Housing
NEWS
40th ANNIVERSARY EDITION 2011
Craigavon
Housing
NEWS 2011
40 Years On
This year the Housing Executive celebrates its 40th anniversary. As we look back, Northern
Ireland today is a different place compared to those dark days in the early 70s.
When we look at housing the change is remarkable.
Our housing, from being amongst the worst in Europe,
with around one in five homes unfit, is now amongst
the best, with the rate of unfitness now at an all time
low of 2.4%. There remain, of course, major issues
to be tackled. Social housing is deeply segregated
and while much work is being undertaken by the
Housing Executive and by local communities, it will
take time, patience and a great deal of goodwill and
understanding.
As with the last 40 years, we will continue to move
forward. There will be problems to address, we will
encounter criticism, we will be faced with unpopular
courses of action, but ultimately we will be judged on
our record and achievements. Improving the quality
of housing and the environment we live in is a job
which will never be complete. The challenges we face,
particularly within the current economic environment,
are many, but we are working to find solutions to
address these.
The pressures we face make change inevitable but
change is nothing new to us. We have an enviable
reputation for providing high quality public services
and that will be maintained. Due to our restrained
budget we cannot deliver the improvements to
our stock as quickly as we would like to, but we will
continue to make the case for investment .
Finally, we would like to thank all those people in the
community who work with us, giving up their free time
to create better neighbourhoods.Without their support
and hard work, much of what is achieved would be
impossible.
We don’t pretend to have all the answers but we
give you a commitment that everything will be done
to deliver our core values of fairness and equality to
everyone.
If we could single out one of our major concerns, it
would be that of fuel poverty. If there is a repeat of last
year’s harsh winter, the Housing Executive would have
real concerns for the welfare of many of our tenants,
particularly in light of the recent increase in fuel and
energy costs.
Last winter demonstrated that many elderly and
vulnerable people could not heat their homes properly.
This resulted in substantial damage to homes and
many households being left without heating in both
the private and public sectors. Through new legislation
we are trying to bulk buy electricity and therefore help
tenants by reduced electricity bills. This is a start but
other measures will be needed.
Craigavon District Office
Lurgan Local Office
122 Hill Street, Lurgan BT66 6BH
Email: [email protected]
Opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday:
9.30am - 4.00pm, Wednesday: 9.30am - 12.30pm
Portadown Local Office
41 Thomas Street, Portadown, BT62 3AF
Email: [email protected]
Opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday:
9.30am - 4.00pm, Thursday: 9.30am - 12.30pm
Main Number:
Repairs:
Housing Benefit:
03448 920 900
03448 920 901
03448 920 902
The office will be closed on all statutory public and bank
holidays.
2
Brian Rowntree
Chairman
John McPeake
Chief Executive
Customer Service Award
Have you received good service from a particular
Housing Executive Office or an individual member
of staff? If they have gone that extra mile to help,
would you like to nominate them for a customer
service award. If so:
• Write to the office that the staff member works
in, or
• Email us at [email protected], or
• Using our Facebook page www.facebook.com/
thehousingexecutive
When contacting us please include your reasons
for your nomination.
Craigavon
Your Craigavon District Office includes
Lurgan Local Office
Portadown Local Office
Dear Tenant,
Inside this 2011 edition of Housing News I am pleased to include a variety of local
news articles which cover a selection of challenges, events and achievements
relating to the past year. I trust you will find these articles to be both informative and
interesting.
With regards to our District performance we have generally achieved very good
outcomes across all service delivery areas.
In particular we have made further significant inroads into redressing the historically
high void levels throughout parts of the District with the total number of empty
homes reduced to an unprecedented low level.
The Department for Social Development has approved the selective demolition of
the fire damaged flats in Moyraverty and we anticipate that this will be completed
in the coming months. A decision on the future of the front derelict block of flats in
Aldervale remains under careful consideration.
The weather period December 2010 until March 2011 is one all of us I am sure would hopefully never see repeated.
The experience firstly of the freezing temperatures, followed by the dramatic thaw and the resulting damage and
inconvenience to many of our local tenants was totally unprecedented. A small number of tenants were affected
particularly harshly and witnessed excessive damage to their homes and in these situations we aimed to carry out
repairs and reinstate décor as promptly as we could.
