Tenants' Update December 2014

COVER STORY

DECEMBER 2014Update

NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR TENANTS AND LEASEHOLDERS OF WOLVERHAMPTON HOMES

Tenants’

Rent First...pleasepage 3

Garden Competitionpage 4

Flair Fairpage 7

TENANTS UPDATE (DECEMBER 2014).qxp_Layout 1 17/11/2014 13:56 Page 1

2www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk WolvesHomes 01902 556789

Welcome to the December issue of Tenants’ Update.

Christmas will soon be here and I bet you’re busy planning your Christmas shopping. I know things are tight at the moment so please

be careful not to overspend. Put your bills before your Christmasspending – the best Christmas present you can get for your kids is

a roof over their heads. You can read all about our ‘Rent First...please’ campaign on page 3 and find out how to get help if you need it.

We’ve had so many photos for this issue but we can’t fit them all in. Have a look at the garden competition winners on page 4 and the amazing

tenants who were at Flair Fair on page 7.

I’d like to finish by wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Ann Ramsbottom, Editor, Tenants’ Update

Thank you to Clare Campbell from Bilston for helping with our front cover.


Make it easy to pay your rent – pay by Direct Debit just call 0800 408 0400 or visitwww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/direct-debit

01902 556789 www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/moneyadvicewww.facebook.com/MoneySmartTeam

Or visit the CAB at our Merry Hill, Wednesfield and Bilston shops

Rent First...pleasePlease remember to pay your rent and other priority bills – it doesn’ttake long to get into debt but it can take a long time to get out of it.

Our staff can help and support you if you need money advice. So if you’re struggling to payyour rent please get in touch.

Rent First!PLEASE

Christmas opening HOURS

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WHILE WE'RE CLOSED BOOK YOUR REPAIRS AND PAY YOUR RENT ONLINE:

www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/do-it-online

Julie Edwards and HayleeJas (WH) with Suki Chopra and Paul Beckett

Eileen & Edward Jarrett

Phone Market Merry Heath lines Street Hill

Town Wednesfield Low Bilston Hill

Tues 23rd Dec Open until Open until Closed Closed

4.30pm 4pm Open

Wed 24th Dec Closed Closed Closed Closed

Thur 25th Dec Closed Closed Closed Closed

Fri 26th Dec Closed Closed Closed Closed

Sat 27th Dec Closed Closed Closed Closed

Mon 29th Dec Open Open Closed Closed

Tues 30th Dec Open Open Closed Closed

Wed 31st Dec Open until Open until Closed Closed

4.30pm 4pm

Thur 1st Jan Closed Closed Closed Closed

Fri 2nd Jan Open Open Open Closed

Christmas is just around the corner so put these dates in your planner.

Our Christmas opening hours will be:


PRIDE IN YOUR COMMUNITYN The prizes for the Pride in your Community competition wereawarded at the last Get Togethers. There were far too many winners to include here so here are the highlights:

Best kept garden gold winnerPaulette Gardner and Allan Veccepure from Low Hill – they also won silver for hanging basket and bronze for container.

Pride in your community awardsNeighbours’ week winner: FSSK & The AvenuesNational day & local garden competition

CommunalSilver winner: Edith Young fromBoscobel

Silver winnerEileen & GeraldJarrett from GraisleyCourt

LOW HILL

MERRY HILL

WEDNESFIELD

BILSTON

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To see all the winners visit www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/garde

n-winners

Children’s garden gold winner:Ashleigh Dance

Overall garden winnerMr S Rowley

Pride in your community awardsWinner Neighbours’ week: Castlebridge Gardens: Communityfun day

Overall winner hanging basket Mr and Mrs Beardsmore from Bilston

Overall winner communal gardenJames Deardon from HessianClose

Pride in your community awardsWinner Neighbours’ week: The Royalty: litter pick


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ARE YOU READY FOR

Universal Credit is coming in February2015. If you’re single and need to claimbenefits, including housing costs, you’ll go onto Universal Credit (UC).

If you already claim benefits, including JobSeekers Allowance, Income Support, ESA(income based), Tax Credits and HousingBenefit, you will move to UC sometime in2016/17.

