HousingNews w w w. b ris to l.g o v. uk /ho usingnew s
Winter 2020
News for Bristol City Council tenants and leaseholders
Welcome to the winter issue of Housing News Keeping tenants and staff safe - how we responded to COVID-19 Building a better Bristol – planning applications submitted for nearly 400 affordable homes Moving Forward Together – your chance to have your say on how the housing service operates
News for all Bristol City Council tenants and leaseholders Winter 2020
Welcome to the Winter issue of
Housing News If English is not your first language and you need a translation, we can get one for you. If you would like this information in another language, Braille, audio tape, large print, easy English, BSL video or CD rom or plain text please contact: 0117 352 1444
Foreword
This has been a difficult year for everyone, including our residents and colleagues across the council, as we have all had to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’ve recently taken on management of the council’s landlord function, housing options and private sector housing services, alongside my current Women, Children and Families portfolios. Already I’m proud to see how our services have adapted and responded quickly during these strange and uncertain times to ensure that we can continue to deliver essential services and support our residents across the city. I would also like to thank all our residents, who have played their part, by observing government guidance and helping keep each other safe. Residents, communities and organisations across Bristol worked together during lockdown to help those most in need, ensuring everyone had access to essential supplies and support. You can find out more about how we reacted to COVID-19 and some of our tenants’ stories of community spirit on pages 4 and 5. We’re continually monitoring and adapting our services to ensure that we follow government guidance. We are working hard to deliver services, while keeping you and
our colleagues safe. Most of our services are now available, but how we deliver services may be different. You can learn more here: www.bristol.gov.uk/housing/ council-tenants. The pandemic and other tragic events have highlighted inequalities that still exist in our society. Addressing inequality remains a priority for the council and for our service transformation programme, Moving Forward Together, where we aim to make sure the things that matter most to you are at the heart of everything we do. Right now one of the most important things we can all do is to talk and to listen. We should be having conversations about race and discrimination, about COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter. Some of those conversations might not be easy. But, more than ever we need to hear your experiences and what we can do to make life better for everyone. You can find out about ways for you to get involved and shape the future of our services within this edition of Housing News. You can also view a copy of our annual report for tenants and leaseholders, which provides information about how we performed as your landlord in the last financial year (April 2019 – March 2020). Cllr Helen Godwin Cabinet Member for Homes, Women and Families
Make sure you are registered to vote We recently completed the annual canvass, which we carry out by law each year, to find out who is eligible to register to vote. If you didn’t receive a letter or respond to your letter, it could be that you are not registered to vote.
page 2
Local elections, including Mayoral, all local Councillors and Avon & Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner will take place in May 2021. Don’t lose your right to vote. It takes five minutes and you can do it anytime, anywhere. Register now at bristol.gov.uk/ voting-elections
www.bristol.gov.uk/housingnews visit our website www.bristol.gov.uk
Moving Forward Together The Moving Forward Together programme aims to improve the service you get from your housing team, making sure the things that matter most to you are at the heart of everything we do. Working closely with residents and employees, we are developing a service that will be built around delivering what you have said are your main priorities. In 2019 we carried out a resident survey to help establish what matters most to our residents. More than 3,300 of you responded to let us know your thoughts. You can view the full survey results here: bit.ly/3jV5TMs The survey showed that you have six clear priorities, which we are using to help shape how services are delivered in the future.
These include: l the housing team being more visible in your local area l listening to what residents say l making it easier to contact us l keeping our promises l tackling crime and anti-social behaviour l improving the security and appearance of our homes/estates Since April 2020, we’ve been holding workshops with our housing staff to consider the things we would need to do differently, in order to meet your priorities. And over the last few months we have hosted resident workshops where we looked in more detail at the six resident priorities to help us improve how we deliver services where you live. The views and opinions you provided will help us to refine our ideas, shape how we will deliver locally focussed services and set out clear standards for service delivery. To find out more go to www.bristol.gov.uk/movingforwardtogether
The importance of Fire Safety in your home ●
●
● ●
●
●
●
Smoke detectors save lives – remember to test yours regularly Be careful with candles, put them out when you leave the room, and make sure they’re put out completely at night Plan your escape route in the event of a fire Make sure exits and escape routes are kept clear Keep doors closed to stop the spread of any smoke and fire.
