In this newsletter:
Independent Living Open Days
Our Open Days are starting soon, come and join us at one our Independent Living schemes during October
All residents of the Borough are welcome to join us at the events to discover what the Independent Living service can offer to them, their family or friends.
Tuesday 4th October 2022
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Gutersloh Court, Central Avenue, Stapleford NG9 8QD
Wednesday 12th October 2022
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Cloverlands Court, Chilton Drive, Watnall NH16 1JQ
Monday 17th October 2022
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Templar Lodge, Beacon Road, Beeston NG9 2JZ
Wednesday 26th October 2022
10:00am - 12:00pm
Southfields Court, Inham Road, Chilwell NG9 4GA
For further information, contact:
housingengagement@broxtowe.gov.uk
Readership Survey
We would like to gauge our readers’ thoughts about Housing News and the information it contains, to ensure you are receiving information that is of interest and relevant to you.
Broxtowe Borough Council tenants and leaseholders responding to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to be in with a chance of winning one of four £10 Love2Shop vouchers.
Please complete this short survey to share your views and help us further develop these bulletins.
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Colder Weather and Condensation
Condensation usually occurs during the colder months and appears on cold surfaces and in areas where there is poor circulation of air.
The air around us contains moisture that usually cannot be seen. If the air gets cold, it cannot hold all the moisture and tiny drops of water appear. The moist air is usually generated by living conditions.
An example of condensation is when you use the bathroom during the winter months, the mirror usually steams up. Condensation can occur in any room of the property or in cupboards, corners of rooms or behind furniture, where air movement is restricted.
Condensation usually occurs on a cold surface. The provision of a constant temperature within your home will help to prevent condensation. The recommended temperature for households with individuals over the age of 60 and young children under the age of five is 21°C. For all other households 19°C is adequate.
Check out our Repairs Handbook for some handy tips on preventing condensation.
If you are struggling to heat your home during the colder weather, the Government has announced a range of measures to assist with the rising cost of living. Are you getting the support you’re entitled to? Visit our Cost of Living web page to find out what’s available.
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Your Tenants Handbook
Your Tenants Handbook contains useful advice and information, which should answer many of the questions you have about your tenancy.
The Handbook would have been given to you when you moved into your home. If you no longer have a copy, you can download the latest version from our website.
Inside the Handbook you will find details about:
- Your tenancy responsibilities and the types offered
- Your rent and help with paying
- Maintaining your home
- Anti-social behaviour
- Frequently asked questions
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Bidding on Homesearch
All signed up to Broxtowe Homesearch and ready to bid, but not sure how?
The easiest way to bid for a property is to access your account online where you can view available or soon to be available properties. You can then place bids on properties you are interested in being shortlisted for. You can bid for up to three properties in each advertising cycle.
If you do not have access to the internet and have nobody that can help you bid, we can activate automatic bidding on your behalf. This means that bids will be placed for you at the end of the advertising cycle.
Properties are advertised weekly, so check your account regularly to see what new properties are available.
For advice and support please contact the Allocations Team:
Homesearch@broxtowe.gov.uk
0115 917 3347
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Dates for Your Diary
Housing employees will be out and about and available for you to talk to. Pop along to one of the events and we’ll help answer your Housing related questions.
Thursday 20th October 2022
9.30am - 11.30am
Haven Centre, Wadsworth Road, Stapleford
Monday 24th October 2022
9:30 am – 11:00 am
Hope Café, Boundary Road, Beeston
Don’t forget our Independent Living Open Days are taking place during October, find out more about the service and have a tour of the accommodation.
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World Homeless Day
On Monday 10th October 2022 people around the world will mark World Homeless Day in many varied ways and change the lives of people experiencing homelessness in their local community.
If you are homeless now, or are threatened with being made homeless within the next 56 days, contact the Housing Options Team as soon as possible:
The team can help you by:
- Assessing your current housing situation
- Advising on steps to avoid homelessness and stay in your home
- Making referrals to specialise support organisations in certain circumstances
- Getting support from accommodation services
- Making referrals for supported housing
- Making a plan to work towards finding a permanent home.
For more information, visit our Housing Options and Homelessness web pages.
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Did you Know?
 Pop-Ups FAQs
Over the Summer, Housing employees held Pop-Up events within our neighbourhoods and discussed tenancy and neighbourhood issues with tenants.
The most frequently asked questions were:
Q) How long will I be on the Homesearch waiting list for?
A) The time taken for applicants to be housed varies depending on the type of property required. The length of time you may wait is also dependent on your level of need (banding). Those in the highest bands are housed the quickest and those who are waiting in those bands the longest have priority over others in the same band. It is important that you bid on suitable properties that are available. The Council currently has around 1800 applicants waiting to be housed.
Q) What does the Council do about tenants that are dealing drugs?
A) Nottinghamshire Police investigate the cultivation, dealing and usage of drugs. Housing do work closely with the Police and will take tenancy action when evidence is available and/or action is being taken by the Police in connection with the criminal activity. If you suspect drug dealing, you should contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101.
To report anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or report through their website.
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October is National Home Security Month
 Home is the place where you make treasured memories with your family and loved ones. National Home Security Month is here to highlight the importance of preventative measures – not only to protect physical possessions from burglary – but to also provide comfort in knowing your home and the memories within it are safe and secure.
Nottinghamshire Police provide a range of crime prevention advice and have key recommendations for securing your home before you go out, including:
- Close and lock all windows and doors
- Keep valuables out of sight
- Keep keys and handbags away from letterboxes or cat flaps
- Make sure any gates are locked
- Lock your shed or garage
- Use a timer to automatically turn lights on if out all day
Find out more about protecting your home from crime here.
Household Contents Insurance
Council tenants are strongly advised to take out household contents insurance to ensure your furniture, belongings and decorations are insured against fire, vandalism or water damage, such as burst pipes.
The Council does not insure tenants against these eventualities, but you do not need buildings insurance as the Council insures the fabric of the building.
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Housing Ombudsman
The Housing Ombudsman Service was set up to look at complaints about housing organisations registered with them. They resolve disputes involving tenants and leaseholders of social landlords.
It is mandatory for all local authorities providing housing to be members of the Ombudsman Service. The Ombudsman encourage landlords and residents to resolve complaints together at the earliest possible opportunity. They will undertake formal investigations into cases that have been referred and remain unsolved following completion of a landlord’s internal complaints procedure.
The Ombudsman has updated its Complaints Handling Code to strengthen provisions to support a positive complaint handling culture, which landlords have to be complaint with by 1st October 2022.
The key areas covered by the Code include:
- A universal definition of a complaint
- Easy access to a landlord’s complaints procedure
- How a landlord’s complaints procedure should be structured
- Ensuring fairness in complaints handling
- Taking action to put things right and appropriate remedies
- Creating a positive complaint handling culture through continuous learning and improvement
Click below to find out more about the Ombudsman and their Complaints Handling Code.
Information about the Council’s complaints process can be found here.
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