Tenant Times: May 2024

Hello from your Local Influence Network (LIN) Chair

Hi, my name is Dale and I’m the LIN Chair focusing on Rural areas. Welcome to the second edition of the Tenant Times. In it you will find lots of useful information about your housing service as well as useful tips and helpful advice. Thanks as well for all the positive feedback from lots of you about our first edition and hope that you find this one just as useful.

This newsletter is produced for you as tenants. Please keep letting us know what you want to see in the Tenant Times and we will do our best to make sure that it is added into future issues.

Finally, the other LIN Chairs Mick, Helen and Richard and I just wanted to say thanks to all of you that attended any of our Local Influence Network and Community Link Group Meetings across the district in the last few months. Keep your eyes open for future dates, times and locations from the Engagement Team.

Thanks again and happy reading!

Where you can find help

The Cost-of-Living crisis is still ongoing, we know many people are struggling to make ends meet, so we want to make you aware of where you can find some help in our District.

Introducing the Bread and Butter Thing and other food clubs in Newark and Sherwood!

For only £8.50 can get you around £35 worth of shopping. Each bag may include fresh fruit and veg, chilled food and cupboard staples such as pasta and cereals.

The food provided comes from surplus from supermarkets, manufacturers and farmers and always guarantees food quality and fresh produce.

The Bread and Butter Thing is at Cleveland Square Community Centre, Cleveland Square, Newark NG24 4HJ every Monday 14:00-14:30.

To find out how you can register and to find out more about the Bread and Butter Thing

Are you also aware of the Holidays Activities and Food (HAF) programme? HAF supports the wellbeing of children between 5 - 16 years by providing a variety of activities and food during school holidays. 

There are always lots of fun and exciting activities for children to take part in across the district. The summer listings will be live from July 2024. You can find more information about HAF on the Nottinghamshire County Council website.

Our Tenant Engagement Survey is now live!

We have put together a quick survey to send to every Newark and Sherwood District Council tenant. The survey is your chance to tell us what is most important to you around your home and tenancy and will help us make sure your views and feedback are being listened to.  

The survey has been launched and you can complete it by going to https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/2A2YP7/. If you complete the survey, you can be entered into a prize draw with the chance to win 1 of 4 shopping vouchers worth £50!

In the meantime, if you would like any more information on getting involved, get in touch with the Tenant Engagement team on getinvolved@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk

What to do if your home has a damp and mould issue

Any home can suffer with damp and mould and whilst we maintain our homes to prevent this sometimes there can be an issue that is causing a problem. If you have an issue with damp or mould in your home, the first thing you should do, is contact us, either by calling 01636 650 000 or using the online ‘Report a repair’ system.

There are several causes of damp and mould in the home ranging from poor ventilation through to structural issues. Whatever the cause, the sooner the problem is identified the easier it is to resolve.

We have some advice on our website on how to reduce the risk of damp and mould in your home.

Boughton Community Hub officially opens!

On Saturday 18 May we officially opened our Boughton Community Hub.

The Hub is a place for our tenants and residents in Boughton who can come talk to us, access services and help us tackle local issues. Our partners such as Nottinghamshire Police and health and community-based services will also be located at the Hub.

Those who live in Boughton can also use the Hub for social groups and clubs, community events and to take part in courses!

Please do pop along and speak to our team at the Hub they are there to help! You can find the Hub at 34 Manvers View, Boughton.

Know your rights as tenants

It is really important that you are aware of your rights as tenants and also what our responsibilities are to you as your landlord.

Your rights are listed in your Tenancy Agreement and we have a new webpage on our site that provides lots of information: Your home, your tenancy.

Additionally, Four Million Homes is a new programme has been launched to provide you with knowledge, guidance and training on your rights and how to stand up for them. Their website provides advice on a wide range of issues. For more information and helpful advice visit the Four Million Homes website.

The Housing Ombudsman is also a free service that has lots of information about your rights as a social housing tenant. You can, at any point, contact them for advice or support if you are unhappy with our housing service. For more information, please visit the Housing Ombudsman’s occupancy factsheet.

Get Involved

We want to make it as easy as possible for you, our tenants, to get involved with everything we do in your community. There are lots of things you can do, from voluntary work to coming down to one of our regular walkabout sessions.

We’ve also created the Community Link Groups which meet regularly to discuss the issues that matter in your area. Speak to your Tenancy Officer to find out when the next meeting is taking place in your area. Find out who your Tenancy Officer is on our website.

However you want to help out, let us know by emailing our engagement team, getinvolved@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk, with your contact details and keep an eye on our website.

Scan the QR code for more information!

Our performance 

The recent changes to how social housing is regulated includes an increased requirement for landlords to be transparent and provide more information to tenants. This will make it easier for tenants to hold their landlord to account if things go wrong.

We have started to publish performance information on our website and will be looking to provide more information in the coming months.

This will include our Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSM’s) which is survey and performance information we are required to provide annually to the Regulator of Social Housing. This information will be used by the Regulator to compare our performance against other social landlords and to intervene if performance falls below expected levels.

The first results are due to be published by the Regulator autumn 2024.

Who is my Tenancy Officer?

Our team of Tenancy Officers are there to help you. They can offer help and guidance with many day-to-day enquiries you might face.  To find your local tenancy officer visit www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/mytenancyofficer

Meet one of our Officers: Stanley! Stanley has been working at Newark and Sherwood District Council for about two and a half years and is enjoying every moment of it! He currently looks after Boughton and Ollerton tenants.

Some of his hobbies include cooking, football and painting and his favourite movie is the Hateful Eight by Quentin Tarantino.

He can be contacted by his email address, stanley.chihwayi@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk

Let Us Know How We Are Doing

Are we doing a good job or falling below your expectations? Please let us know, as with your feedback, we can make changes and improve our services. You can provide feedback via email, telephone or via an online form.  Find out more at www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/tenantfeedback

If you have a specific complaint, then please let us know so that we can sort it out for you. You can do this online at www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/customerfeedback

• Make a complaint to us at Newark and Sherwood District Council here
• Make a complaint through the Housing Ombudsman here

Let us know what you think about the information in this e-newsletter and what you would like to see in future editions by emailing getinvolved@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk.

Improvements to your home

Do you want to make any changes to your home? Do you know what is permitted under the terms of your tenancy and do you know what you have to ask permission for and how to apply?

Get in touch either with your tenancy officer or by calling customer services on 01636 650 000 or emailing customerservices@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk

Summertime receipt - Chicken and Chorizo Jambalaya!

This spring why not try this simple and tasty recipe that serves up to four, provided to you from one of our Officers Jenny!

Ingredients:

• 6 chicken thighs, boneless and skinless, diced
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 1 red pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 75g chorizo, chopped
• 1tbsp Cajun spice
• 250g uncooked rice
• 75g frozen peas
• 1x 400g chopped tomatoes
• 350ml chicken stock

Method:

• Add a drizzle of olive oil to a frying pan, add the chicken and cook until slightly brown over a medium heat.
• Add the chorizo and veggies except the frozen peas.
• Cook for a further 5 minutes and add the Cajun spice.
• Add the rice and thoroughly mix before adding the tin of tomatoes and stock.
• Bring to the boil, then turn heat down low and cover the pan.
• Cook for around 20 minutes, constantly checking and stirring the pan. You may need to add more water as the rice cooks.
• Five minutes before the end add the frozen peas and thoroughly mix the pain.
• Check the rice is cooked through before serving.