ME ! DY KEEP HAN
QUIZ: ÂŁ100 supermarket vouchers of your choice to be won
MY Money MY Choice ISSUE 1 January 2015
12 month
guide on how Your to make the most of your finances
Ways to pay your rent
Help from
Gedling Homes Rechargeable Repair1s
keeping your home in tip-top condition MY Money MY Choice
ISSUE 1 January 2015
2
MY Money MY Choice
ISSUE 1 January 2015
Inside... 7
Welcome to Issue 1 of My Money My Choice.
4-5
MONEY ADVICE MY HOME FINANCE NOTTINGHAM CREDIT UNION HOW TO PAY YOUR RENT RECHARGEABLE REPAIRS
6
From the editor
8-9 10-11
FORMER TENANT ARREARS
11
GREATer TRAINING 12-13 HOME CONTENTS INSURANCE
14
HOME CRISIS INSURANCE
14
WIN £100 SUPERMARKET VOUCHERS
15
USEFUL CONTACTS
16
With the festive season over, the new year can be a difficult time paying off bills. I hope this magazine will give you some handy hints and tips to make the most of your money. It’d be good to keep this magazine handy so you know where to go for help. It’s full of information on services that can support you. Don’t forget to enter the competition on page 15 - you could win £100 supermarket vouchers which will come in handy at this time of year. I have included a list of handy contact details on the back, hope this helps.
Nora MY Money MY Choice
ISSUE 1 January 2015
3
Help from
Gedling Homes Debt Advice team
Gedling Homes’ Debt Advice team offers free, independent, confidential and impartial advice and helps you to deal with your debts. It can help you find the best solutions for you and give you advice on: • Budgeting • Maximising your income • Prioritising your payments/bills
• Check that you’re responsible for any debts
• Negotiate with companies you owe money to
• Help you sort out what to pay first
• Represent you in the County Court
• Dealing with court action The team also offers face-to-face support to: • Draw up financial statements to see what money you have available and what you owe
4
MY Money MY Choice
ISSUE 1 January 2015
Did y ou know. ..?
Benefits Advice team
We ha ve calcula a number o tors to f may be help y welfare ben o efit u e n work title be aff out wh ected d to and se at you eh if Visit w ww.ge your circums ow you wo u d t rent/c hange linghomes.co ances chang ld s-your .u e . k / p a -welfa re-ben y-yourefits
Gedling Homes’ Welfare Be nefits Advice team can help you answer any questions you have on benefits. You may need help filling out a benefit for m or just need general advice on what be nefits you might be entitled to. Why not giv e us a call?
Budget Planner This new on-line tool helps you calculate your outgoings and income and is the first vital step in taking control of your finances. www.budget.entitledto.co.uk/newcharter
MY Money MY Choice
ISSUE 1 January 2015
5
My Home Finance offers safe, affordable loans. It can help you if you’re struggling to get a loan and feel you only have loan sharks or doorstep lenders to turn to. It could help you access credit at a more affordable rate, open a bank account and save for the future. By building up a repayment history with My Home Finance, you’ll be more able to use other financial services.
My H o a not me Finan -for-p c rofit s e is o enter prise cial This . m put b eans any ac pr so th k into the ofits are at b bene more pe usiness ople fit fro ca m the servi n ce.
Call My Home Finance on 01905 25805 or visit: www.myhomefinance.org.uk You can also call into the Gedling Customer Contact Centre.
6
MY Money MY Choice
ISSUE 1 January 2015
ut 1
CREDIT UNIONS Credit Unions have a number of accounts to help people manage their money: • Rent Direct Account • Rent Payment Current Account • Budget Account 19/12/2014 10:54 Page 1 Credit Unions can also offer loans at competitive prices. For more information, please call Nottingham Credit Union on 0115 828 3121, email rents@nottinghamcu.co.uk or visit nottinghamcu.co.uk
Universal Credit: are you ready? ✓ ✗
Tick l ist
the internet I have access to ternet I can use the in unt redit Union acco C or t un co ac I have a bank thly I can budget mon e ehold expenditur us ho y m all at I have looked
If you have answered any of the above with a cross, Money Wise can help on 0115 905 1515 or moneywise@gedlinghomes.co.uk MY Money MY Choice
ISSUE 1 January 2015
7
How to Pay Your Rent You can pay your rent in a number of ways
COUNTER PAYMENTS
DIRECT DEBIT
Direct Debits are collected weekly on a Thursday or on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 22nd of the month.