If there is a fire in your home:
Keep matches and lighters up high, out of the reach of children
You should alert all the occupants and get out as soon as possible
Smoking - stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully
Report any concerns such as damaged doors or smoke detectors to our repairs team on 0117 922 2200
Don’t tackle a fire by yourself. Leave it to the fire and rescue service. Get out and call 999. Avon Fire and Rescue service offer free Home Fire Safety Visits, to request one please contact them on 0117 926 2061 or text ‘visit’ to 07507 319 694 page 3
News for all Bristol City Council tenants and leaseholders Winter 2020
Like many organisations, the housing team had to quickly adapt to the challenges of providing services during a global pandemic. During April and May our focus was on providing essential services and supporting our most vulnerable residents.
St George COVID-19 Community Response: A Lifeline The St George Community Centre has been one of the busiest community hubs in the city during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is jointly run by Tamsin Harcourt, one of the centre’s volunteer management team, with the support of Moestak and Daniel from the council’s Neighbourhood and Communities team. Tamsin says “When lockdown was announced our committee immediately agreed that we needed to help. Initially we thought that our building could be used for distributing food and supplies, but quickly we saw that what was needed was support co-ordinating the local volunteer response.”
During lockdown we: l made 7,456 calls to our most vulnerable tenants, to check if they needed any help or support l completed 3,131 emergency repairs l responded to 607 Anti-Social Behaviour, nuisance or hate crime cases, including reports of noise nuisance and breaches of COVID-19 social distancing measures l ensured 107 homes were repaired and relet through direct offers to people who were homeless and other urgent cases l continued to carry out essential safety checks, such as gas tests.
In addition we: l ensured that everyone who had been sleeping rough received an offer of accommodation l installed home adaptations or Technology Enabled Care for 542 disabled residents to enable them to be safely discharged from hospital and/or remain at home during the height of the pandemic l were the only English council to establish two temporary sites for vehicle dwellers, where residents were able to access drinking water and washing facilities.
page 4 Housing and Landlord Services response to COVID-19
With the community centre building closed to the public, Tamsin started working from home in a voluntary capacity to coordinate the COVID-19 response in St George, linking up 30 Can Do Bristol volunteers to support shielded citizens in the neighbourhood. At the time of writing, the hub had received nearly 200 referrals, and the volunteer team is providing ongoing support for over 30 households each week, plus responding to one off tasks from the We Are Bristol helpline. Tamsin has used her communication skills and experience to creatively use social media reaching out to citizens, sharing stories and connecting with volunteers. The centre has also teamed up with Crofts End Church in Speedwell who are running a foodbank providing essential emergency food supplies. www.facebook.com/stgeorgecommunitycentre
Protecting Bristol together during COVID-19 We all continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but by working together we can support our local communities and help to prevent the spread of the virus in Bristol. Thank you to everyone who continues to adhere to the latest government guidelines. To help prevent a local outbreak of the virus, please continue to:
• Stay up-to-date As the government guidelines are subject to change, please stay up-to-date with the latest COVID-19 rules on our website at: www.bristol.gov.uk/coronavirus. Here you can Housing and Landlord Services response to COVID-19
www.bristol.gov.uk/housingnews
• Get tested if you have symptoms It’s really important that you, and anyone you live with, gets tested if they develop symptoms of COVID-19. The main symptoms of the virus are: • A high temperature • A new, continuous cough • A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste Most people with COVID-19 have at least one of these symptoms. If you develop symptoms, you should get tested as soon as possible. You can book a visit to a test site, or order a home test kit if you cannot get to a test site, online at: www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. Walk-through testing sites are also open across Bristol to help people get a free test as quickly and easily as possible. Visit: www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119 to book a walk-through test. If you have symptoms, you should stay at home and not have visitors until you get your test result – please only leave your home to have a test.
• Hands, Face, Space To help prevent the spread of the virus, please think: • Hands – wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds • Face – wear a face covering in mandatory settings • Space – maintain social distancing.
• Ask for help We understand that it’s still a very challenging time for many people at the moment. You can contact us, and find information on things like help when self-isolating, employment support, financial assistance and more at: www.bristol.gov.uk/coronavirus
You’ve Got a Friend in Me Brislington Hub volunteer, Vera, started telephone befriending Enid* in mid-May. “Enid came across as a sweet lady that seemed to struggle with hearing, which presented several communication challenges. We agreed I would text her to check she was ok and, after she read my message, she would call me back. Enid was concerned about the cost of calls, so I was to let the call ring off and then call her back. Over that first week, we built some trust which paid off when Enid became unwell. I helped by contacting her GP, which resulted in a home visit and medication that took her pain away. Enid still didn’t sound right though - she sounded really tired and sad. After many texts and calls, we figured out she was running out of food. I had a sense she was feeling forgotten and a bit lonely. It’s absolutely incredible what happened next... I talked to my team lead about the situation. He raised it with other volunteers and, as a group, we managed to get Enid fed, and delivered her cooked meals on a daily basis. The volunteer coordinator would order the meals every day and would make sure there was enough food for Enid to survive on. They even went to visit and took Enid’s favourite doughnuts to cheer her up. I always believed there were so many good people in Bristol, and witnessing firsthand how the community worked together and how caring everyone was about Enid, enormously strengthened that belief of mine. Whenever I talk to Enid now, she sounds upbeat. I honestly believe that she now feels seen and cared for. I’m so proud to be part of this community full of caring people who do good things for those that need our help.”