I would wish to express my sympathies to all who endured damage to their homes and any inconvenience caused
by the weather crisis. My thanks go to our contractors, staff and local community representatives who did their
utmost over a prolonged period of time to help those in need and particularly those who were most vulnerable.
Despite the huge challenges resulting from the winter weather crisis our Response Maintenance and heating
maintenance services delivered by MDC and Heat Ltd. (now Carillion) have been satisfactory. One of our targets
though in the District Business Plan for the year ahead is to focus on improving the overall recorded tenant
satisfaction levels with our maintenance service.
We were pleased this year again to deliver a number of heating, kitchen and in particular window replacement
schemes using our Egan Contractors HEAT and BANN LTD.
The Housing Executive is a key member of the three Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships operating within the
District and we have continued to be involved in helping with the delivery of a variety of neighbourhood renewal
projects, including the internal refurbishments of Community Houses in Greenhill Park, Lurgan and Woodside,
Portadown.
We continue to maintain strong links with a large number of community associations across the District. I wish
to place on record my thanks to all those community representatives who participate in the District Housing
Community Network, housing forums and various other meetings requiring a community input. Their contribution
is valued in the delivery of local Housing Executive services in the Craigavon area.
Yours sincerely
Colin Ross
District Manager (Craigavon Office)
3
Housing
NEWS 2011
Maintaining Grounds in Craigavon
Our Grounds Maintenance section based in Marlborough House in Craigavon provides a comprehensive service to
all our local District Offices. The primary objective is to ensure that all of our open spaces are maintained to a high
quality.
In Brownlow in particular the Housing Executive is responsible for maintaining significant areas of land both within
our own estates and at other locations, including some areas where private housing has been developed. In recent
years our Grounds Maintenance section has carried out a significant amount of work in Brownlow to improve
the appearance of landscaped areas which had become overgrown and
unsightly. In the past year major work was carried out along the Brownlow
Road at the entrances to the Drumbeg and Meadowbrook estates. This
included the removal of bushes and shrubs, the re-grading of grassed banks
and re-seeding of the areas. Where appropriate, trees which had reached the
end of their natural life were removed and new trees planted.
A similar project was also carried out on the Tullygally Road at the entrance to
Drumglass. Although Drumglass is a private development the land adjacent
to it is owned by the Housing Executive and residents had voiced concerns
about the condition and appearance of this area. The land was cleaned up
and grassed over to allow easier maintenance and a number of new trees
were planted.
In the past year Grounds Maintenance has completed extensive work in
Portadown including clearing and new planting along the Peace Wall at
the Obins Avenue and Drive areas as well as tidying up the area around the
commemorative estate plaque in Woodside.
The improvements carried out by the Grounds Maintenance Section have
been welcomed by residents of the areas affected and have enhanced the
overall appearance of the Craigavon District.
Grounds maintenance completed at
Drumbeg: and at the entrance to Drumglass.
Chrysalis Continues to Grow
In March 2011 work was completed to a
community garden at the Chrysalis Women’s
Centre at Burnside, Brownlow.
The Centre has operated successfully for many
years, providing access to vocational and nonvocational education and training for women and
children. Following an approach by the Chrysalis
organisation to the Housing Executive, an area
of ground adjacent to the Centre was leased
to Chrysalis by the Housing Executive and our
Grounds Maintenance section agreed to assist the
group in developing a vegetable and fruit garden.
Local residents planting at the community garden; some completed
planting beds
Working to a design provided by Chrysalis, our
Grounds Maintenance Contractor carried out the project which included the provision of perimeter fencing,
access paths, topsoil and a number of raised beds.
When the work was completed the Chrysalis Women’s Centre, with support from the Public Health Agency
allotment programme, engaged with Willowbank Resource Centre to plant out fruit, vegetables and herbs. The
garden has proved very popular as both an educational and social facility and it hoped that it may be used to
accommodate future accredited horticulture programmes.
4
Craigavon
Neighbourhood Officer Service
The Housing Executive earlier this year launched its new
Neighbourhood Officer Service for the District after consultation
with local communities and a review of its existing estate based
services.