Did
..?
now. k u o y
how u plan ee o y lp ds ill he ney an ting w Budge nd your mo ble to make e a you sp ou may be is online at: y e e r t e k le th wh Comp omes.co.u . s g h in g n sav li ged www.
8
MY Money MY Choice
Payments can be made at any Post Office or any PayPoint. See how to get a new card below.
Rent Payment Cards You can apply for a card by calling in at Gedling Customer Contact Centre or apply online at www.gedlinghomes.co.uk under ‘Rent Payment and Money Advice’ then ‘Ways to Pay’.
ISSUE 1 January 2015
ONLINE PAYMENTS
Did y
ou kn
You can make Online Payments via BillPay, a service provided by Santander. Full details of how to use the BillPay service can be found at www.santanderbillpayment.co.uk
ow...? Court costs ha to £25 0 if yo ve increase d u don’t rent? pay yo Don’t ur get ca ught o ut.
TELEPHONE PAYMENTS
STANDING ORDER £ £ A standing order should be set up at your bank.
VIA CHEQUE
Payments can be made over the phone by debit or credit card, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please call 0161 331 2224. You will need your 8-digit payment reference to use this service
Cheques should be made payable to Gedling Homes and sent to us or handed in at the Customer Contact Centre or Gedling House. You must write your name and address and your payment reference on the back of the cheque. MY Money MY Choice
ISSUE 1 January 2015
9
e l b a e g r a h c Re
repairs in keeping your home tip-top condition
Gedling Homes provides a repairs service and makes improvements to your homes where needed, but you have a responsibility to keep your home in good condition too. Most of you treat your homes with a lot of care and respect, but sometimes damage is caused to properties or jobs that need doing are left and you must pay to put things right. We understand that a reasonable amount of wear and tear can occur, but if you are responsible for any other damages,
you will have to pay for the repairs to be done.
Visit www.gedlinghomes.co.uk/pay-your-rent/repairs-arrears for more information.
10
MY Money MY Choice
ISSUE 1 January 2015
What happens if I’m ? charged for a repair • An invoice will be sent to you after the work has been done • You have seven days to respond and pay the full amount or agree to pay in instalments • If you respond in time and keep up your payments, you’ll get 20% off the total cost • If you already have Home Contents Insurance this might help you cover the cost. See page 14.
What if the repair is needed because of a crime? Any criminal damages to your property must be reported to the police immediately by calling 101 (or 999 in an emergency). The police will give you a crime reference number relating to the incident which you should provide when you report the repair.
Former Tenant Arrears If you still owe money for any reason on your property after you move out (for example if you were not up to date with your rent when you left), you will be expected to continue to make payments until all the money you owe is paid off. If you are trying to apply for another home with other landlords, it is likely you will be asked for a reference from a previous landlord. Any money you still owe on the tenancy will be taken into account and may affect your chances of being offered a property by another landlord.
Did you kn ow...?
You won’t be able to bid o n any Gedling H omes propert y if you owe u s money? Call today to arrange a payment plan .
MY Money MY Choice
ISSUE 1 January 2015
11
Managing Your Money Concerned that you’re getting into debt and can’t keep it under control? Want some guidance on the best way to budget? Looking for advice on how to reduce your spending and manage your money more effectively. Gedling Homes recognises that in these tough economic times we can all do with advice to help us manage our money more effectively. This is why our Money Wise team is offering workshops to assist tenants and leaseholders to provide tips on managing your money.
12
MY Money MY Choice
Course includes: • • • • •
How to budget Recording where your money goes Weekly spending diary Piggy bank technique Ensure you don’t spend more than you earn
Skills gained: • • • •
ISSUE 1 January 2015
Basic budgeting skills Sensible shopping tips An awareness of the support available to you How to access the best deals
Did you kn
ow...?
All our GREA Ter Training courses are completely fr ee to Gedling Ho mes Tenants .
Cook & Eat Gedling Homes works in close partnership with Groundwork Greater Nottingham and The Secret Kitchen to provide a cooking course with a difference. The course is aimed at providing you with confidence in the kitchen by keeping it simple. Learn how to cook healthy, cheap and tasty meals for your family.