Housing and Landlord Services response to COVID-19
*name changed to allow anonymity.
read the latest government and NHS advice, including rules on social distancing, mass gatherings, face coverings and more.
page 5
News for all Bristol City Council tenants and leaseholders Winter 2020
Need free advice? We’re here to help – just give us a call.
0117 317 8800 enquiries@1625ip.co.uk www.1625ip.co.uk
0117 922 5353 advice@ageukbristol.org.uk www.ageuk.org.uk/bristol
www.bristol.gov.uk/benefits-financial-help/ welfare-rights-and-money-advice-service
Helping people access justice
0117 924 8662 mail@bristollawcentre.org.uk www.bristollawcentre.org.uk
Bristol
General advice: 03444 111 444 Initial Universal Credit claims: 0800 144 8444 www.bristolcab.org.uk
0344 515 1430 Urgent help out of hours: 0808 800 4444 england.shelter.org.uk/ get_help/local_services/bristol
0117 352 1888 welfarerights@bristol.gov.uk
07526 352 353 advice@bristolrefugeerights.org www.bristolrefugeerights.org
FREE expert advice on many areas including debt, immigration, housing, employment, discrimination, benefits and more. Funded by ACFA, registered charity 1187070
0117 903 8358 admin@southbristoladvice.org.uk southbristoladvice.org.uk
0117 935 1260 advice@chasbristol.co.uk www.chasbristol.co.uk
07731 842 763 / 07595 047 278 team@northbristoladvice.org.uk www.northbristoladvice.org.uk
0117 955 2981 enquiry@stpaulsadvice.org.uk www.stpaulsadvice.org.uk
Warmer Homes, Advice & Money
0117 954 3990 mail@talkingmoney.org.uk www.talkingmoney.org.uk page 6
0117 947 9922 disabledpeopleshelpline@wecil.co.uk www.wecil.co.uk
0800 082 2234 home.energy@cse.org.uk www.cse.org.uk
www.bristol.gov.uk/housingnews visit our website www.bristol.gov.uk
Building a better Bristol Providing homes that people can afford and creating communities where people feel proud to live are two of our main priorities. Over the summer we submitted plans to build almost 400 new affordable homes - the majority of which will be council housing.
homes and shared ownership properties, are the former Brentry Elderly Persons Home, Knole Lane (34 homes), St Peters House, Horfield (28 homes), and Leinster Avenue, Knowle West (71 homes). The New Build Housing Programme makes use of land owned by the council, regenerating brownfield sites, to provide new high quality homes in key areas across the city. Since the start of the programme, the council has built over 150 new council homes. There are also 133 homes currently under construction at Ashton Rise – an innovative development where the council is building houses for sale on the private market for the first time.
Artists impression of Bonnington Walk
Lockleaze is set for the biggest transformation with over 260 homes planned for sites at Bonnington Walk, Muller Road and Branwhite Close. If approved, 185 modular homes, half of which will be affordable, would be built at Bonnington Walk by Legal & General Modular Homes, who have worked closely with the council and the local community to design plans for the site. Bonnington Walk is a former allotment gardens site and has been allocated for housing in Bristol’s Local Plan for over 20 years. It is one of 43 sites the council has made available for new housing since 2016. The land is due to be developed using modern methods of construction, as an innovative solution to help address the shortage of housing in north Bristol. Three sites across Lawrence Weston - Capel Road, Littlemead and Oakhanger - have recently received planning permission for 57 homes. Work is due to start on site this winter. The other sites that have been submitted for planning, which will include a mix of council
Ashton Rise
In addition another four sites are being progressed, which would see an additional 148 homes built across the city. These are scheduled to be submitted for planning later this year. The council’s ambition is to accelerate the delivery of new housing over the next five years, creating 1,000 new homes through various delivery routes, including both brownfield sites and new builds. To keep up to date with housing developments, visit www.bristol.gov.uk/newcouncilhomes page 7
News for all Bristol City Council tenants and leaseholders Winter 2020
Stay warm and well this winter
With most of us now spending more time in our homes, it’s never been more important to stay warm at home this winter.