Craigavon District Manager Colin Ross explained,
“Our Neighbourhood Officers work directly with local
communities on issues which affect the quality of their daily
lives, tackling concerns such as illegal dumping, graffiti, anti
social behaviour and environmental improvements. We would
encourage our tenants to get to know their Neighbourhood
Officer and how best to make use of the services they can provide.”
Patricia McKeown, who sits on the Portadown Housing Community
Pictured are the new Neighbourhood Officers with John
Network is supportive of the new service saying,
McAleavey, Assistant Manager Lurgan and members of
“I welcome the launch of this service. Neighbourhood Officers are a the local Housing Community Networks.
valuable asset to the community, working with local people to bring
about real improvements in the areas that they work in.”
Anne Hanlon, of the Lurgan/Brownlow Housing Community Network commented,
“It’s great to see that the Housing Executive is listening to what we want done on our own estates. Having
Neighbourhood Officers on the estate listening to the needs of tenants should mean that we see problems
sorted out faster.”
The Neighbourhood Officers operate throughout Lurgan, Brownlow and Portadown estates and their main duties
include the provision of tenant support services, providing advice on a range of housing matters such as energy
conservation, home safety and adaptations for persons with a disability.
Drumellan Community celebrates cultural diversity
In May, the Drumellan Community Association, in
partnership with the Housing Executive, organised a highly
successful multi cultural event to celebrate the variety of
international cultures that make up the local community.
The event was a real celebration of the diversity which has
emerged in Brownlow over the last 30 years with Chinese,
Polish, Travelling Community and Muslim cultures and
traditions among those celebrated at the event in the
Drumellan Family Learning Complex. The day’s activities
highlighted the many cultures living in the community,
and provided the opportunity to learn more about other
traditions through information, performances, workshops
and food tasting.
The Housing Executive’s Colin Ross (far left) & Lorraine Campbell
(far right) are pictured with local residents.
The event followed the community association’s successful participation in the Understanding Diversity Within
Society training provided by Supporting Communities Northern Ireland, which sought to develop an awareness of
the diverse groups to be found in the Brownlow area.
These initiatives were delivered as part of the Housing Executive’s Shared Neighbourhood Programme, which
includes a commitment to community consultation, a good relations action plan and a good neighbour
agreement. The programme aims to develop shared areas where people choose to live with others, regardless of
their religion or race, in neighbourhoods that are safe and welcoming to all.
Lorraine Campbell, the Housing Executive’s South Area Manager welcomed these initiatives:
“We work with local communities to develop an awareness of the diverse groups found in a modern society like
ours and the benefits that they bring. It is more important than ever that we recognise the similarities between
these groups while respecting their diversity.”
5
Housing
NEWS 2011
NIHE investment in Craigavon homes
The Redmanville Estate in Portadown this year saw
the start of a £735,000 scheme providing 112 Housing
Executive tenants with new gas heating systems. A
further contract valued at £205,000 delivered gas
heating to 27 homes in the Fitzroy and Alexandra
areas of Portadown. This followed the installation of
new heating systems to 171 Housing Executive homes
throughout the Lurgan/Brownlow area through 3
schemes at a total value of £890,000 during 2010/11.
These improvements are part of a programme to
replace older heating systems with cleaner, more
efficient sources of heating.
In the Killicomaine Estate this year the last of three
schemes was completed providing new windows to
152 homes, new kitchens to 62 dwellings and installing
new heating systems to 45 homes bringing our recent
investment in the estate to more than £1m.
This year also saw the commencement of window
replacements to 185 homes at a cost of £394,000 in
the Manor Park and Monbrief Walk areas of Lurgan,
and Parkmore in Brownlow. A further 58 dwellings
throughout Lurgan received new kitchens and other
improvement works at a cost of £326,000.
Colin Ross, Craigavon District Manager, explained:
“With the impact of the economic recession and
downturn in capital receipts the Housing Executive
has had to scale back many of its programmes of
work, so I am delighted that we have been able to
commit this level of investment to the Craigavon
District.
