Home! Magazine August 2013

HOME!

CITY OF LINCOLN COUNCIL IMPROVING THE COUNCIL’S LANDLORD FUNCTION

RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION SPECIAL

SB Meet the new A n team io t c e t o r p c li b pu

Residents meeting for Jarvis House

Page 8

TENANT INSPECTOR REPORT PAGE 14

AUGUST 2013

TENANT POWER TENANTS’AND RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS

We are working to form tenants and residents’associations across the city.

These add to the popular and successful residents’ association already running at Shuttleworth House.

Residents’ associations have two main aims: to improve the quality of homes and to act as a voice for the people it represents. They are made up of people from the area.

Why do we need residents’ associations?

Help influence council decision making in

respect of the service we provide

Identify the priorities of local people

O ffer advice and support to individuals

Lobby for improvements to homes and estates.

What are the benefits for me?

Help improve your estate

G ive you a stronger voice

G ain experience and skills for your CV

2

M ake new friends

I n the loop for news

HOW TO SET UP A RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION IN FOUR EASY STEPS 1

Decide that you want to set one up

2

Talk to your neighbours about it

3

Contact Chris Morton on 01522 873398 or email customer.services@lincoln.gov.uk

4

He will help you set one up

3

We are urgently recruiting tenants for voluntary positions. These are: MYSTERY SHOPPER Hours:

One hour per week

The role: Mystery shoppers play a key role in ensuring that the council provides excellent customer service The job: Making calls and visits to customer services Scoring the calls and visits against set criteria Reporting results of the calls and visits to the tenant liaison team

4

TENANT INSPECTOR (ESTATES) Hours:

One hour per month

The role: Estate inspectors check that we have dealt with issues recorded on estate inspections, for example checking that we have removed rubbish or that we have cut a communal hedge The job: Carrying out estate inspections Checking that we have dealt with issues identified on the inspection

Recording results

TENANT INSPECTOR (EMPTY HOMES) Hours:

One hour per month

The role: It involves carrying out inspections of empty council homes prior to re-letting They check the condition of the property against our published standards in respect of cleanliness, repairs and decoration These inspections help to make sure we meet our standards on homes and help improve tenant satisfaction The job: Carrying out a basic property inspection Assessing the standard of decoration, repairs and cleanliness Scoring the property against set criteria

The return for getting involved is the opportunity to have influence on the services we provide as a landlord.

If you would like more information, please call Chris Morton on: 01522 873398 or email customer.services@lincoln.gov.uk 5

Shelley’s page :

Universal Credit If you’re like the many people who are confused about universal credit, read my blog for more info on how it will work.

Universal credit will be gradually introduced throughout the country from October 2013 and will be completed by 2017.

Universal credit will be paid once a month into your bank account. You will then need to pay your rent to the council. The best way to do this is through a direct debit.

If you already claim a benefit, you’ll continue to do so as normal and you’ll be told when universal credit will apply to you.

Universal credit will eventually replace:

income-based

jobseeker’s allowance

income-related

employment and support allowance

i ncome

6

support

working tax credit

child tax credit

housing benefit

Shelley speaks to a benefits representative

If you have any questions regarding this information please contact us on: 01522 873355.

Shelley Paulson is a writer, who specialises in writing short stories and blogs. As a tenant representative she has volunteered and joined our HOME! editorial panel.

MyInfo

1)

TYPE WWW.LINCOLN.GOV.UK/ MYINFO INTO YOUR INTERNET BROWSER

How to guide: setting up your online rent account

2) 3) 4)

SELECT- “CLICK HERE” TO REGISTER FOR A LOG IN

5) 6)

YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL WITH FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

FED UP WITH HAVING TO CALL OR VISIT US? BORED OF WAITING ON THE PHONE? WANT TO CHECK YOUR RENT ACCOUNT, ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE? NOW YOU CAN CHECK YOUR RENT ACCOUNT ONLINE USING OUR ‘MYINFO’ SERVICE. FOLLOW OUR SIX EASY STEPS TO REGISTER YOUR ACCOUNT.