To be ready you need to:• Have a bank account - for your UC to be paid into.• Save up one month’s rent to keep your rent account up to date – your UC will be paid in arrears.• Arrange to pay your rent to us as your benefit will be paid to you.• Make sure you’re online – you’ll need to claim and make updates online.

We can help with all of these – so get intouch with us as soon as possible.

Here’s a really useful website which will tellyou what you need to do to be ready.http://ucpp.dwp.gov.uk/universal-credit-preparation

Or find out more atwww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/universal-credit

Or if you need to speak to someonecall the money smart team on01902 556789

UNIVERSAL CREDIT ONTHE LOOKING LOCAL APPFind out more about Universal Credit using LookingLocal – available on Sky, Virgin, Wii, PC or as asmartphone app. There’s an eligibility checker, aguide through your claim journey and how to claim,budgeting advice and frequently asked questions.

Find it on:Sky: community channel 539Virgin: community channel 233Wii, PC and Playstation: typelookinglocal.gov.uk into your browser Smartphone: download the Looking Local app for IOS and android

ROBERT’S AWINNER WITHDIRECT DEBIT

Congratulations toRobert Groves ofHorseley Fields. Hewon £150 just forpaying his rent byDirect Debit. Hechose to have hisprize paid into a creditunion account.

He's all set for Christmas now!Call 0800 408 0400 or visitwww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/direct-debit


Tell us what you think......AT OUR NEXT GET TOGETHERS

Tuesday 17th February

4-6pmWolverhampton Homes, Tarmac Road, Bilston,

WV4 6JW

Thursday 12th February

6-8pmLow Hill Community Centre,

Kempthorne Avenue, Low Hill, WV10 9JJ

What happens if I miss a rent payment?Your rent is due weekly so if you miss a payment we will contact you straight away so that your arrears don’t get out of control.

If you’re struggling to pay your rent we will offer advice and support from our Money Smart team or the Citizens Advice Bureau.

• If you don’t pay the rent owed we will keep trying to speak to you and help you, but we may have to send you a Notice of Seeking Possession. This is like a warning and gives you fourweeks to clear your arrears.

• If you still don’t pay your rent we can take you to court and you would then also owe court costs.

• The court will either order you to pay your rent or will give an order to evict you.

Evicting a tenant is always a last resort so the important thing to remember is to get in touch as soon as you have problems paying your rent.

We can help and the sooner you get in touch the easier it is to sort out the problem.

Find out more at www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/arrears

Get in touch with your estate manager as soon as possible, call 01902 556789 or visit:www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/estate-managers

RENT ARREARS– your questions answered

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Barry Pugh from Tettenhall Wood visited our Web Wizards wanting some help with his Laptop. They also showed him how to use SKYPE to stay in touch with his family who live abroad.


TALENTEDTENANTS AT

FLAIRFAIR!

Your Feedback

BILLSBILLSBILLSFind it a pain to pay your bills?Fed up of queuing?Tired of juggling payment dates?

There’s an easy way!Open a Budget account, payyour wages or benefits into the account and all your billswill be paid for you.

Contact Wolverhampton CityCredit Union:01902 572340

www.wccul.co.ukwww.facebook.com/wccul

Christmas shoppers were in for a treat at this year’s Flair Fair. More than 25 tenants showcased and sold thethings they’d made over four days in the Mander Centre.

Kate was selling her crafts including Christmas stockings and decorations.

Hardeep sold jewellery and crochet goods.

Emma wowed everyone with her cakes.

There were too many talented tenants to mention here butcheck out our website for all the photos and more details,plus there’s still time to buy from them.

www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/flair-fair

Brian Hanland said:“I wish I could get help withmy back garden.”

We said:“Anyone who needs helpwith their garden can useour tidy garden scheme. We can help with lawnmowing, hedge trimming,shrub pruning, weeding ortree maintenance. Pricesstart at £7.75 per week.”

