News Extra Bulletin — February 2018

newsextra The magazine for South Staffordshire Housing Association customers

Your rent: delivering value SSHA is a not-for-profit landlord. That means that rental income we receive is invested back into local communities through improving homes and neighbourhoods, supporting our customers and relieving homelessness.

Social housing rents are set by the government. In the enclosed rent review letter you will see that your rent has been reduced this year. The cut to our income directly affects the work that we do and means that it is even more important to spend carefully and fairly.

This year we are committed to investing in: More new homes More new kitchens More new bathrooms More new wet rooms

Our sort code has changed News Extra Bulletin v1.indd 1

More Home MOTs More doors More new energy-efficient boilers We will continue to provide back-to-work support, help for customers experiencing ASB and money advice too.

There are three easy things YOU can do to help us make your rent go further.

1. Make sure you keep appointments for repairs and mandatory safety checks or let us know if you need to change a scheduled visit.

2. Switch to paying your rent by direct debit.

3. Next time you call our customer services team, check that we have your current contact details to receive information from us by email or text.

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New opening hours in our offices Please note that the opening hours in our Acton Gate offices are changing. From 1 April 2018 you can call or visit our offices at these times:

Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 5pm Friday 8.30am – 4pm You will see that, after talking to some of the customers who have

Universal credit Universal Credit is being rolled out across Staffordshire. To help you, we have added new information to the SSHA website. On there you will find a schedule highlighting the roll out areas and a new leaflet with all the information you need about Universal Credit. Find the information here: www.ssha.co.uk/how-we-canhelp/benefit-advice/universalcredit

previously used our late opening on Thursday evenings, we have agreed to withdraw that service and stay open later for you each friday.

We hope that our new opening hours will make it more convenient for you when you need to talk to us. Of course, our out-of-hours telephone service will be available for you to report emergency repairs outside our regular opening hours.

Let’s Talk The Let’s Talk area of our website has been updated with new information about the work of our customer panels and news about how you can get involved. For more information go to www.ssha.co.uk/my-home/letstalk

t Let’s alk Your voice, your home, your future

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New year, new job?

Care Plus, part of Housing Plus Group, is recruiting care and support workers for its expanding services in Staffordshire and Shropshire.

You could become part of a care team recognised as one of the best in the country, delivering care and support to help people live independently, in their own home.

For information and to apply, visit

www.care-plus.org.uk/working-with-us

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Applying for a tenancy transfer If you are an SSHA tenant and want to move to one of our other homes in the area you can apply for a transfer.

Before you can complete a transfer your current home must be in a good condition. In the last two years SSHA spent ÂŁ106,800 bringing empty homes up to standard. That is why we are being very clear about the condition that a home must reach before we can approve a transfer.

To help you, we have produced new advice about the checklist that your housing officer will complete during your inspection. Ask your housing officer for this information or visit our website at www.ssha.co.uk/finding-a-home/ mutual-exchange

Tenancy transfer inspect

ion checklist

Item Internal doors

Standards Met

Not met

Comments

Windows Walls Kitchen Bathroom Living room Flooring Gardens Sockets and light switches Non-standard light fittings have been removed and replaced with a standard pendant Cleaning ww Skirting boards, architrave s and door frames are clean and dust-free ww Cooker space is clean and is free from grease, food stains or spillages ww Toilets are free from staining and lime ww Baths and basins are clean ww Floors are clean. Where carpets have been removed, underlay has also been removed ww Ceilings are clean

Signed by tenant Signed by joint tenant Signed by housing officer

Date Date Date

Have your say Thank you to everyone who took part in the independent research into our homes and services last year. There was a great response to the survey and we were particularly pleased to learn that 89 per cent of customers are satisfied with their neighbourhood as a place to live and 84 per cent of you think that your rent represents good value for money.

Your feedback plays a really important part in helping us to improve the services we provide. We will be reporting back to you in detail about the results of the survey in the Spring issue of News Extra but we are already working with our customer panel to see if there are positive changes we can make for you.

01785 312000

www.ssha.co.uk

Acton Court, Acton Gate, Stafford, ST18 9AP

enquiries@ssha.co.uk

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