There are lots of no-cost and low-cost things you can do to stay warm while keeping your bills down. These include; putting on an extra layer before turning on the heating, using a hot water bottle or investing in some thermals. Thick curtains will help to keep the heat in and should be closed as soon as it starts to get dark outside.
Wessex Water discounts for pensioners Are you in receipt of pension credit or is the state pension your only income? If so, you may be eligible for a discount of around 20% on your Wessex Water bill. If you are unsure whether you are entitled to pension credit, please contact your local advice agency for a full benefit check, where you can also receive advice on eligibility for other entitlements including disability benefits. You can find your local advice agency here: www.acfa.org.uk For more information, including how to apply for the discount, please visit https://form.wessexwater.co.uk/ PensionCredit or call their team on 0345 600 3 600 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm; Saturday 8am to 2pm)
Adding draught proofing strips to windows and doors can help stop the chills and improve comfort. These can be bought cheaply from hardware and DIY stores and are self-adhesive so easy to install. You can also buy reflective panels which slot behind radiators and help reflect heat back into the room. If you are an older person, have a health condition, or there are young children in your household, it is particularly important to maintain a healthy temperature of between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius. Understanding your heating system can give you more control of your home environment as well as help you to save money. If you have gas central heating, using the programmer or timer and room thermostat will help you get heat when you need it and not waste money. Night storage heaters can be expensive if you are not sure how they work. By learning how to set the input and output dials to store heat overnight and release it the following day you can avoid using the boost function which can make a big saving. If you have been with the same energy supplier for a while you are probably paying too much for your electricity and gas. A typical household can save around £200 a year by switching supplier. If you have a prepayment meter that you top up with a key or card you could make savings by switching to a monthly direct debit. If you receive certain benefits or have a low household income you may also be able to claim the £140 Warm Home Discount each year. The Tenants Energy Advice service provides free advice on all of these topics and can advise you if there is any practical or financial support available to you. Call Freephone 0800 082 2234 or email home.energy@cse.org.uk page 8
Many people’s lives have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak, placing a huge burden on their mental and physical health. Some of the most vulnerable people may still not be seeing others as much as they normally would, and they may not be getting the right support. Show your friends and neighbours that you are thinking of them – it only takes a couple of minutes to have a catch-up chat to see how they are, and ask a simple but important question: Are You OK? It could mean the world to someone who is feeling isolated and needs your support. For some, spending more time at home could mean being stuck with an abuser. Limited contact means fewer opportunities to spot all kinds of neglect. Vulnerable children may be more at risk of being harmed at the moment, as can vulnerable adults. If you see or hear something that worries you, help your neighbours, friends and family get support. If you’re in a difficult situation yourself, there is help available too. For advice on how to ask someone if they are OK, the signs they may need some help and information on services that offer support, visit the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership website: bristolsafeguarding.org/areyouok
www.bristol.gov.uk/housingnews visit our website www.bristol.gov.uk
Estate Safety Project
Before
After
Last summer we began working with residents in four multi-storey blocks on a pilot to try and tackle anti-social behaviour. Carolina House, Fremantle House, Middleford House and Millmead House were chosen for the project, which aims to try different approaches to the management of tenancies in multi-storey flats and reduce anti-social behaviour in the communal areas. Residents and leaseholders have been part of a steering group which has been overseeing the work of the project. Although the coronavirus pandemic meant we had to change the way were working, we still managed to: l Develop block action plans l Hold drop-in sessions with housing officers and police community support officers l Introduce security patrols l Change door entry codes and install new external and internal lighting l Remove graffiti and clear rubbish l Communicate effectively to residents through text message. As we work with residents on Moving Forward Together and the re-design of how we deliver our services, estate safety and security will remain a priority. We will continue to work with a diverse group of residents across the city to ensure we understand what the issues are and how need to work together to achieve fantastic transformations.