Find out more atwww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/tidy-garden-scheme

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Energy wise

Monday 19th January 2015, 10am - 3pmBilston One Stop Shop, Bilston TownHall, Church Street, WV14 0AP

Tuesday 20th January 2015, 10am - 3pmCity Centre One Stop Shop, Market Street, Wolverhampton City Centre, WV1 3AG

Wednesday 21st January 2015, 10am - 3pmLow Hill One Stop Shop, Showell Circus,WV10 9JL

Thursday 22nd January 2015, 10am - 3pmWednesfield One Stop Shop, Alfred Squire Road, WV11 1XU

Friday 23rd January 2015, 10am - 3pmMerry Hill One Stop Shop, LeasowesDrive, Merry Hill, WV4 4PZ

Can’t get there? Book a Home EnergyVisit instead. We can survey your homeand check whether it is cold or/and dampand provide more tailored advice to you.

Free EnergyAdvice Surger iesFind out how you can make your home energyefficient and save money at our free energyadvice surgeries.

• How can you make your home energy efficient?• Want to make sense of your energy bills?• Save money by switching energy suppliers. • Can you get Warm Homes Discount or Winter/ Cold Fuel Payment?• Book a Home Energy Visit.• Borrow a Home Energy Monitor.• Get a free water saving kit.

The dates for our next dro p in sessions are:

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Mrs Slade from Wednesfield said: “I was very pleased with WolverhamptonHomes. I phoned on Wednesday morning about my toilet and I was so surprised thatthey came to do it in the afternoon. Thank you very much.”We said: “Thank you for letting us know. It’s all part of our new “repairs on demand”service – When you book an appointment you can choose your appointment time -whether it’s today, tomorrow or the week after.”

Your Feedback

‘Energy Wise with Wolverhampton Homes’ 01902 556789@wh_energywiseEnergy & Climate Change Team: www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/energy-management

Contact

withuSwitch


Decent Homes reach 20,000A couple from Bunkers Hill, Bilston are celebrating aftertheir home became the 20,000th to be improved under theDecent Homes scheme.

Sandy and Ella Pauline have been council tenants for over 28years. Ella said: “It’s fantastic, we can’t thank everyone enough.The improvements have made a huge difference to our lives andall the guys who did the work were a credit to the contractors.”

Since Ella and Sandy’s home was improved we’ve finished a lotmore and have now completed over 21,000 homes.

VACANCIES

Want to improve your CV?

YOUR NEW RENT

We’ll write to you in February to tell youyour new rent and you’ll need to makesure you pay the new amount from April.

If you pay be Direct Debit – don’t worrywe’ll sort out the new amount for you.

In April your rent will change.

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Our Web Wizards helped LynnRoper from Bilston and herfriend, Michelle Morris, improvetheir IT skills. They are now onthe Learn My Way course andLynn is registered for her Do ItOnline account. The WebWizards also cleaned up theirlaptop to make it perform faster.

VOLUNTEER POST – REVIEW PANELInterested in customer service? Got ideas on how our services can beimproved? Why not join our ReviewPanel and give us your thoughts andopinions? The panel meet every monthto help ensure that our services meet allour customers’ needs.

More info:www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/review-panel or phone Grant Sproston on 01902 556789.

VOLUNTEER POST – TENANTS’ UPDATEEDITORIAL PANELInterested in journalism,communications or marketing, join the Tenants’ Update Editorial Panel. Meeting three times a year to help make this newsletter interesting useful and easy to read.

[email protected] or phone Christine Howles on01902 556789.

To see these vacancies and more, visit: www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/vacancies


SO YOU’RE MOVINGTO A NEW HOME?

DO YOU KNOWWHAT YOU NEED

TO DO?1. Give four weeks’ notice that you are going to leave.2. Tell your electricity, gas, water suppliers, tv and broadband suppliers.3. Tell Council tax and any benefits providers4. Make sure your rent is paid up to date.5. When you leave – make sure your home is clean and tidy or we could recharge you.6. If you’ve made any alterations to your home, please put them back the way they were.7. Return your keys.Did you know we could charge you at least£67.50 if we need to clean your home when youleave or up to £1,000 if we have to clear yourgarden?There are lots of easy ways to make it easy to move.Declutter by selling unwanted items on Ebay.Or give away unwanted items through freecycleor charities like community transport or theBoys Brigade.Find out more at www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/ ending-your-tenancy

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EDDIE GRIZZLEWINS AWARDAll Cultures One Voice Chairman Edward Grizzle, a tenant from Bilston, has been honoured by a special award for his "Service To Our Community".

The award was presented to Eddie by the African Caribbean CommunityInitiative for his work with All Cultures One Voice.

