Dear Tenants

I’m pleased to introduce the latest edition of our Tenant Newsletter, which keeps you informed about the work we’re doing to improve housing services across Sandwell.

We’ve been making strong progress with our Housing Improvement Plan, which is focused on delivering better, more responsive services for tenants and leaseholders. This is a long-term piece of work, but already we’re starting to see positive change. I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their feedback – your voices are essential in helping us shape a housing service that truly works for our communities.

A key update in this edition is the news that our new contractor is about to begin work to tackle the backlog of outstanding repairs. We know this has been a real concern for many residents, and this is a significant step forward in improving both the speed and quality of the repairs service.

There is still more to do, but your continued involvement makes a real difference. I encourage all tenants and leaseholders to stay engaged, speak up, and help us keep moving in the right direction.

Thank you for your support.

Warm regards,

Vicki Smith

Councillor Vicki Smith

Cabinet Member for Housing

Backlog Repairs Contractor ready to start

We recently agreed a contract with Seddon Construction Ltd to complete the current outstanding repairs backlog on Sandwell homes.

They are due to start on site later in September and will be in touch with you directly, to arrange appointment dates that suit you to complete any outstanding repair(s). They will try to complete all repairs during the same visit if you have more than one issue in the backlog.

If your repair has now become urgent or poses a health and safety risk, please contact us immediately on 0121 569 6000.

How to report a repair

Online: Use the MySandwell portal to report and track repairs.

Phone: Call 0121 569 6000 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday only

You can find out how to report an emergency repair, in the Tenant Handbook

Emergency out-of-hours: Call 0800 844 112 for urgent repairs when our offices are closed.

Complaints: You said, we did

Good News from the Housing Resolutions Team

Our Housing Resolutions Team works hard to listen to residents and help fix problems. Here are two happy stories from this month.

One resident was worried about two old fruit trees. The trees were rotten, messy, and bringing in rats. They were told it might take a whole year to remove them. But our team spoke to the right people and got a date within two weeks! Only one tree was taken away at first, but the team didn’t give up. They made sure the second tree was removed just three weeks later. The resident was very pleased.

Another resident, who is disabled and has two disabled children, had been waiting over a year for a new living room door. Without a door, the family found it hard to stay warm in winter and hard to keep the children in one safe space. Our team quickly arranged for a new door to be fitted within three weeks. The family now feels much happier and safer in their home.

These stories show how caring, listening, and not giving up can make a big difference. Our Housing Resolutions Team is here to help you.

• 9% of all gas safety check have been completed.
• 5% of electrical safety checks have been completed.
• 100% of buildings with communal areas, have had a fire risk assessment.
• 100% of buildings with a communal water supply, have had a legionella risk assessment.
• 100% of buildings with communal lifts, have had a lift safety check.
• 100% of asbestos reports have been completed to communal areas of blocks that require a survey.

We are also carrying out inspections and tests on the installed smoke detectors in our properties, this may be part of the normal gas and electrical servicing and testing programmes or be part of a bespoke programme for all electric properties.

Tenant Satisfaction Survey

This autumn, we’re running our Tenant Satisfaction Survey, and if you’re contacted, please know the survey is real.

From late September and early October, a random selection of tenants and leaseholders will be invited to take part. The survey is being carried out on our behalf by Acuity Research & Practice Ltd, an independent and trusted market research company.

If you are chosen, Acuity will contact you directly by phone, email, or SMS. Taking part is your chance to tell us what’s working well and where we can do better.

Your feedback makes a real difference and will help us improve the housing services we provide. The results will be shared on our website and published in future editions of our Annual Report for Tenants.

👉 You can also view results and satisfaction measures from previous years on our website.

It's really easy to register for a MySandwell account if you don’t have one. We just need your name, your home address and email address.

You can use your MySandwell account to view your Sandwell council tax, benefits and business rates or housing balances, make payments, request services, report problems and track any enquiries you put into the council.

If you can't find the form you're looking for in the MyServices tab, go to our A to Z of all council services.

However, if you are having trouble with your account, you can always call us 0121 368 1166 and our Housing Hub and Customer Service Team we will be happy to help and try and resolve your query first time.

We are here to help you, every step of the way.

In June 2025, tenants and leaseholders were invited to get involved, and the first meeting took place in early July. The group is now up and running and already making a difference.

What the group will do:

The Tenant Comms Group will work with Sandwell Council to improve how the Council communicates with tenants and leaseholders. Together, they will:

• Make sure tenants’ and leaseholders’ ideas are heard.
• Check and improve newsletters and reports before they are sent out.
• Suggest ways to make information easier to understand.
• Talk about issues that matter most to tenants and leaseholders.
• Advise the Council on the best ways to share information, such as email, text, letters, social media, WhatsApp, and community groups.
• Develop ideas for a new newsletter that will be sent out every two months.
• Help write a special tenant section in each newsletter.

The group has started strongly, already receiving information from the Council and sharing helpful feedback. This is just the beginning, the group will continue to grow and make sure the voices of tenants and leaseholders are heard loud and clear.

Check our website to find out more or get involved

Tenant Engagement Team Hits the Road Across Sandwell

This summer, the Sandwell Council Tenant Engagement Team has been out and about across all six towns in Sandwell, meeting tenants and leaseholders in their own neighbourhoods and communities.

These events were a great chance to listen, talk, and work together on any issues or concerns raised. They also helped the team learn more about what’s happening locally.

The events gave tenants and leaseholders the opportunity to get more involved and shape the services that matter to them. A range of Sandwell Council officers also joined in to provide support, answer questions, and make sure people were directed to the right services. It was a real example of teamwork and co-production in action.

The Tenant Engagement Team also promoted the Tenant and Leaseholder Scrutiny Group, a group where tenants can directly influence decisions. They encouraged sign-ups to weekly email updates and shared other opportunities to get involved in engagement activities.

Looking ahead, the Tenant Engagement Team is planning more dates between October and December 2025 to reach even more tenants and leaseholders. You can attend any of the events, even if they aren’t in your local area, just come along, have your say, and help shape the services that matter most to you.

Keep an eye on our website to find out more dates

Hamstead Village TRA Fun Day: Community Spirit Shines Through

Hamstead Village Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) held its annual fun day on Saturday 9 August 2025, and despite some blustery weather, families came together to enjoy a fantastic afternoon of activities.

The TRA committee organised something for everyone, including a tombola, face art, “hook a duck,” outdoor Connect Four, and fun activities from Go Play Sandwell. There were also stalls selling handmade crochet, cakes, and other goodies. A highlight of the day was a raffle for a household hamper full of essentials, kindly donated by the Co-op on Walsall Road.

Visitors also had the chance to meet representatives from Tanhouse Community Centre, who shared details of upcoming activities, and Sandwell’s Waste Management Team, who were on hand to explain the new waste and recycling scheme starting next month.

Although the wind tried to cause trouble, the TRA persevered, and children and families had a brilliant time together.

The committee is already busy planning its next event: a children’s Halloween Party during the Half Term holidays.