Autumn 2026
news Welcome to the autumn edition of Larkfield News Inside you will find important information on tenant engagement, our planned investment to your homes, changes to the Housing Scotland Act 2025 which affect your tenancy rights, and more. Thank you to everyone who continues to engage with us and take pride in their homes and neighbourhoods. Your involvement helps shape the services we provide and the decisions we make.
Aileen Hunter Chairperson
Please note that our office will be closed on the following public holidays:
Friday 25 September to Monday 28 September If you have an emergency repair, when the office is closed, please call: • • • • •
General Emergency Repair: 0800 783 7937 Emergency Gas /Heating repairs: 01294 468 113 If you smell gas or think you have a gas leak, please call SGN on 0800 111 999 If you have a loss of power, please call Scottish Power on 0800 092 92990 or 105 If you have a loss of water please call Scottish Water on 0800 0778 778
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We’ve introduced CX-Feedback Our new system, CX-Feedback, has been made specifically for social landlords and gives more options on how we gather feedback about our services. It lets us send out surveys and updates via text and email so we can get your feedback on how we can improve our services to better meet your needs and where we are doing things right as well as where we need to improve. The surveys will be sent to you directly by email or text. Emails will be sent from Larkfield Housing and texts will come from Larkfield HA. They will also have our logo* but if you are concerned that they are not genuine, please get in touch with us if you would like to check. *Microsoft email domains (e.g. Hotmail and Outlook) haven’t introduced this service yet so you may not see our logo against emails if you use these email providers.
We’ve partnered with Lightning Reach Looking for a quick and easy way to find financial support? Lightning Reach is a free online portal that helps you apply for charitable grants, funding from your local council, and help with your bills, all in one place. The portal is free, secure, and easy-to-use. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and can help you find extra financial support in three easy steps. You can find out more about Lightning Reach at https://www.lightningreach.org/, and if you have any questions or would like help getting started, you can contact the Housing Team on 01475 630930 or email info@larkfieldha.org.uk and they’ll be happy to help.
How will the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 changes affect you? In the last issue of Larkfield News, we let you know about the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 and some of the changes being introduced. Here are some more changes being introduced that may affect you or someone you know:
Help preventing homelessness A new approach called ‘Ask and Act’ means a wide range of public services will now be required to play a role in preventing homelessness – not just housing teams. These services must all help spot problems early and connect you to support. Staff across these services will ask about your housing situation and offer help or refer you if you are at risk.
Changes to succession (passing on your tenancy) • The required residency period has reduced from 12 months to 6 months • The person must still have your home as their only or main home • You must have told us they are living with you This makes it easier for eligible household members to succeed to your tenancy, but only if your household details are up to date
Making homes safer There is now a stronger legal focus on making sure homes stay safe, warm and in good condition. This means: • clearer processes for dealing with damp and mould • prompt action where issues are reported • a continued commitment to keeping homes in a good standard Most homes will not experience serious issues, but if something does arise, we now have improved ways to respond quickly. If you do notice any signs of damp or mould, please report it early so we can deal with it and prevent it getting worse.
Support for people affected by domestic abuse There are stronger protections for tenants experiencing domestic abuse such as a wider definition of abuse, stronger duties on services to respond and support, and legal changes for improved protection of your tenancy if you are at risk. If you are affected, you can contact us confidentially for help and support.
Thank you f or joining us for our 2026 Tenant O pen Day!
Get to know us! We had a great time meeting everyone who attended our Tenant Open Day and hope you all left feeling more informed on who we are and what we do. To help you get to know everyone at Larkfield Housing Association a bit better, we’re introducing a regular feature where our colleagues can introduce themselves and let you know more about who they are and what they do. For this edition, we thought you would like to meet your Housing Officer, Walid Hassan:
“Hi everyone, I’m Walid. I’ve worked with Larkfield Housing Association for just over 3 years, having joined in 2023. Before Larkfield, I worked at various housing organisations over the years. At Larkfield, I work with tenants to deal with arrears, allocations, anti-social behaviour and tenant participation. If you see me around the estate, please feel free to say hello and have a chat!”
r u o y g n i Keep e f a s e m o h Gas and electricity safety checks protect your home from fire We must carry out a gas safety check every year and electrical safety inspections at least every 5 years to make sure all appliances are safe and working correctly. This helps protect you and your family against serious risks such as fire, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. We will contact you in advance to arrange an appointment date and time that suits you. If we can’t gain access, we are required to continue pursuing access to meet our legal obligations, and in some cases may need to take further action to ensure the checks are completed.
Could you benefit from our adaptations service? We work in partnership with the Inverclyde Centre for Independent Living (ICIL) and their trained Occupational Therapists who can assess a person’s adaptation needs on an individual basis to determine the best path for them to continue living in their home safely and in comfort. If you or a family member believe you might benefit from an adaptation, then please contact the ICIL on 01475 714350 to arrange for an OT visit. The OT can then make the necessary referral to us. We will then review the request and, if appropriate, ensure the work is added to our adaptations programme and have the work instructed as soon as practically possible.
One simple change can protect your plumbing Many people use wet wipes for convenience, but even wipes labelled as ‘flushable’ can cause serious problems in the drainage system. Did you know 75% of drain blockages are caused by people flushing wet wipes down the toilet? Most wet wipes contain strong fibres, which means they don’t break down and can build up in pipes, leading to blockages and wastewater backing up into your home. All wipes, including baby wipes, cleaning wipes, antibacterial wipes, makeup wipes and ‘flushable’ wipes, should be placed in your household bin after use.
