Find out about Universal Credit

Universal Credit will replace six existing benefits and is now being rolled out in Havering.

Havering Council has produced a special information booklet that you can read online here.

Britain in Bloom

Havering is bidding to achieve Gold status in the Royal Horticultural Society's prestigious Britain in Bloom competition 2016.

​Following outstanding success in winning 47 prizes at last year's London in Bloom awards, the borough now goes forward as one of London's representatives to compete at national level.

Britain in Bloom is an opportunity for everyone in Havering to get involved either by joining or starting community projects or simply by making your own home as beautiful as possible. 

Find out how you can help here.

Keep up to date with all the different ways to get involved by visiting and liking our Facebook page, Britain in Bloom Havering, and Britain in Bloom Havering on Instagram. 

Crime prevention advice

Residents on the Delta Estate in Romford were able to get free advice when Havering Council’s Housing Services Community Wardens caravan came to the central green.

The wardens were joined by members of the Havering Police Squirrels Heath Safer Neighbourhoods Team.

Age range of information leaflets were available for residents as well as purse chains and timers for lights and radios to be switched on when homes are empty.

The caravan will be coming to an area near you during the year so do call in and say hello.

You can contact the Community Wardens online here.

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.

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:

30 March: The Rotunda, Fambridge Court, Cottons Court.​ 

6 April: ​Farnham Road, Hilldene Avenue, Chippenham Road, Kings Lynn Drive, Dartfields, Rothbury House, Crediton House, Wantage House, Ingleton House, Stratford House, Ripon House, Keswick House, Ringwood House, Morpeth House, Matlock House.​

13 April: Malan Square, Bader Way, Wood Lane, Thomas Sims Court.

20 April: Leyburn Crescent, Leyburn Road, Southall House, Ulverston House, Runcorn House, Talgarth House, Wallingford House, Coleford House, Denbigh House, Chesham House, Havant House, Atherton House, Middlesborough House, Lampeter House, Enfield House, Helmsley House, Langport House, Orton House, Pulborough House.​

27 April: ​Carnforth House, Marsden House, Bracknell House, Brackley House, Bedford House, Arnside House, Heathfield House, Hungerford House, Lodden House, Marsden House.

4 May: Morecambe House, Minefield House, Macclesfield House, Lynmouth House, Luton House, Thrapston House, Haslingdon House, Halifax House, Glossop House, Epsom House, Gillingham House, Camelford House, Wilmslow House, Wolverton House, Newmarket House, Portmadoc House, Northampton House, Nelson House.​

Get details of the scheme here.

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.

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.

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

Friday 22 April, 4pm – 6pm, next to Highfield Towers, Hillrise Road, Collier Row, RM5 3DQ..

Friday 13 May, 4pm – 6pm, at 98A Macon Way, Cranham, RM14 1NY..

At the Heart

Every Council tenant and leaseholder should have received the Spring edition of At the Heart through the post.

Please let us know here if you didn't get your copy.

You can also read it online here.

Sheltered Times

Every resident in a Council sheltered housing scheme should have received the Spring edition of Sheltered Times through their letterbox.

If you haven't received your copy please ask your scheme manager.

You can also read it online here.

Dog days

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

The Dogs Trust will be provides free advice and micro-chipping for dogs, including in Havering.

New opening hours

The opening hours for Havering libraries have changed and now are:

Collier Row, Elm Park, Gidea Park, Harold Wood and South Hornchurch: Monday and Tuesday closed; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am – 4pm; Thursday 2pm - 8pm.

Harold Hill, Romford and Upminster: Monday and Thursday 10am – 8pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 10am – 4pm.

Hornchurch:  Monday to Friday inclusive 1pm - 10pm, Saturday 10am - 3pm.

Rainham:  Monday and Wednesday 10am – 8pm, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 4pm.

Find out more about Havering's libraries here.

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.

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.​​​

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.