ENTER YOUR DETAILS INTO THE BOXES AND PRESS “NEXT” ENTER SECURITY DETAILS AND COMPLETE THE HUMAN TEST, PRESS “SUBMIT”

YOU CAN NOW CHECK YOUR RENT ONLINE

7

IMPROVING SERVICES:

OUR RESPONSE TO ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IN JANUARY, WE FORMED THE PUBLIC PROTECTION AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR TEAM (PPASB). OUR TASK IS TO PROVIDE A MORE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO INCIDENTS OF ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR (ASB) AND NUISANCE. Sam Barstow Sam Barstow took charge of the new team in January. Find out here how they plan to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Tackling anti-social behaviour often requires co-ordination between different people in different departments. We decided it would make more sense for these people to become part of one team and join our private and housing tenant services.

8

THE PPASB MEMBERS ARE: Sam Barstow PPASB Service Manager

Cheryl Fisher Technical Officer for Housing

Joel Dowse

Steve Beaumont

Technical Officer for Waste and Pollution

Kevin Martin

Technical Officer for anti-social behaviour

Technical Officer for Waste and Pollution

Francesca Bell

Julian Cozens

Technical Officer for Noise

Technical Assistant

Julie Nelder

Sharna Hunter

Technical Officer / Animal Warden

Support Assistant

TENANCY MANAGEMENT TEAM’S RECENT SUCCESS AGAINST ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR Julian Cozens

Sharna Hunter

HAVING THIS TEAM MEANS WE CAN PROVIDE MORE CO-ORDINATED RESPONSES TO ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR. THE SKILLS THEY BRING ALLOW US TO TACKLE A RANGE OF COMPLAINTS, INCLUDING:

n eighbour disputes

general anti-social behaviour

(shouting, rowdiness, abuse etc)

n oise problems

a nimal related problems

domestic waste problems

t rade waste problems

dog fouling

This team will give housing more muscle to deal with council tenants causing neighbourhood nuisance – in any form.

Cheryl Fisher

Francesca Bell

Estate officers will still respond to initial complaints but if they need our help, they will contact Cheryl Fisher, our dedicated housing specialist.

She will advise and support them on action that can be taken and bring in expert help from the rest of the team where required.

There are a range of different tools we can use including warning letters; acceptable behaviour contracts; noise abatement notices; nuisance abatement notices; closure orders; injunctions; support; mediation; and anti-social behaviour orders.

I am confident the new approach will reduce anti-social behaviour and provide a swift response when it occurs.

If you need to report any incidents, you can contact us on 01522 873378 or ppasb@lincoln.gov.uk or online from August 2013 www.lincoln.gov.uk/anti-social

Recently we reduced the tenancy rights of a tenant to help protect his neighbours. The man had turned his neighbours’ lives into a living nightmare through acts of antisocial behaviour. These included playing loud music, all night parties and a constant stream of visitors causing nuisance.

Following complaints from neighbours we investigated and warned the tenant that he must change his behaviour. Despite the warnings the nuisance continued and we decided it was time for tougher action.

Through the courts we were successful in getting his tenancy ‘demoted’, meaning his rights were reduced similar to those of an introductory tenant. This means that should he commit further acts of anti-social behaviour in the next 12 months we can evict him much more easily.

9

TOP TIPS:

BEATING DAMP AND MOULD Alan Smith, one of our repairs team leaders, shares his top tips on beating damp and mould.

10

1)

COVER PANS Cover pans when cooking to reduce the amount of steam given off.

2)

OPEN WINDOWS Your home needs fresh air; opening your windows for just ten minutes a day will keep it smelling nice and reduce the chance of mould occurring.

3)

VENTILATE BATHROOMS When you have a bath or shower lots of condensation is created. If possible open a window or use an extractor fan if available.

4)

LEAVE SPACE BEHIND FURNITURE Leave a gap between furniture and walls; this is so air has room to circulate.

5)

REPORT PROBLEMS STRAIGHT AWAY The longer you leave damp and mould untreated the harder it is to get rid of.

If you find any please report to us straight away on: 01522 873333 or email: customer.services@lincoln.gov.uk.

HERMIT STREET RESIDENTS GROUP

A DISCUSSION AT AN ESTATE INSPECTION LED TO THE CREATION OF A RESIDENTS GROUP IN THE HERMIT STREET AREA. RESIDENTS ATTENDING THE INSPECTION HIGHLIGHTED THAT PEOPLE WERE FEELING UNSAFE AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE AREA.

