Fastest in the country for new housing lets

Havering Council is the fastest council in the country for letting homes that become empty.

On average it takes just 14 days from the day a tenant moves out to the day a new tenant moves in. That's good news for residents needing housing and also maximises the rent coming into the Council to pay for other housing projects.

Housing in Bloom launched

The Housing in Bloom competition has launched and this year it’s even more important people take part as every flower will help impress the Britain in Bloom judges who will visit the borough during August.

Havering is representing London in the national competition and is looking to win gold for the capital.

Closing date for Housing in Bloom is Wednesday 31 August and full details can be found here.

£400 fines for fly-tipping

Councils now have the power to issue £400 Fixed Penalty Charges to people who fly-tip anything from a sngle black bag through to furniture.

Using the Council’s bulky waste collection service costs £10 per item, with a minimum charge of £30 per visit, so if you have large items to get rid of, it’s much cheaper to use the collection service.

More information is available here.

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.

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.

A 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:

29 June Maygreen Crescent, Park Lane.​

​6 July: Rush Green Gardens.​

​13 July: Ongar Way, Theydon Gardens, Danbury Road, Fyfield Road, Canfield Road, Harlow Road, Writtle Walk.​

20 July: The Rotunda, Fambridge Court, Cottons Court.​

​27 July: ​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, Lincoln House.

​3 August: ​Malan Square, Bader Way, Wood Lane, Thomas Sims Court

​10 August: ​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.

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.

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.

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

Friday 24 June, 4pm – 6pm, Abercrombie House, Bridgewater Road, Harold Hill, RM3 7UA. This is for Abercrombie House residents only.

Friday 22 July, 4pm – 6pm, Hacton Hall, Haydock Close, Hornchurch, RM12 6EA.

Friday 19 August, 4pm – 6pm, Friday 19 August 4pm - 6pm Havering Town Hall, Main Road, Romford, RM1 3BB

New Housing Allocation and Homeless Placement policies

On Wednesday 15 June, Cabinet approved two key Housing Policies on how Havering Council will allocate housing to residents and homeless people.

The new policies will come into force on Friday 1 July 2016 and can be seen here.

1.     Housing Allocation Policy

Key changes made to the Housing Allocations Policy include:

• Extending the residency period from five to six continuous years
• Increasing the income level from £27,500 to £36,000
• People found guilty of serious unacceptable behaviour will be unable to join the Housing Register
• Restricting the housing register to applicants who can demonstrate a housing need.

The new policy has also made changes to the banding system, implemented a one offer only policy, new sheltered housing eligibility criteria and is monitoring bidding activity to ensure that applicants actively participle in securing accommodation.

If you no longer qualify, you will have a transitional period of six months from Friday 1 July 2016 to continue bidding for settled accommodation until you are removed from the Housing Register in January 2017.  

2.     Homeless Placements Policy

This is a new policy that sets out the Council’s approach for responding to homelessness in the borough. The Council will now be procuring and allocating accommodation both in and out of borough and will be using its powers under the Localism Act 2011 to end its homelessness duty by offer private rented accommodation with a private landlord for a contract period of at least 12 months.

More details of the new policies can be found here.

£34.9m GLA investment launches new vision for Romford Town Centre

​Havering Council’s Cabinet has approved a landmark agreement with the Greater London Authority (GLA) which opens the way for a thriving future for Romford Town Centre.

​The £34.9 million from the GLA will allow the Council to start the consultation process that will give local people and businesses the opportunity to help shape and inform the future of the town.

The Council’s vision is for a transformed Romford Town Centre, with thriving communities, high quality housing, excellent schools and other facilities, backed up by flourishing local businesses and jobs. 

The proposed new developments at Bridge Close, Angel Way and Waterloo Road, are just part of massive investments in Romford, which include the new Leisure Centre, Crossrail improvements at Romford Station and the transformation of the Market.

Consultation will take place with residents to seek their views on the proposals.

More information is available here.

Building more homes

Havering Council has identified 12 places across the borough where new homes can be built to provide social housing for local residents.

The Cabinet on Wednesday 15 June agreed to consult with tenants and leaseholders in each of the areas as well as looking for private sector partners, including housing associations, to help develop the new housing schemes.

Information will be sent direct to tenants in the 12 areas, including details of meetings where they can share their ideas and express their views.

At the Heart

Every Council tenant and leaseholder should receive the Summer edition of At the Heart through the post in the next 10 days.

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 Summer 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

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

The Dogs Trust will provide free advice and micro-chipping for dogs, on:

Wednesday 6 July at Rush Green Gardens, Romford.

​Wednesday 17 August ​​at Camforth House, Petersfield Avenue, Harold Hill.

More details are available here.

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.