Council nominated for national award for tenant communication Bristol City Council was nominated for an award for excellent tenant communication at this year’s TPAS Awards for its 2019 resident engagement survey. Over 3,000 council tenants and leaseholders took part in a feedback survey to share their views about their home, and the services they receive, to help inform future decision making, and co-design how the council delivers housing and landlord services in the future. The awards ceremony is an annual event which shines a spotlight on organisational excellence, and aims to promote best practice across the housing sector. Nominations come from a range of housing
providers, councils, contractors and specialist support organisations. Julian Higson, Director of Housing and Landlord Services at Bristol City Council, said: “Good engagement is critical to ensuring that tenants are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to have been shortlisted for this award, as it recognises the work we have put in to try and improve the way we delivery services to our tenants.� If you would like to take part in future events or feedback surveys, or are interested joining a tenant group, visit: www.bristol.gov.uk/tenantparticipation page 9
News for all Bristol City Council tenants and leaseholders Winter 2020
Exciting plans to transform some of our housing estates Earlier this year we outlined plans for a regeneration programme to provide more, better quality homes for our tenants across Bristol. Some of our existing housing stock is past its expected life span, and is expensive to maintain and live in. The programme will help deliver better homes for our existing residents and new homes for those on the waiting list. We know that housing is at the heart of improving the lives of people across the city, and we want to raise the standard of homes that we offer to our tenants. This regeneration programme has the potential to transform neighbourhoods across the city, offering improved community facilities alongside better quality housing. At this stage, no decisions have been taken on the future of any individual estate. Any developments considered for the programme, will be selected through an objective process and the housing team will fully engage with the people who live there and work with them to co-design the new estates. We are committed to making sure there will not be any loss of council housing, with an ambition to increase social rented accommodation wherever possible. Bristol is also committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and the regeneration of our underperforming estates will be vitally important to help the city reach this target. Homes across the city must be made low-carbon, low energy and resilient to a changing climate.
Lift Improvements We know that fully functioning lifts are vitally important to all of our residents living in high rise blocks across the city. Over the past 18 months we have made a significant investment in improving the lift monitoring system which will have a range of benefits to tenants within our blocks. The new system is able to notify us instantly if there is a breakdown, which means we will be able to action a repair quicker which will be especially important in the event of a trapped passenger! We will also be able to keep track of which parts need to be replaced, saving us time and money and preventing a number of breakdowns before they happen. page 10
Trash To Treasure:
Bristol Waste’s First Ever Reuse Shop A new shop has opened at Avonmouth Recycling Centre (Kings Weston Lane, BS11 0YS), filled with low cost goods, from TVs to toys and furniture to vacuums - all diverted from the waste stream! The store, which is the first of its kind for Bristol Waste, is open Monday – Friday between 10am and 3pm. All items for sale have been saved from going to waste, with the income generated used to fund and further develop the company’s reuse work, and a percentage donated to local charities. As well as snapping up a bargain, residents are invited to bring good quality, pre-loved items to donate. Staff will be on hand to direct visitors on where to leave items and answer questions about what can be reused. After being dropped off, the items will be cleaned and quarantined for 72hrs before being put out for sale. By redirecting reusable items from disposal, the new reuse shop will reduce the city’s waste disposal costs, save valuable resources and help Bristol reach its ambitious recycling target of 50% by 2020. For more information visit www.bristolwastecompany. co.uk/reuse BD11222 Bristol Design, Printed on FSC approved paper.
www.bristol.gov.uk/housingnews visit our website www.bristol.gov.uk
Housing Management Board goes virtual As mentioned earlier in this edition, the coronavirus pandemic has meant that we have had to adapt many of our current services and practices. In July the Housing Management Board held its first virtual meeting, allowing members to safely participate, and for the meeting to be broadcast via YouTube. The Housing Management Board is a forum where tenants meet senior housing managers and councillors to discuss and influence the development and management of council housing services. The board includes six tenant board members, selected from each of the Local Housing Forum areas, a leaseholder board member and councillors. Subjects discussed at the July meeting included Moving Forward Together and how Housing and Landlord Services responded to COVID-19.
sing Fo ou
ms ru
Local H
You can see a recording of that meeting here: youtu.be/FuFbkm-0JGw or find out more about the board, including future meeting dates here: www.bristol.gov.uk/housing/housing-management-board
Gelt ved
Invo
Your opinions help us make decisions!
Holding the forums online means you can take part wherever you are.
For Winter 2020 only we are trying
There will be two different ‘hot topics’ being discussed this winter. Do you have a view about Anti-Social Behaviour and the safety of your estate, or any thoughts about the energy efficiency of your home? If so come along to the online housing forum to share your view.
a different approach to Local Housing Forum meetings. Instead of area based meetings, we are hosting online meetings focussing on issues we know matter most to you. These will be open to all council tenants and leaseholders across the city.