“This significant investment demonstrates our
commitment to providing modern, comfortable
homes for our tenants and will add to the quality of
accommodation we can provide in the area.”
(Left to right) Grainne Hall, Bann Ltd. presents competition winner
Yvonne McClean with her prize of £100 in her new kitchen. Also
pictured is the Housing Executive’s Meta Overend.
The schemes were carried out as part of a programme
to upgrade our houses so that they continue
to meet modern day standards and represent a
major investment by the Housing Executive. The
improvement works demonstrate our commitment to
improving housing conditions for current and future
tenants throughout the Craigavon District.
South Lurgan Community Office
On 29th July 2011 the Minister for Social Development,
Nelson McCausland MLA, officially opened the South
Lurgan Community Office at 65 Greenhill Park, Lurgan.
A number of years ago the Housing Executive leased
the premises to the Mourneview and Grey Estates
Community Association. Subsequently funding was
obtained from the Department of Social Development’s
Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, firstly to carry out
significant improvements and more recently to provide
furniture to the property.
The Housing Executive carried out these projects
with the support of the Community Association. It is
anticipated that that the improved facilities will provide
a valuable resource for the South Lurgan community
which includes the Mourneview, Grey and Hospital
estates comprising of some 1500 properties.
6
Nelson McCausland and Alan Carson, Mayor of Craigavon Council and
representatives of Mourneview & Grey Estates Community Association
at the opening of the South Lurgan Community Office.
This page provides information on some of the Housing Executive’s key
activities over the past year in Craigavon District and across Northern
Ireland. More extensive and detailed information is available on our
website or by writing to the District Manager.
HOUSING STOCK
COMPLAINTS
Across Northern Ireland the Housing Executive
manages 90,188 homes and 4,283 of these are
in the Craigavon District.
Last year, in Northern Ireland 366 first stage cases were
investigated by Area Managers and 99 second or final
stage cases were investigated by the Chief Executive.
39 new cases were taken by complainants to the
Ombudsman, where 5 were upheld.
ALLOCATING HOMES
During the past year we allocated 5,364 homes
in Northern Ireland and of this total, 401 were
in the Craigavon District.
HOMELESSNESS
Last year following investigation, 10,433 applicants
were accepted as being statutorily homeless in
Northern Ireland, 307 of them were from Craigavon
District.
ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
Last year the Housing Executive received 4,667
reports of anti social behaviour and 251 of these
cases were in Craigavon District. Over 30% of these
related to problems with noise. In resolving such
cases, the Housing Executive employs a number of
remedies ranging from early interventions such as use
of warning letters and mediation. In serious cases
we may use our statutory powers to seek injunctions
or carry out eviction.
HOUSE SALES
Last year a total of 274 tenants bought their homes
from the Housing Executive. See back page for
information on buying your home.
WAITING LIST
In Northern Ireland there are 39,891 applicants
on the waiting list for a home. In Craigavon District
there are 1,922 applicants.
HOUSING BENEFIT FRAUD
During the past year the Housing Executive
paid out a total of £573.3m in Housing Benefit
in Northern Ireland. Tackling benefit fraud
is high on our agenda and last year we
referred 276 cases to the Benefit
Investigation Service.
RENT ARREARS
At the end of last year the total amount owed in
arrears by all our current tenants in Northern Ireland
was £12.6m which is a fall from the previous year.
REPAIRS
Repairs are the most common reason for tenants to
contact us. Last year we completed 410,018 repairs in
Northern Ireland of which 22,230 were in Craigavon
District.
We put repair requests into three groups according
to urgency:
• Emergency repairs, such as a burst water pipe,
should be completed within one day.
• Urgent repairs, such as loose or missing roof
tiles, should be completed within four working
days.
• Routine repairs, such as leaking gutters,
should be completed within four weeks.
7
The 1970s …
The 1980s …
The 1990s …
The 2000s …
To celebrate the 40th A
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of
the Ho
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Housing News looks thr
ough
the ph
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Take a look at how thin
gs ha
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tograph
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nged o
ver the
past 40 years!
Housing
NEWS 2011
BOGUS CALLERS !!