Course includes: • • • • •
A basic recipe each week Looking at cheaper ways to make tastier and healthier meals How to adapt recipes by using other ingredients Building confidence in trying different recipes Trying the meals prepared during the session
Skills gained: • How to cook healthy meals • Cooking on a budget • Being creative with leftovers
Interested?
Please fill in a GREATer Training expression of interest form or contact a member of Customer Experience on 0115 905 1515 or email at greatertraining@gedlinghomes.c o.uk MY Money MY Choice
ISSUE 1 January 2015
13
Home Contents Insurance Gedling Homes Home Contents insurance is provided by Aviva and available to all Gedling Homes tenants and leaseholders. To join the scheme, you must have a clear rent account. The policy includes: • No excess • Small, easy payments
HOME Crisis INSURANCE
NEW
➤ Covers you up to a maximum claim limit of £3000 ➤ Costs just 50p per week (payable on your rent account) ➤ Standard cover (Fire, theft and flood) ➤ Will not cover accidental damage ➤ No excess ➤ Small, easy payments
• Standard cover (fire, theft and flood) • Optional cover against accidental damage • You can also include accidental damage to fixtures and fittings within your home that Gedling Homes has provided
14
MY Money MY Choice
How t
o join.
.. To app ly, dow form f nload t ro he app lication www.g m edlingh homeomes.c co o Fill it o ntents-insur .uk/pay-your ut and -r ance-g sign it edling ent/ Gedling a nd d Custom er Con rop into tact C entre
ISSUE 1 January 2015
E C I V S S H O M E S A B T
D Q R F I A T A R B R F E N
M O N E Y C A R E T A F D E
W V E H D M E S E R P I F M
C E S K B I O R O M O N E Y
S U T I L I T I E S C A K O
G Q P Y H E L U P H S N R L
N E N A R N W J N C N C O P
I H R B L G F H S I A E W M
V C U G O D Y B W S O G F E
A Y S T I F E N E B L N U N
S T H I N S U R A N C E L U
Name:............................................................................................... Address............................................................................................. .......................................................................................................... ............................................................Postcode:.............................. Telephone:.........................................................................................
MY Money MY Choice
r
V A D Z B H A E N D A R M E
he
O A B U D G E T I E C W A S
uc Vo
Find all 19 words listed for your chance to win.
ft Gi
£100 supermarket ! vouchers of your choice
00 £1
WIN!
You be a must Hom Gedling es to en tenant ter
ADVICE BENEFITS BUDGET BUYS CASH CHEQUE CREDITUNION DEBT EMPLOYMENT FINANCE HOME INSURANCE LOAN MONEY MONEYCARE RENT SAVINGS SMARTER UTILITIES Complete and return this page to Gedling Customer Contact Centre, The Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Nottingham NG5 6LU by 31st March 2015
ISSUE 1 January 2015
15
Useful Contacts Gedling Homes 0115 905 1515 enquiries@gedlinghomes.co.uk www.gedlinghomes.co.uk Customer Contact Centre: The Civic Centre (Ground Floor), Arnot Hill Park, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 6LU facebook.com/gedlinghomes
Illegal Money Lending Team www.reportaloanshark@ stoploansharks.gov.uk 0300 555 222 (24-hour service) United Utilities Trust Fund www.uutf.org.uk 0845 179 1791 Nottingham Energy Partnership 5th Floor Castle Heights Building 72 Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, NG1 6BJ
@ Gedling_Homes Universal Credit information www.gov.uk 0345 600 0723 Gedling Borough Council Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 6LU 0115 901 3901 Money Advice Service www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk 0800 500 5000 Homeswapper www.homeswapper.co.uk Step Change Debt Charity www.stepchange.org 0800 138 1111 National Debtline www.nationaldebtline.org 0808 808 4000
Food Banks Food banks provide emergency food parcels to people in need. Food banks have been set up in most areas of Nottingham by organisations that support people in their local communities. All food banks have referrers who recognise when people are in need. Carlton Methodist Church Carlton Hill, Carlton, Nottingham, NG4 1EE Daybrook Baptist Church Mansfield Road, Arnold, NG5 6AA Bethesda Ministries Forester Street, Netherfield
Resource Housing Reg. No. 2111
16
MY Money MY Choice
ISSUE 1 January 2015