to.

If you register you will receive an offer a few days after the auction closes and have a month in which to consider it. If the deal is not suitable you are under no obligation to accept the offer.

The new energy prices are compared to your current energy use and price, and based on the energy details you submitted when registering.

You decide whether or not to take up the offer - there is no obligation to switch.

You need to reply to accept the offer to confirm that you want to switch.

More info

www.havering.gov.uk/bigswitch

St John Ambulance is running six half-day first aid courses at Pyrgo Priory Primary School, in Settle Road, Harold Hill.

All the courses are free of charge but each course has a maximum of 12 places, so do book early.

Paediatric Life Support Sun 21 February and Sat 30 April, 9am – 1pm

Paediatric First Aid Sun 21 February and Sat 30 April, 2 – 5pm

Basic life support all ages Sat 19 March, 9am – 1pm

Further First Aid Sat 19 March, 2 – 5pm

More information Doug.croxall@sja.org.uk

On the first day of Christmas Community Wardens were at the Romford Town Police Shop, in Laurie Walk, The Liberty Centre, Romford as part of The 12 Safer Days of Christmas programme.

12 Safer Days of Christmas Shop Pc Vicki Inman and Nadeem Mohiuddin

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The wardens joined the Romford Town SNT members to provide crime prevention and community safety advice.

24

At The Heart Winter 2015

Universal Credit reaches Havering If you are out of work or on a low income, Universal Credit will replace six existing benefits when it starts to be rolled out in Havering from February this year.

It will be paid in a single monthly payment into a bank account and means you will need to manage your money carefully during the month.

There are some other changes too: • If you get help with your rent, this will be included in your monthly payment – you’ll then pay your landlord directly.

• If you live with your partner and you are both eligible, you will get one monthly joint payment.

• It can take several weeks after you make your claim to get your first payment.

Waiting days If you make a new claim for Universal Credit you will not be paid for the first seven days.

These days are known as waiting days.

However, you should not let this delay your claim and apply as soon as you are eligible to do so.

The seven days’ waiting period won’t apply if you are in certain circumstances, for example, if you’re terminally ill or vulnerable, have previously claimed Universal Credit, are splitting up from or moving in with a Universal Credit claimant, or are moving on to it from another benefit.

More info

www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

Be prepared Make sure you are ready, with three simple steps, you will need: An account that allows you to make automated payments out of the account, including Direct Debits or standing orders. There are five basic types of account you can open and the services they offer can be seen in the table opposite.

Internet Access – in order to make a claim. If you don’t have your own internet access you can use the computers in your local library.

Draw up a monthly budget – plan ahead and make sure that your bills are paid promptly and make your money go further with a monthly budget.

www.havering.gov.uk

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Services and features

Current account

Basic bank account

Jam jar account (also called a rent account or budgeting account)

Post Office® card account

Prepaid card

Accepts Universal Credit and other benefit payments

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Accepts other forms of income, such as wages from work e.g.

Universal Credit payments

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Allows Direct Debits and standing orders

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Not always (check with the provider)

Overdraft facility

Yes

No

No

No

No

Cash card with PIN for cash machine

Yes

Yes, but may be restricted to provider’s own machines

Yes

Yes, but can only be used at the Post Office

Yes, although you may be charged

Debit card

Yes

Sometimes

No

No

Most prepaid cards can be used in all the same places as a debit card

Cheque book

Yes

No

No

No

No

Credit checks needed when you open the account

Yes

No

No

No

No

Fees and charges

Fees and interest on overdrafts.

Charges for refused Direct Debits

Usually charge for refused Direct Debits

Monthly fee around £5-£15. No other charges

No fees

Charges vary.

Can include fees for set-up, to top-up, & for withdrawing cash

Universal Credit will replace: »» Child Tax Credit »» Housing Benefit »» Income Support »» Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance »» Income-related Employment and Support Allowance »» Working Tax Credit

The Money Advice Service has been set up by government to give free, impartial advice on money issues, including debt, insurance, benefits, pensions and savings.

More info www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

26

At The Heart Winter 2015

Disability Living Allowance is ending

If you currently receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), are over the age of 16 and were born after 8 April 1948, get ready for some changes as DLA is ending.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will send you a letter telling you when your DLA will end and inviting you to apply for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

When you receive the letter from the DWP you have 28 days to apply for PIP from the date on the letter.

Respond to your letter

This is a new benefit that helps with some of If you don’t apply on time your payments the extra costs caused by long-term will stop. ill-heath or disability.