IN
R ConHeA
se it
u
,
DOuO
have
if yo
IDENTIT
a forgotten ca Y CARD
rd is no excuse
call them
POouLIaCreEsuspicious
if y
r
Reports of bogus callers tricking their way into
people’s homes are a regular occurrence.
Often the problem arises because people are very
trusting and are willing to accept strangers into
their homes. It is very important to be wary.
?
pty by the tenant
em
ft
le
es
ti
er
op
any pr
Are you aware of
Or where the tena
nt has moved out
and rented a dwel
other people wit
ling to
hout the Housing
Executive’s perm
ission?
ow
or someone you kn
u
yo
ng
pi
op
st
be
This could
me.
from getting a ho
It could also be ev
idence that bene
fit fraud
is being committe
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to stop this happ
st
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It is in ever
If you know of any address where this has taken place
please contact any Housing Executive office or telephone.
Always ask for identification
Find out what benefits, pensions or
credits you may be entitled to with the
new Benefits Adviser Service.
Go online and get an estimate anytime, with
complete anonymity, in the comfort of your own
home.
www.nidirect.gov.uk/benefits-adviser
The Benefits Adviser Service caters for people of all ages - including those
with disabilities and those with caring responsibilities - allowing them to
calculate the benefits, pensions or credits to which they may be entitled
with complete anonymity.
You may not realise that you could get extra, even if you are working or
have savings.
The service is free of charge to any individual citizen and/or voluntary
group with internet access. Feedback will be captured to measure the use
of the service and to influence potential future improvements.
Are you moving into employment and need more information on what
additional help and credits may be available? The ‘What If?’ calculator
will be able to advise you on how a change of circumstance will affect
your benefit entitlement and allow you to compare ‘before’ and ‘after’
scenarios.
The Benefits Adviser Service also caters for those without internet access.
Advice and support groups, as well as friends and relatives of those
seeking benefits will now be able to utilise the online service on the
person’s behalf with complete anonymity.
Be sure not to lose out, log on to
the Benefits Adviser Service
now! You might be losing
out on money you
are entitled to!
10
FRAUD HOTLINE 0800 854 440
Craigavon
Have you insured your house contents?
A house fire, a burst pipe, a burglary,
flooding……..Some of the reasons why you
need to have your possessions insured.
Last winter there were thousands of burst pipes when
temperatures dropped, and unfortunately this led to
many homes having water damage. The vast majority of
our tenants had no insurance cover and subsequently
had to try to replace all the damaged goods themselves.
If you had no house contents insurance and had to
replace all the contents of your home at your own
expense, could you afford to do it? Most of us could not.
Yet for around £1.60 each week, you can be protected.
The Housing Executive maintains your property, but is
NOT responsible for the contents of your home.
Further information on obtaining home insurance is available from your local district office or just call into a local
insurance broker. Make sure you get several quotes before making a decision. Many will arrange for you to pay weekly or
monthly.
Get your house contents insured without delay.
??
G
N
I
K
R
WO
M
R
A
L
KE A
O
M
Do…
S
R
IS YOU
always keep yo
Many lives have been
saved because of the
use of smoke alarms.
Smoke alarms can either
be battery-operated or
“hard-wired” through the
mains electricity supply.
The following advice
on smoke alarms is very
important regarding
safety in your home:
TEST YOUR SMOKE ALARM
EVERY WEEK
ur
smoke alarm tu
urned
on at your mete
er
box
Do…
buy a battery alarm
if you haven’t been
provided with a hard
wired alarm, they
only cost a couple of
pounds
oke
Do…
m
s
r
u
yo
test
eekly d idea
w
m
r
ala
a goo free
o
s
l
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(it i
e
h
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p
it
to kee ust so that
d
from
erly)
p
o
r
p
s
work
Remember that smoke kills more often than the fire itself,
but a smoke alarm can save your life and the lives of your loved ones.
If you have elderly relatives test their smoke alarms for them as often as you can.
11
Housing
NEWS 2011
Keeping a Pet
Pets can be a source of companionship particularly for older people who live alone.
Many people see their pets as an extension of their family and treat them as such.
For children pet ownership can encourage responsibility. For older people pets can
reduce the feelings of loneliness.