Edward Grizzle with the awardspresenter Alicia Spence for ACCI

WC

C 1

061

08/

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or pop in to your local Children’s Centre

FREESCHOOLMEALSIf you’re on a low income or benefits and havechildren at school in year 3 or above – you couldbe eligible for free school meals for your children.(If your children are in year 2 or below you don’tneed to apply.) www.myfreeschoolmeals.com


NEWS FROM

WFTAFacing up to thechallengesIn September the WolverhamptonFederation of Tenants’ Associationsheld an event called ‘Facing up to the Challenges’ for social sectortenants and landlords to look at the issues that they face and to seewhat support is available to them.

Lesley Roberts our Chief Executivewas there with Michelle Sawyerwho told the conference herexperience of getting a full time job with us through LEAP.

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HOWARE WEDOING?

www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/our-performance

Find out our latest performancefigures by visiting:

EVERYONE NEEDS GOODneighboursDo you know someone who looks after a friend orneighbour by being a good neighbour?

Our good neighbour competition is YOUR opportunity tonominate someone who does that bit extra to helpsomeone in their community.

If you know someone who fits the bill, why not nominatethem? Just visit our website and fill in a few details.www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/good-neighbour or phone 01902 554857.

Do It OnlineDon’t stand in line

CHECK YOUR:

Repairs

Rent

Contents insurance

Contact details

Pay your rent

Book repair appointments

Update your details

��

If you need any help, contact our Web Wizards on:

WolverhamptonHomesComputerWizards@wh_webwizards

[email protected]

wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/do-it-online

TO LEARN ABOUT COMPUTERS

If you have access to a PC, go to

www.learnmyway.comor call Homes direct on

01902 556789to speak to a Web Wizard

FREE

Wolverhampton HomesCentre Code

3456107

DIO POSTCARD.qxp_Layout 1 09/10/2014 15:02 Page 1


TO LEARN ABOUT COMPUTERS

FREE IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A PC, GO TO

www.learnmyway.comor call Homes direct on

01902 556789to speak to a Web Wizard

making online learning easy

Wolverhampton Homes Centre Code

3456107

Your Feedback Evelyn Perks and Olive Barratt from Chetton Green wanted help with theinternet. They are nowbooked onto the ArgosBeginners InternetWorkshops in December. Let us know how it goesladies.

Lynda from East Park said:“I don’t pay rent but I do payCouncil tax and no I don’t have acomputer, never had one orwant one for I cannot afford oneor to run it.”

We said:“We’re trying to help people get online because anyone of working age who claimsbenefits will need to get onlineto be able to claim theirUniversal Credit when it’sintroduced. You don’t need tohave a computer, you mayalready have a smartphone or you can use the computers in libraries or advice centres. Ifyou get housing benefit now andare of working age you will need to be able to use theinternet and you will need topay your rent from yourUniversal Credit. That’s why our Web Wizards are onhand to help with anything you need.”

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REPORT ITIf you're a smartphone userthere's a quick and easy way to tell the council about graffiti, fly-tipping, pot holes or abandoned cars.

Once you've downloaded andregistered the app it's really easy to report problems 'thereand then', you can even send a photo.

You can download the free appfor Iphone, Android, Blackberryor Windows - just search:

Wolverhampton Report It.


IS YOURHOME TOO

BIG?

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Are your fuel bills a strain on yourfinances?Does your Housing Benefit notcover the rent you need to pay?Have you got a garden that you finddifficult to look after?

Our house release scheme can help, you can get:

• Higher priority with Homes in The City• Packing and removal service• Decoration grant and new carpets.• Disconnection and reconnection of appliances.

www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/home-too-big

Or you can swap homes by looking for a

swap on www.lets-swap.org – Let’s Swap is a special website just for swaps in the Midlands.

#HousingDayOn 12th November we supported#HousingDay a national social mediacampaign highlighting some of thegreat things about social housing andtenants.

We handed over our Twitter accountto colleagues across the organisationso they could tell the world about thework they do every day. From lettingsand repairs to tenant engagement and concierge – we tweeted from 7am to midnight.

We also held our Flair Fair on#HousingDay to show how talentedyour neighbours are and tweeted fromthe Fair, see page 7.

