Dear resident
Happy new year from Housing Leeds. We’ve had a cold start to the year, so this update includes help and advice for anyone worried about money, energy bills, or being able to keep warm. Please don’t be afraid to contact us or other organisations that can help. Visit the Winter Wellbeing Checklist for advice and support.
Inside this email…
- Welcome Spaces
- Reminder about the extra rent week
- Where to go for money and budgeting advice
- Take part in our latest consultations
- Collecting satisfaction information from you about our services
- Stay safe – Leeds gas canister explosion
- Protect your belongings with content’s insurance
- Be aware of ‘cold’ callers
- Being a good neighbour
- Help and support to get online
- How to contact us
A warm, safe place, hot drink and company
 There are 177 Welcome Spaces available across Leeds, providing a warm safe space with hot refreshments, providing a great opportunity to meet new people in your local community.
Reminder about extra rent week
As we have mentioned previously, your rent is charged weekly, starting on a Monday. So, when there are 53 Mondays in a year, there is an extra week of rent to pay.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) doesn’t pay any extra Universal Credit to cover this. This means that if you receive Universal Credit, you should have been paying a little extra each week to ensure your rent is covered and you don’t fall into arrears.
If you aren’t sure what you need to do, or you haven’t yet made an additional payment, please contact your local Housing Office. You can view your rent balance and download a statement using the Tenant Portal.
Money and budgeting advice - We're here to help
 We understand many tenants and their families may be struggling financially but help and support is available. Please don’t be afraid to contact us to talk about your rent, we’re here if you need us. Our Money and Budgeting Service can also help you manage the cost of living. Your local housing team can put you in touch.
We'd love to hear your feedback
Do you have any individual needs and how well do you think we respond to these? We want your feedback so that we can improve how we make reasonable adjustments and support residents to access our services. Please take part in our survey and let us know your views.
Bottle Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) Warning
This is a reminder that LPG gas cylinders should not be stored inside your home. These cylinders are commonly used for the storage of bottled gases (Propane & Butane) which are used to power barbeques and portable heaters. If kept, they should only ever be stored externally, in a secure location away from any buildings or flammable materials, and only ever enough for the intended purpose. Stored gas bottles increase the risk of serious injuries and structural damage due to explosion.
We’re aware some residents may use bottled oxygen cylinders for health reasons. Please tell us if you are an oxygen user so that we can arrange a Safe and Well visit through West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, if you have not already had one.
We do not recommend the use of portable gas heaters in the home as these increase the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, and of damp and condensation occurring. Please remember, it is strictly forbidden for any residents to use, or store bottled gas in any high-rise home, including on balconies.
Have you got contents insurance?
You never expect things to go wrong at home, but it could happen, ruining or destroying the things you love and need. Contents insurance financially protects the contents in your home, garage, and shed – such as your clothes, furniture, TV, kitchen appliances, gadgets, and garden tools. If the worst happens, you could claim on your insurance, and if covered, this would pay to repair or replace your contents. That’s why we’ve given it our thumbs-up.
Visit home contents insurance today for more information on how to get cover.
Be aware of cold callers
In the run up to Christmas we had several reports of companies ‘cold’ calling residents, some of them claiming to work on behalf of the council. They were asking about outstanding repairs and making promises about how they can get repairs done quickly and getting you compensation by making a disrepair claim.
If they call you, or come to your door, make sure you:
- always ask for identification
- call the police if you feel scared or threatened
- talk to us before you sign any documents if you are unsure about who you are dealing with or what the consequences might be
As one example, Ms X from Harehills believed she would get thousands in compensation by submitting a disrepair claim. The judge ordered her to pay costs of more than £7,000 for wasting of the court's time
We know that we sometimes get things wrong, and repairs don't always get done right first time. If you have any outstanding repairs, please let us know so we can get it sorted for you. Visit our disrepair campaign page for more information.
 The Government has launched a ‘Make things right’ campaign to ensure those living in social housing who have issues with their home know their rights, know how to complain, and feel empowered in the knowledge that their voice will be heard.
If you’re not happy with the service you’ve received, you can make a complaint to us. You can also speak to the Housing Ombudsman for advice and information.
For more information on the ‘Make things rights’ campaign, visit www.gov.uk/social-housing
New 'Good Neighbour' guide
We’ve been doing a lot of work on how we manage antisocial behaviour (ASB) and consulted on a new policy last year. As part of this, we’ve developed a guide on how to be a good neighbour and help reduce and prevent neighbour disputes where possible.
Please take the time to read the guide and share it with your family and friends. If you'd like to give us any feedback, please email housinginvolvement@leeds.gov.uk.
Speaking to your neighbour is often the best way of resolving issues as soon as they occur. Advice on this, and other approaches such as mediation, is included in the guide.
Need help to get online
Computers, free Wi-Fi access, and help and support to get online is available from our Community Hubs. If you struggle to get to your local Hub due to a disability, then help is available. AbilityNet is a charity that provides FREE one-to-one IT support, guidance, and assistance to anyone living with a disability, in the comfort of their own home. They have a dedicated group of volunteers who have all been DBS checked. Whilst they do not provide equipment, they can:
- Provide impartial advice on options to consider
- Set up mobile phones, computers, tablets
- Trouble shoot problems
- Deliver coaching and support on a one-to-one basis
- Adapt technology to suit the individual, e.g. changing the speaking speed, screen colours, magnification
Call 0300 180 0028 or request free IT support at home from them.
This is one example of the wider help and support available to help get online, access a digital device or find low-cost broadband and mobile tariffs
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
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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
You can manage your tenancy online
Keep us updated - let us know if you change your telephone number or email address
If you’re not happy with the service you’ve received, you can make a complaint
Find your closest available customer service HUB
Leeds Directory - support to live well in Leeds
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