However pets require considerable attention and owners need to be aware of their
responsibilities towards other tenants who may not share their love of animals. The
Housing Executive encourages responsible pet ownership and before acquiring one,
tenants should be aware of the conditions set down in their Tenancy Agreement which everyone signs at the
commencement of their tenancy and which is legally enforceable.
If your home is a flat or maisonette the tenancy conditions require tenants not to keep one or more domestic
pets without the consent in writing of their District Manager.
These tenancy conditions are there, not to restrict tenants’ enjoyment of pets, but to ensure that all tenants
can have the quiet enjoyment of their homes. Unfortunately, where responsible pet ownership is not evident
the Housing Executive will have no option but to take appropriate action.
If you would like to discuss any matter relating to pet ownership please contact your local district office.
Tidy Garden
Keeping Your Garden Tidy
A clean and tidy garden can make your home look better
and be an added space for you to enjoy. Well maintained
gardens can also improve the appearance of your
neighbourhood and discourage graffiti and vandalism.
Untidy and overgrown gardens will have the opposite
effect. You don’t have to be an Alan Titmarsh, just keep your
grass cut and free of litter and you will be surprised at the
difference.
Untidy Garden
It is worth remembering that a condition of every tenancy
agreement, is that all tenants, irrespective of their circumstances,
maintain their dwelling, including the garden, in a clean and tidy
condition. Poorly maintained gardens can blight neighbouring
properties and can easily become a health hazard. That is why the
Housing Executive will take effective action if necessary.
Some district offices run a ‘Best Kept Garden Competitions’ to
encourage and reward households for looking after their gardens
and add to the attractiveness of their neighbourhoods. Furthermore
community groups can enter the ‘Supervalu Best Kept Housing Area
Awards’ which is organised by the NI Amenity Council. The Housing
Executive encourages all tenants and community associations to
enter these competitions to make your neighbourhood one of the
best in the province.
If you would like more information on how to enter these
competitions please contact your local district office.
12
Older People’s
Advocate
The aim of this office is to provide a
focus for individual older people and
representative groups to highlight
issues that are of concern.
Dame Joan Harbison
Equality House,
6th Floor,
7-9 Shaftesbury Square,
Belfast BT2 7DP.
Tel:
02890 890 892
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.olderpeoplesadvocateni.org
Craigavon
Beating Anti-Social Behaviour
Everyone is entitled to peace and quiet in their home and
surroundings. If left unchecked, anti-social behaviour can wreck
communities.
Help us to help you. Report all incidents of anti-social behaviour and
we will respond promptly and effectively. The Housing Executive
will not tolerate anti-social behaviour in any form but it can only be
tackled by everyone pulling together. We need your support.
How can I report anti-social
behaviour?
Anti-social behaviour can range
from neighbour nuisance and
noise to harassment, racism
and intimidation. If you have
experienced or witnessed such
a problem, you should report it
immediately to your local Housing
Executive office. A complaint can
be made by telephone, in writing
or in person. If you are nervous
about making the report, you can
arrange for a public representative,
a police officer, a social worker,
neighbour or friend to make the
report. We will ensure that your
identity remains anonymous. You
can also bring someone along
for support to a location of your
choosing.
Investigating the report
We will agree a plan of action with
you which will set out how we will
take action to resolve the problem.
We will interview everyone
necessary and if appropriate,
get a police report. We will then,
with your input, agree the most
appropriate approach to your
specific problem.
What is the most appropriate
Form of action?
The Housing Executive received
4,667 reports of anti-social
behaviour last year, with some
87% of these regarded as being
minor problems. Noisy neighbours
continues to be the biggest
problem with 1,405 complaints.
The majority of cases can be
resolved using one or more of the
following remedies:­
• Issue a warning letter
• Mediation
• Joint approach with other
agencies
• Agree an Acceptable Behaviour
Contract
• Secure an Injunction
• Legal action to secure an
eviction
Don’t suffer in silence
If you are a Housing Executive
tenant and you have a specific
complaint about someone causing
a nuisance, please contact us now.
Follow the Housing Executive on
Crimestoppers
- Make your
community safer
Crimestoppers began in 1976 and
now operates worldwide.