Follow @wolveshomes and the hashtag #HousingDay


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David Timmins from Heath Town said: “The services are ok, if you report a repairthey will come along and do the work. The Right Price electrical scheme soundsinteresting. I’ll check it out if I need an appliance. ”We said: “Thanks for your comments about the repairs service. Please let us know ifthere’s a way we could make it better than ok. Please also let us know if you do buysomething through Right Price Electricals. We’d love to hear about it. ”

RIGHT PRICEFOR A SAMARITANWhat do you get when you cross someone who is money smart and a good samaritan? You get Ian Perrin from Heath Town.

Ian needed a cooker and fridge freezer so he bought them through Right Price Electricals.

He said: “It was so easy, I got a really good finance deal through the credit union and thecooker and fridge-freezer were delivered in three days. The deal was so good that I’ve been paying it off quicker than I was supposed to and the loan has almost cleared.”

That would be a nice end to the story but it doesn’t stop there. Ian does a lot of work forhomeless people. When he met a family who were moving to a new home with nothing, he felt he had to help out.

“I really felt for them so I gave them my cooker and fridge-freezer. I’ve been given somesecond hand ones to get me by and once my loan is cleared I’m going back to Right PriceElectricals to get some new ones again.”

Nice one Ian - what a lovely thing to do!

Wolverhampton City Credit Union Ltd

Discounted electrical goods in partnership with Wolverhampton Homes

NEWELECTRICAL DEALS

Wolverhampton CityCredit UnionTelephone:

01902 572340 Email:

[email protected] Online:

www.wccul.co.uk

Your Feedback

TO ORDER, CONTACT


SMOKE ALARMS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFEA smoke alarm really can save your life, but itneeds to be looked after and checked regularly to make sure that it is in full working order.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Test it -once a week by pressing the test button until all alarms in your house sound. If it’s not working then let us know straightaway.• Clean it -use a vacuum cleaner with the narrow nozzle, or furniture brush, to remove cobwebs and dust from around the sides of the alarm and on the cover.• Don’t paint it - if you’re decorating be careful not to paint over the alarm – it could stop it from working properly.

PROUD TO SUPPORT

We were proud to be atWolverhampton Pride in September.We had almost 50 people thereincluding members of our Proud tobe Me Network, other colleaguesand board members – a mix oflesbian, gay, bi-sexual andtransgender (LGBT*) and straightallies. Everyone was standing proud to support LGBT* equality in our city.

If you want to find out more visitwww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/ptbm

Your Feedback

Mrs Fletcher from East Park said: “We could do with different prizes for thecompetition, cash, radio or music centre.”We said: “It’s very difficult to offer a prize that everyone will want. We offer money inthe credit union account as it is a cash prize but it also encourages people to startsaving and gives them access to the other services the credit union offers.”

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Kids’ CompetitionWe want you to design a Christmas decoration for the Christmas tree. You can draw it or make it. All you need to do is take a photo of your design and post it on our “WolvesHomes” Facebook page or email it to us [email protected], or post it to the address below before 12th December 2014.

As usual there are two prizes up for grabs one for the under 5s and one for 5-10 year olds. Bothwill win £20 in a Credit Union Account. Last issue’s winners were Toby Louth from Bilston andGeorge Rooker from Finchfield.

Quiz timeComplete our quiz to win up £100* in a Credit Union Account or £50 paid into your rent account.Find the answers in this issue. (*£50 will be paid into a Wolverhampton City Credit Unionaccount, another £50 will be paid in 6 months later.)

1. What can you win by paying your rent by Direct Debit?

2. What are the two volunteer posts that are available with us?

3. Which scheme can help you if your home is too big for you?

4. Where was our Flair Fair held?

5. Give one example of the things you can do on our Do It Online account.

Your FeedbackTell us what you think about any of our services and you could be included in the next Tenants Update.We welcome all feedback – good or bad.

Name

Your Address

Postcode

Your telephone Your email

How satisfied are you with this newsletter?Very satisfied Satisfied Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied

Return to: Communications, Wolverhampton Homes, Chillington Fields Industrial Estate,Off Hickman Avenue, Wolverhampton, WV1 2BY


Documents

Tenants' Update December 2014