Dear resident
Please take a minute or two to read our latest update, we hope you find it useful. If you’d like to give feedback about this update or suggest something you’d like us to focus on in future, please email housingleedsinformation@leeds.gov.uk.
Inside this update:
- The results from the latest satisfaction survey and our actions in response
- Your views are wanted by the Housing Ombudsman – can you help them create their ‘Repairing Trust’ report?
- Could you or someone you know be eligible for Pension Credit?
- Be Legionella aware
- An invite to take part in a Fuel Poverty workshop
- Do you know what cuckooing is? A short video from West Yorkshire Police to help keep you and your community safe
- How to contact us
Your satisfaction with our services
Every three months, we continue to contact a sample of tenants to ask their views about our service. Thank you to everyone who has responded. The results help us to identify areas for improvement and track whether we are improving over time. Whilst your satisfaction with our service improved last year compared to the year before, the results for the last six months have dropped slightly. We’re looking into the parts of our service that seem to have dropped the most to understand what we can do to give the best service we can. We will always want to improve your satisfaction and we are working hard to do this.
 These questions are part of a national set of measures, known as ‘Tenant Satisfaction Measures’ or TSMs. You can see more information about our performance and how we are meeting the requirements of the Regulator for Social Housing on our new Social Housing Regulation web page.
In response to your feedback, we are:
- Reviewing our Anti-Social Behaviour Policy and launching a Good Neighbourhood Guide. We’ll be inviting residents to have input into these soon.
- Working on a new Communication and Engagement Policy so residents know what to expect in response to your enquiries or requests and what minimum standards of communication our teams need to follow. We’ll be asking for resident input into this too!
- Updating the information on our repair's web pages so it’s clear how you can request a repair, what service standards you can expect and other useful information about our repair responsibilities.
- Producing new ‘how to’ films on common problems like how to unblock a sink. Giving advice to residents who can undertake small repairs that are a tenant's responsibility.
Housing Ombudsman - ‘repairing trust’ in housing maintenance
 The Housing Ombudsman is asking for your views to inform their next report, called ‘Repairing Trust’. This aims to explore some of the common issues residents may experience when receiving repairs from their landlord. The report is then published and shared with all social housing providers, including making a number of recommendations and positive case studies to help them improve.
The resident survey asks about your experience of repairs and maintenance operatives in your home or other buildings owned by us. So that the voice of Leeds residents is included, please complete the survey by Friday 25 October 2024.
Pension Credit Awareness Week
 Did you know, you, your family, friend, neighbour or loved one could be eligible for an average £3,900 extra a year through Pension Credit?
Many older people don't realise that they are eligible for Pension Credit and are missing out on vital support:
- The average Pension Credit award in Leeds is worth £71.21 per week!
- Pension Credit unlocks additional support including Winter Fuel Payments, help with Council Tax, NHS dental care, and for those over 75, a free TV license
Visit www.gov.uk/pension-credit to find out more.
Some tenants may need support with completing an application and there is support out there through the Money Information Centre and your local Housing Office.
Be Legionella aware…
Many of us will have heard about Legionnaires disease but may not know what it is or how to help prevent it. Legionnaires disease is caused by inhaling small droplets of water from any source that contains a significant quantity of legionella bacteria.
Don’t worry! Legionella is commonly found in natural sources, such as lakes and reservoirs. It also enters our water system through the water mains supply. It is harmless to drink and cannot be passed from person to person. The risk arises when the bacteria multiply to dangerous levels and is then spread, for example, in spray from showers and taps.
The risk of Legionella is low, but we can all take the following precautions in our homes:
- Run your showers and taps for a few minutes following a period of non-use, for example, after you have been on holiday or staying away from your home.
- Keep shower heads and taps clean and free from a build-up of limescale, mould or algae growth.
- Tell us about any problem such as water temperature fluctuations, or discolouration to the water flowing from any tap or shower.
We have carried out a risk assessment to our homes and buildings which has identified a small number of water systems that are at a higher risk from Legionella. We monitor the water quality in these buildings closely and we carry out regular water sampling to ensure that the risk remains low. If you have any concerns about Legionella, then contact us on housingleedsinformation@leeds.gov.uk
Fuel Poverty workshop
Leeds City Council and the University of Leeds are holding a workshop to look at fuel poverty and energy efficiency and we’d love to hear from people who live in Leeds.
The aim of the event is to bring people together to discover ways to help reduce fuel poverty and make homes more energy efficient. We want tenants from across the city to be involved and have their say on how we can go about this – so please come along!
When – Thursday 25 September 2024 between 9:00am and 4:00pm
Where – Knowledge Exchange, Leeds Becket University, The Rosebowl, Portland Crescent, Leeds, LS1 3HB
Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
If you’d like to find out more about this event, email Daniel.Hardy@leeds.gov.uk or call 07891 275 540.
Cuckooing advice from West Yorkshire Police
 Cuckooing is when an organised crime group or individual take over someone's home through force, deceit, or coercion. It is often included with "County Lines" activity, when gangs take control over a vulnerable adult's address, as a site to store, supply, or produce drugs. Properties can also be used for pop-up brothels, storing weapons, or other illicit and unwanted activity. Help become more aware, watch this short video and find out more about cuckooing.
And finally...
 Trams are on their way to West Yorkshire. Have your say.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has launched a consultation on its first phase of Mass Transit plans.
From now until Monday 30 September, WYCA will be asking the public for their views on the first two lines of the proposed tram network.
Phase one aims to connect central and south Leeds (The Leeds Line) and Bradford to Leeds (The Bradford Line).
Find out more and have your say
 Staying on the theme of travel, Connecting Leeds want to hear from residents in Burmantofts & Richmond Hill, Gipton & Harehills, and Killingbeck & Seacroft on any issues related to travel in your community.
The consultation is live until Sunday 8 September and it’s easy to have your say – drop a pin on the maps where you’re experiencing issues and fill in the survey. This will help prioritise improvements when funding becomes available.
Find out more and feedback here.
Contacting us:
To request a repair:
- Call 0800 188 4000
- Outside of office hours we will only take calls for emergency repairs.
- Swarcliffe PFI areas please call 0345 366 4403
-
Little London, Beeston Hill & Holbeck PFI areas please call 03331 210 074
To make a rent payment: go to Housing Rent Payments or call 0300 456 0484. You can also call your local housing office to make a payment.
For all general enquiries: Call 0800 188 4000 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9am to 5pm; Wednesday 10am to 5pm). This number is free from a mobile and a landline.
For all ongoing tenancy matters please contact your local housing office
If you’re not happy with the service you’ve received, you can make a complaint
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