If you decide not to claim PIP this will affect Contact details other benefits and services, including access It is important that you keep your contact to the Motability scheme, Blue Badge details up to date and that you let the DWP application, concessionary travel passes and know if there is a change in how your illness Carer’s Allowance. or disability affects you.

You will also be affected if you claim and If there are changes go to www.gov.uk/disability-benefits-helpline for details of what you have to do.

don’t get PIP, or you receive a rate of PIP that means you don’t qualify for certain benefits or services.

More info

www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

Need a garage?

Council tenants can receive preferential rent rates for council garages. Weekly charges for council tenants range from £7.41 to £12.64 while costs for non-council tenants start from £9.02 to £15.30 a week.

There is a waiting list for some areas and you will need to ensure you are using the garage for a vehicle and not just for storage.

If you would like to apply to rent a garage you will need a driver’s licence, log book, MOT certificate and valid insurance.

Applicants with rent arrears will not be considered.

More info www.havering.gov.uk/garages

www.havering.gov.uk

Cooking fat and wet wipes flood flat and shop A recent flooding incident at Hilldene flats in Harold Hill has been tracked back to a blockage in the pipe taking waste away from flats on higher floors.

The pipe was blocked by a combination of cooking fat poured down the kitchen sink and wet wipes flushed down the toilet, which had combined to make a ‘fat berg’.

Performance Targets The performance figures for October 2015 were: Anti-social behaviour case satisfaction Outcome 100%

Target 90.0%

The waste backed up and flooded an empty flat and the shop below it, causing damage and a very unpleasant mess to clean up.

Average time to re-let empty properties Outcome 10.7 days

Target 22 days

Percentage of all repairs completed within target Outcome 90.2%

The message is: do not pour fat down kitchen sinks and only flush items down the toilet that should go down there.

To try and combat the problem, Thames Water is offering free fat traps (containers to safely store used fat which can then be put in black sacks) to residents as part of a Bin It, Don’t Block It campaign.

More info www.binit.thameswater.co.uk

Target 90%

Percentage of properties with valid gas certificate Outcome 99.9%

Target 100%

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28

At The Heart Winter 2015

Do It In A Day Getting repairs done quickly and effectively is important and the Do It In A Day programme means that all routine repairs will be tackled on one day by the Council’s contractor, Breyer Group plc.

The aim is to improve the repairs service to Havering’s tenants and leaseholders.

By having a known day residents can plan ahead and the Council will do more repairs on time and at the first visit.

Because we will be in one

location, if a tenant needs something done, we will be available to assist.

Tenants should report repairs in the normal way and the Council will programme non-urgent repairs to be carried out during these special days. Also, if there is a repair that hasn’t been reported, we may be able to complete it for you on the day.

The dates for the events are:

13 Jan 16

Morecambe House, Minefield House, Macclesfield House, Lynmouth, House, Luton House, Thrapston House, Haslingdon House, Halifax House, Glossop House Epsom House, Gillingham House, Camelford House, Wilmslow House, Wolverton House, Newmarket House, Portmadoc House, Northampton House, Nelson House

​​27 Jan 16

​ apier House, New Plymouth House, Dunedin Road, Gisborne Gardens N Queenstown Gardens, New Zealand Way, Christchurch Avenue, Auckland Avenue

3 Feb 16

​ ueen Street, Waterloo Gardens, St. Andrews Road, William Pike House Q Thomas England House, Queen Street Villas (sheltered)

10 Feb 16 Highfield Road, Hillrise Road, Highfield Towers, Highfield Link, Hendon Gardens Harlow Gardens 17 Feb 16 ​Prospect Place 24 Feb 16 Suffolk House, Norfolk House, Sussex House, Surrey House, Kent House, Durham House, Devon House, Cumberland House, Rutland House, Mawney Close Rodney Way, Valiant Close, Victory Way 2 Mar 16

Brunswick Avenue, Macon Way, Lexington Way, Roseberry Gardens Waycross Avenue, Moultrie Way, Griffin Avenue. Brunswick Court (sheltered)

9 Mar 16

Maygreen Crescent. Park Lane (sheltered)

​16 Mar 16 ​Rush Green Gardens ​23 Mar 16 Ongar Way, Theydon Gardens, Danbury Road, Fyfield Road, Canfield Road Harlow Road, Writtle Walk 30 Mar 16 The Rotunda Fambridge Court, Cottons Court (sheltered) 6 Apr 16

F​ arnham Road, Hilldene Avenue, Chippenham Road, Kings Lynn Drive, Dartfields Rothbury House, Crediton House, Wantage House, Ingleton House, Stratford House, Ripon House, Keswick House, Ringwood House, Morpeth House, Matlock House, Lincoln House