As well as keeping your own home secure and comfortable, it’s important to be mindful of how we can all work together to keep your neighbourhoods clean, safe and enjoyable for everyone living there. Some of the ways you can do this are ones we’re all familiar with: things like avoiding littering and making sure you dispose of waste properly but one that might be less obvious is avoiding feeding birds. Many of us enjoy seeing birds around our homes but feeding them can create problems for everyone. Food left out for birds can attract large numbers of pigeons, gulls and other pests such as rats and mice. Leftover food can also create litter and make communal areas less pleasant for you and your neighbours. While feeding birds may seem harmless, large gatherings of birds can damage buildings and block gutters. Please avoid leaving food out for birds in gardens, balconies, communal areas or around buildings. Thank you for your cooperation and support in looking after our community.
Do you use a mobility scooter, powered wheelchair, e-bike or e-scooter? In most cases, mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs can be stored in your home if there is enough space, while e-bikes can be kept in your home or designated cycle storage areas. For safety reasons, powered vehicles must never be stored in communal hallways, stairwells, landings or other shared indoor spaces, as they can block escape routes and increase fire risk. Batteries should only be charged inside your home, unless a purpose-built charging store is provided for mobility scooters. Charging in communal areas is not permitted.
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Getting to know you We are continuing with our rolling programme of home tenancy visits, which allows us to speak to you, hear about your needs, check for any outstanding repairs, and make sure that we keep our records up to date. It’s great to get the opportunity to meet our tenants face-to-face and find out what matters most to you about our services. We’re always keen to hear from anyone who might want to get involved in the work we do and help Larkfield continue to be a great place to live. Before we visit, we will contact you giving you plenty of notice, to arrange an appointment time that suits you.
Investing in your homes This year, the Larkfield Housing Association committee has agreed on plans to invest nearly £800,000 into your homes. We’re continuing with our window replacement programme and starting a replacement kitchen programme. We will be writing to tenants who are included in this year’s programme for window or kitchen replacements shortly.
Tenant engagement calendar 2026-27
ARC report Past events October 26 Tenants Open Day Garden Rewards Scheme Estate Walkabouts Jun to Aug 2026
Led by Management Team Feedback to be requested on information in final report
General and specific consultations on planned & cyclical projects Sept to Dec 26 Led by Technical Manager
December family event
Annual rent increase consultation
Rent services review
December 26
December 26
Aug to Dec 26
To bring families together to do Christmas crafts and celebrate our community
Led by Housing Manager
Led by Housing Manager
For your views on our proposed rent increase
To review our current policy
Short-life focus group on tenant satisfaction Jan to Mar 27 Led by Housing Services Team To review progress on action plan
Ravenscraig Tenants and Residents’ Association
Policy Reviews
Soup and Blether
Aug to Mar 27
Every Thursday
Led by Housing Manager
Led by Admin Officer & Housing Manager
Ongoing
To carry out consultation of upcoming policy reviews
Weekly events to provide a warm and safe space for you to meet and chat
Led by Housing Services and Link Group Customer Engagement Manager
Get involved! Would you like to have a say in what we do and help shape our future plans? Your feedback plays a vital role in improving our services and shaping the decisions we make. There are lots of ways to get involved, but today we’d like to highlight how you can benefit by becoming a member of Larkfield. Our members are people who live in the Larkfield community and are interested in helping us achieve our objectives. Becoming a member of Larkfield means you get to be involved in the development of our services and have a say in how we run our business. Throughout the year, you’lll receive copies of our Annual report and accounts and newsletters. You’ll also be invited to our Annual General Meeting where you can vote to elect the Committee of Management or stand for election to the Committee.
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Our committee of manag emen
Becoming a member only costs £1 so make a difference in Larkfield by getting involved and having your say and helping shape the future of your community. We’d love for you to get involved! Give us a call on 01475 630930 to find out more or sign up.
We’re committed to being open and transparent with you and making our Committee minutes available helps keep everyone informed about the decisions being made on behalf of the community. Our Committee discusses a wide range of important topics, including housing services, repairs and maintenance, community investment, and financial performance. By reading the minutes, you can gain a better understanding of how decisions are made and the work being carried out to improve services. You can view the latest Committee minutes and other governance information by visiting our website: www.larkfieldha.org.uk/board-minutes
Need a hand? Help with rent?
Help with managing your tenancy?
If you’re struggling with money and worried you might not be able to pay your rent, get in touch and we can provide you with advice and support.
If you’re struggling or feeling overwhelmed with managing any aspect of your tenancy, our tenancy support project Help on Managing Everthing (HoME), delivered by our partner LinkLiving, is here to help.
Our Housing team can help you set up an appointment with the right support and access to a benefit health check. Your rent is due on the 1st of every month, and should be paid one month in advance because: • It acts as a financial cushion, which can be particularly helpful in case of unexpected expenses or income changes. • It takes away the stress of arrears showing on your account • It stops rent arrears building if you are on Housing Benefit/Universal Credit
Our project worker will work with your individual needs, focusing on housingrelated tasks to help you maintain your home and settle in your community. This can involve: • Improving the condition of your tenancy/ maintaining your property • Helping you address rent arrears if you are struggling • Dealing with housing issues that could potentially result in eviction • Connecting with other services if support is required If you think HoME would work for you, please contact your Housing Officer to make a referral on 01475 630930.
Need support with anything else? Speak to your Housing Officer about anything we can support you with or get in touch with us on 01475 630930 or at info@larkfieldha.org.uk we’re always here to help!
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