Brand New city-wide online meetings, Nov – Dec 2020 Topic: Energy Efficiency and Investment Date: 18th November 2020 Time: 5:45pm-8:00pm
Topic: Anti-Social Behaviour and Estate Safety Date: 26th November 2020 Time: 1:30pm-4:00pm
Topic: Energy Efficiency and Investment Date: 23rd November 2020 Time: 1:30pm-4:00pm
Topic: Anti-Social Behaviour and Estate Safety Date: 1st December 2020 Time: 5:45pm-8:00pm
Places must be booked, you can do this online at: www.bristol.gov.uk/LocalHousingForums or for more information contact Tenant Participation on Tel. 0117 3521444 or email tpu@bristol.gov.uk
Do you need help paying your rent? Are you struggling to pay your rent? During the last six months the rent service has been contacting tenants in arrears to offer support and advice on how to manage their arrears. We are continuing to work with tenants who are struggling financially, and have been supporting them with applications for discretionary housing benefit support and signposting people to advice agencies who can offer specialised help. The team is committed to making realistic repayment agreements for any tenants who are in arrears which may have built up either just before or during the pandemic.
Over the last few months we have supported individual tenants and households helping them with their debts and helping them with moves to other properties through HomeChoice Bristol. During July and August we successfully managed to support tenants to claim over £250,000 to help sustain their tenancies and reduce their arrears. This support is still being offered and we want to help. If you are in financial difficulty, please contact us now so we can help you. You can do this online by visiting www.bristol.gov.uk/housing/form-rents-enquiry or by calling 0117 922 2200. page 11
Get in touch
You can contact us in several ways. Information about our services is available on our website 24 hours a day, seven days a week at: bristol.gov.uk/councilhousing
www.bristol.gov.uk/caretaking
Citizen Service Point 100 Temple Street, Bristol. Opening hours Monday: 9am to 5pm Tuesday: 9am to 5pm Wednesday: 10am to 5pm Thursday: 9am to 5pm Friday: 9am to 5pm We don’t deal with all housing services face-to-face at our citizen service point, but we will help you contact services online or by telephone.
Complaints or feedback www.bristol.gov.uk/complaints Email: complaints.feedback@ bristol.gov.uk Tel: 0117 922 2723 (Monday to Friday,10am to 4pm).
Emergency repairs Please call the Emergency Control Centre:
Get Involved Find out about Local Housing Forums and other resources: www.bristol.gov.uk/ tenantparticipation
Grounds maintenance Email: bristolparks@bristol.gov.uk Tel: 0117 922 2100 (Option 4)
Housing benefit and council tax reduction www.bristol.gov.uk/benefits
My Account Register for ‘My Account’ Using ‘My Account’ is quick and easy. Find out how you can manage your Council Tax, Rent, Housing Benefit and Landlords services all in one place! Visit: www.bristol.gov.uk/sign-in
Rehousing www.homechoicebristol.co.uk Email:hcb.enquiries@bristol.gov.uk Tel: 0117 922 2400
8.30am to 6pm (office hours): Tel: 0117 922 2200 (option 1)
Rents and housing payments
6pm to 8.30am (out of hours): Tel: 0117 922 2050
www.bristol.gov.uk/payrent
Textphone: 0117 922 3892
Estate management www.bristol.gov.uk/counciltenants Tel: 0117 922 2200 (Option 4)
Find it in Bristol https://maps.bristol.gov.uk/ pinpoint
If you are struggling to pay, call: Tel: 0117 922 2200 (Option 3) (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm) Manage your tenancy online: www.bristol.gov.uk/ tenantaccount
Report repairs www.bristol.gov.uk/ reportarepair Tel: 0117 922 2200 (Option 1)
Report street problems www.bristol.gov.uk/report-astreet-issue
Social media facebook.com/ bristolcouncilhousing twitter.com/BristolCouncil
youtube.com/ bristolcitycouncil
Smell gas? Report gas immediately to National Grid Gas Emergency Service. Tel: 0800 111 999
Tenants energy advice www.cse.org.uk/bristoltea
Tenancy fraud Email: tenancy.fraud@bristol.gov.uk Tel: 0117 922 2470
Tenant services online Available 24/7 www.bristol.gov.uk/ councilhousing
Travel planning www.travelwest.info/ journeyplanner
What’s on Bristol museums and galleries: www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/ whats-on
Designed and printed on sustainably sourced material by Bristol Design, Bristol City Council (October 2020) BD13165
Caretaking