Find out about Universal Credit

Universal Credit will replace six existing benefits and will be rolled out in Havering from February.

This event on Monday 29 February, 10am – 2pm at myplace, 343 Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill, RM3 9EN, will explain how Universal Credit will impact on you.

There will also be free workshops on budgeting and money management. Representatives of banks, the Department for Work and Pensions and other organisations will be there to answer your questions. Find out more.

Clear the clutter

London Fire Brigade has expressed concern that items left on landings, in communal corridors and at the bottom of stairs in flats and sheltered housing schemes could cause problems - and even deaths - during an emergency.

That’s why we have launched a Clear the Clutter campaign to encourage residents to keep communal areas empty. Look out for the posters and help us keep your area clear of clutter.

Bikes chained to bannisters are particularly dangerous hazards. We have put bike stores in the communal areas of a number of flats and these should be used to keep bikes safe and out of the way. Ask for more details.

You should also make sure your bike has been security coded and added to the Bike Register by the Havering Police Safer Transport Team, which runs Mark it in the Market on the first Saturday of each month, 11am – 2pm outside Cycles UK in Romford Market.

Is it up to me?

Tenants and leaseholders are responsible for many basic repairs to their properties, so before logging a report please check if it is up to you to do the repair or whether the Council is responsible. Find out full details of your responsibilities here.

Do it in a day means our contractor, Breyer Group, will be carrying out all the repairs at a specific location on the same day.

Tenants should still report repairs in the normal way, so Breyer Group knows how many staff, and what equipment, may be needed to do the repairs.

But if you see the contractor is working in your street and you have a non-urgent repair, you can report it directly to them and they will try to get it fixed for you on that day.

Breyer Group will be in the following areas on these Wednesdays:

27 January: ​Napier House, New Plymouth House, Dunedin Road, Gisborne Gardens, Queenstown Gardens, New Zealand Way, Christchurch Avenue, Auckland Avenue.

3 February: Queen Street, Waterloo Gardens, St. Andrew's Road, William Pike House, Thomas England House, Queen Street Villas.

10 February: Highfield Road, Hillrise Road, Highfield Towers, Highfield Link, Hendon Gardens, Harlow Gardens.

17 February: Prospect Place.

24 February: Suffolk House, Norfolk House, Sussex House, Surrey House, Kent House, Durham House, Devon House, Cumberland House, Rutland House, Mawney Close, Rodney Way, Valiant Close, Victory Way.​

Get details of the scheme here.

Damp and mould

Winter months often bring patches of damp and mould on walls and ceilings. The cause is often condensation. Get some tips on how to tackle damp and mould problems here. 

Council Tax

Using Direct Debit means you don’t have to remember when your Council Tax or rent is due, as the payment is made automatically, and for the right amount, every month.

You can choose whether the Council Tax payment is made on the 1st or the 15th of each month to suit your financial situation and it’s easy to set up too.

All you need are your bank account details and your Council Tax or rent reference number. Then contact us and we’ll do the rest.

More information on paying Council Tax here.

and Council rents

You can choose whether the rent payment is made on the  1st, 7th, 14th or 21st of each month

More information on paying rent here.

Help at hand

Family Mosaic provides a free support service to Havering residents aged 16 years and over, to help individuals develop and improve their ability to live independently in their own home, or help them to explore their housing options if they are homeless. More information is available here.

Got a question?

If you have a question about any aspect of housing, there is now just one form to complete, which will then reach the right people to answer your question.

Just complete the online form here.

Like us on Facebook

Facebook is an ideal way to keep in touch with family and friends, and now it can be used to keep informed about what’s happening with Havering Council Housing Services.

If you ‘like’ us you will then get alerts when we add news to our page, including details of job opportunities, training courses, events and useful information. Like us on Facebook here.

The newly refurbished Hacton Lane Hall, in Hornchurch, is now available for hire and is an ideal venue for club and society meetings or family celebrations. Full details are available here.

Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Damian White, is holding housing surgeries for tenants and leaseholders on:

Friday 22 January, 4pm – 6pm, at BRAG Shop, 17 Briar Road, Harold Hill, RM3 8AH.

Friday 19 February, 4pm – 6pm, at HASWA, Kilmartin Way, Hornchurch, RM12 5NB.

Communal Composting

Ever thought about how much kitchen and other household waste could be kept out of your black sack by composting? Fruit and vegetable peelings, egg shells, teabags, toilet and kitchen roll tubes and cardboard can all be composted. Havering’s Recycling Team is hoping to work with residents at Hillrise and Highfield flats to start up a communal composting pilot. If there are any keen recyclers or gardeners out there who would like information on how this could be done in other areas then please get in touch with your community engagement officer.

Community Table Tennis Club

Want to get out of the house, meet new people and have fun? Come and play table tennis!  All levels welcome, equipment provided.  Thursdays, 1pm - 3pm, myplace, Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill, RM3 9EN, £3.  For more information email Colin Sherrin.

Dog days

From 6 April your dog MUST be microchipped to comply with the law.

The Dogs Trust will be providing free advice and micro-chipping for dogs on:

Thursday 11 February, 11am - 3pm, at Dunningford Close, Hornchurch, RM12 5JJ.

Can you spare half a day?

More than 100 people have already volunteered to help in their local library - our thanks go them and library managers will be in touch soon.

While 100 is good we are still looking for more volunteers to work alongside staff. Being a library volunteer can also boost your CV when looking for jobs. See what we are looking for here and sign up here to register your interest.

Books, DVDs, events and much more

There’s a lot happening at your local library which offers much more than just books.

There are events and local clubs meeting there, exhibitions and computers you can use. We’ve launched a new email update to let you know what’s taking place in your local library so don’t miss out, sign up to receive Library News by email today.

Taking library books on the road

Volunteers are needed to collect and return library books for housebound residents. If you go to your local library and would be willing to help a neighbour please let us know by completing the online form.

There are a number of Job Clubs in Havering which offer help and support including:

Every Monday, 9am until 12noon

Mardyke Community Centre, South Street, Rainham, RM13 8PJ. 

Every Wednesday, 10am until 1pm

Betty Strathern Centre, 41 Myrtle Road, Harold Hill, RM3 8XS

Every Thursday, 9.30am until 12.30pm

Highfield Towers Community Hall, Hillrise Road, Collier Row, RM5 3DQ

Every Friday, 10am until 1pm

Havering Citizens Advice, 9 Victoria Road, Romford, RM1 2JT

All job clubs are open to any Havering resident wanting help to find work.

For more information complete the request form here.

Jobs match service

Jobscentre Plus offers a universal jobs match service which allows you to look for vacancies online. More information available here.

Presents for refuge

If you have some unwanted Christmas presents, such as toiletries or beauty products, then Havering Women’s Refuge can make good use of them.

Kimberly Miller is coordinating the collection of these and is willing to collect or you can leave them at Housing Services office reception in Chippenham Road, Harold Hill.

You can apply to move house, for energy efficiency advice, to rent a garage and much more.

Check out the full list here.

You can also pay your housing or garage rent and Council Tax by Direct Debit by completing and returning the online form. You can pay online using credit or debit cards.

The Report It service is available to let the Council know about community and neighbourhood issues; housing issues; recycling and waste collection concerns and a lot more.

Council tenants and leaseholders can get secure access to all their housing information online through SeeMyData.​​​