The neighbourhood manager arranged an initial meeting so that residents in the area could get to know their local policing team. This proved to be successful and has led to:

an increase in reporting of incidents

six new members signing up to the Lincs

Alert Scheme (a community messaging system run by Lincolnshire Police).

a street surgery taking place to

further build relationships

regular patrols - community support

officers now have keys so that they can patrol inside the blocks

The group has continues to meet on a monthly basis and aims to address issues of concerns for local residents.

Most notably it has worked with Lincolnshire County Council to ensure that three extra parking spaces are made available.

The group holds informal meetings and is currently in the process of arranging its first estate inspection.

The findings of this work will be reported directly to the tenant liaison team.

11

Abbey in Bloom Green Synergy, along with a community volunteer and the neighbourhood team, have been organising a gardening competition. Residents within the areas of Stamp End, Monks Road and Tower Estate are welcome to enter the competition.

12

The seven categories to choose from are:

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7)

FRONT OF HOUSE, BUNGALOW OR FLAT REAR OF HOUSE, BUNGALOW OR FLAT HANGING BASKET(S) CONTAINER – any portable container/ planter displayed on a balcony/patio or within a garden or yard SHELTERED, COMMUNAL OR COMMUNITY - any garden or part of garden either at the front or rear of a block of properties that is maintained by the residents CHILDREN’S GARDEN - open to children up to the age of 16 years NEIGHBOUR’S NOMINATION - residents can nominate a neighbour’s garden or display that they think deserves recognition.

Winners will receive a certificate and a gardening voucher.

Application forms can be collected from the neighbourhood office on Belmont Street, TAG Office on Roman Pavement, or the Arboretum Café.

The deadline for the applications is Thursday 1 August 2013.

The competition results will be announced at the Arboretum Gala on Saturday 17 August 2013 by the Mayor of Lincoln.

For further information, please contact Kerry Vaughan on 01522 541470.

13

TENANT INSPECTOR REPORT The first group of empty homes tenant inspectors is now carrying out inspections. Read Sue Pyrah’s report on how well our homes have performed.

Since May 2013 we have inspected several properties and scored each of them against the empty property letting standard.

Using the standard we have checked to see if the property is clean, free of rubbish and all repairs completed.

We will continue to carry out the inspections and keep the council on its toes with the standard of empty homes.

If you would like to help us carry out inspections please contact Chris Morton on: 01522 873398 or email We then mark the property against the customer.services@lincoln.gov.uk. above criteria and scored each part red, Sue Pyrah is a tenant representative amber, or green. and a tenant empty homes inspector.

14

Empty property letting standard We have agreed our empty property letting standard with our Home Service Focus Group.

In short we make sure that properties are in a good shape for the new tenant.

This mean they will be:

safe free from damp and mould clean

If you would like more information about our empty property letting standard, please contact us on 01522 881188

Tenant inspector Sue inspecting an empty council property before being let.

15

GENERAL NOTICES: CARETAKING CONSULTATION RESULTS Thank you to all of the residents of Shuttleworth House, Jarvis House and Trent View for taking part in the caretaking consultation. You should have received a letter informing you of the results.

HOUSING SURGERIES Housing surgeries update: the police, the benefits advice team and local councillors now attend the surgery at Subrooke Drive.

Obtaining copies in alternative formats If you have difficulty in understanding anything in this document, please go to City Hall, Beaumont Fee, Lincoln or any other council office, and an interpretation service will be provided.

French Si vous avez besoin d’éclaircissements au sujet de ce document, veuillez vous rendre au City Hall, Beaumont Fee, Lincoln ou tout autre Council office, où nous pourrons faire appel à un interprète par le biais du National Interpreting Service.

Polish Jezeli masz trudnosci ze zrozumieniem tego dokumentu, zgłos sie do urzedu miasta w City Hall, Beaumont Fee w Lincoln lub do innego urzedu nalezłcego do rady miejskiej, w którym wezwiemy tłumacza z National Interpreting Service.

Portuguese Se tiver dificuldade em compreender qualquer coisa neste documento, por favor dirija-se à City Hall, Beaumont Fee, Lincoln ou qualquer outra repartição do município, onde poderemos chamar um interprete para si através do Serviço Nacional de Interpretação.

Turkish Bu belgeyi anlamakta zorlanırsanız, Beaumont Fee, Lincoln Belediyesi’ne ya da herhangi baska bir belediye meclisi ofisine gidin. National Interpreting Service aracılıgıyla size bir çevirmen saglanacaktır.

This publication can also be made available in large print, or electronically.

Please call: 01522 873398