13 Apr 16 Malan Square, Bader Way, Wood Lane, Thomas Sims Court (sheltered)

More info www.havering.gov.uk/repairdays

www.havering.gov.uk

29

Be fit and ready for 2016 New Year’s resolutions often include a promise to get fitter during the New Year so Havering Council is offering some ways to help you start a fitness regime that isn’t too challenging and that you can keep doing all year. myplace Community Table Tennis Club If you want to get out of the house, meet new people and have fun, come and play table tennis. All levels welcome, equipment provided. The sessions are on Thursdays, 1pm - 3pm at myplace, Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill, RM3 9EN, £3 per session.

More info Colin.sherrin@hotmail.com Men’s 50+ Walking Football Adult beginner table tennis These sessions are run by Havering Council in partnership with Tapestry.

Come along and learn the basics, and refresh/improve your skills in a relaxed and friendly environment. Equipment provided.

They will be on every Tuesday from 26 January, 10.30am – noon, £3 per session at myplace, Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill, RM3 9EN. Places must be booked in advance.

More info www.tapestry-uk.org

Thought your footballing days were over? Think again!

Tapestry, in partnership with Havering Council, has set up Walking Football clubs in the Borough.

More info www.tapestry-uk.org

30

At The Heart Winter 2015

Listings

More info www.facebook.com/haveringhousing www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

local food bank working in partnership with St Georges Church, Chippenham Road, Harold Hill, RM3 8AX. It meets each Wednesday between, 10am and 2pm, at St Georges Church Centre

GENERAL

Every Monday, 10am – 1pm Mardyke Community Centre South Street, Rainham RM13 8PJ To book a place E infomyca@yahoo.co.uk

Family Mosaic runs monthly drop-in sessions at: Collier Row Early Years Children’s Centre.

Every Wednesday Clockhouse Lane Betty Strathern Centre Collier Row​, RM5 3Q​J 41 Myrtle Road Harold Hill RM3 8XS Chippenham Road Children's To book a place Centre​, 85-89 Chippenham www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing Road, Harold Hill RM3 8HP Every Thursday 9.30am – 12.30pm Highfield Towers Community Hall Hillrise Road Collier Row RM5 3DQ To book a place

South Hornchurch Library Rainham Road, Rainham RM13 7RD on alternate Tuesdays, 10am – 2pm What’s happening in What’s Havering? happening in Havering?

Sign up for E-news and Sign up for find out!

E-news and find out!

For the latest news and information from Havering Council sign up for our email updates go to

www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

OTHER FORMATS

Hornchurch Library 44 North Street, Hornchurch RM11 1TB Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 10am – 2pm Orchard Village Estate Office Lowen Road, Rainham RM13 8QD Every Monday 10am – noon

JOB CLUBS

The London - Harold Hill Job Club is free to attend and is facilitated by Christians Against Poverty (CAP). It is run in association with the

Harold Hill Library Hilldene Avenue, Harold Hill RM3 8DJ Every Monday, 10am – 2pm

Citizens Advice Havering holds a drop-in advice service at:

Havering Council will consider requests for documents to be translated or converted into other formats.

More info www.havering.gov.uk/askhousing

www.havering.gov.uk/enews

and then choose the email updates you want to receive

www.havering.gov.uk

31

Tell Damian what you think...

YOUR DETAILS Name: Address:

email: phone: Councillor Damian White said: “I firmly believe that the Council needs to focus on the needs of tenants, listen even more to their views and, most importantly, act on them so they are reflected not just in housing policies but also in our day to day work that has such a big impact on where people live.

“That is why any tenant or leaseholder can contact me directly to raise any housingissue they wish.

“Whether you contact me by email or post, when you send the form back to me I guarantee that it will be seen directly by myself and you will receive a reply from me.

“I look forward to hearing from you."

If you want to get in touch please email: Damian.White@havering.gov.uk or complete the form on this page and then post it to: Councillor Damian White Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Town Hall, Main Road, Romford RM1 3BD.

Your comment:

Private Fostering Is someone else’s child living with you. Has this been for more than 28 days?

Is your child living with someone else.

Has this been for more than 28 days?

If this is not a close relative this is Private Fostering, we need to know.

Please contact Havering Council immediately, we can offer support and advice.

Havering Council Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH): Phone: Monday to Friday (9am to 5pm) 01708 433 222 Out of hours/weekends 01708 433 999 Email: tmash@havering.gov.uk

Refer online www.havering.gov.uk/privatefostering