The scheme gives people a means
to pass information about crimes
to the police without becoming
involved.
Many criminals would not have
come to the notice of police, had it
not been for the Crimestoppers call.
Some people are uncomfortable
about talking openly to the
police for fear of retribution.
Crimestoppers gives everyone
the opportunity to do something
positive about crime in their area,
without the fear of consequences.
Crimestoppers is a registered
charity. It is not a department of the
police or a government
agency.
Help us Stop Theft
There is a growing problem with
the theft of metal such as copper
and lead and we work closely with
the PSNI to address this problem.
We have had lead stolen from roofs
of bungalows, burners taken from
outside stores as well as copper
tanks removed.
We would ask all our tenants to
watch out for suspicious behaviour,
especially where a home may be
empty, and report it immediately to
the Housing Executive, PSNI or to
the Crimestoppers Phone Line.
We have asked community groups
to be vigilant, but everyone can
help. This type of activity uses up
scarce financial resources which
could be used to improve homes.
13
Housing
NEWS 2011
Northern Ireland Water (NIW) asks families to
help prevent sewerage problems
The majority of blockages are caused by inappropriate
materials being flushed into the sewerage system. Sewers were
never designed to deal with anything other than toilet paper. Other materials can stick to the inner wall of the sewer or snag on joints until a blockage is caused and the sewer floods. Fats, oils and grease are also major problems and should be disposed of into an old container and then into the bin. If poured down the drains the fat solidifies and leads to major problems.
The sewers serve many properties and by avoiding flushing these items you will minimise the possibility of a blockage or flooding, not only at your home, but also at your neighbours. Examples of items that should not be flushed are: sanitary towels, cotton-buds, baby wipes and make-up wipes. Even disposable nappies and underwear are often flushed and quickly cause blockages. NIW and the Housing Executive ask you to
“Bag it and Bin it” when dealing with waste such as this. Local Bleary school children design
their “Dream Homes”
The competition which took place in February of this year was part of a
programme of events to help decide if new social or affordable housing
is needed in Bleary.
Often in rural areas, people don’t register with the Housing Executive
as they feel they will have little chance of being housed in their local
area. Exercises like this are an important part of our ‘Rural Homes and
People’ policy, which aims to ensure that such rural need is identified
and addressed.
Commenting on the competition, our local District Manager, Colin Ross
said,
“As well as being given a drawing sheet to draw their ‘Dream Home’,
each child was given an information leaflet for their parent or
guardian encouraging anyone in genuine housing need to come
forward. We were delighted with the standard of entries and it was
very difficult to choose a winner.
“While we might not be able to provide all of the great features
designed by the children, identifying that there is a need for housing
is the first step on the road to providing decent homes where they are
needed.”
Based on the results of this exercise, the Housing Executive can now
highlight this need to the Housing Associations and seek to identify
suitable sites.
Colin Ross & Jill
Neill, Principal
of Bleary
Primary School
are pictured
with children
from the school
Housing Executive staff walk the walk for charity
Well done to Portadown Local Office staff who put
their best feet forward to raise £832 from their Lagan
Towpath walk
14
Craigavon
Prepare for Winter
Help prevent your pipes
from freezing
•
•
•
•
Set the central heating to come
on for short periods throughout
the day.
If you feel you are able to, lift the
trap door slightly from the roof
space to allow warm air to get
into the loft.
Open the doors to the sink unit
to allow warmer air to circulate
round the pipes.
If you are away, ask someone to
turn the heating on for a short
time and check for frozen pipes.
Dealing with frozen
pipes
•
•
•
•
Turn the water supply off at the
stopcock.
Protect everything around the
pipe that appears to be frozen to
avoid damage if it bursts.
Open the tap nearest to the part
of the pipe you think is frozen so
the water can flow through when
it has thawed.
Thaw the ice in the pipe with
a hot water bottle or hairdryer
•
(taking care to keep it well away
from any water), beginning from
the tap end and working back
towards the cold water tank.
Never use a heat gun or blow
torch.
Find your stopcock
The stopcock is used for turning
off and on the cold water system
in your home. When you turn the
stopcock in a clockwise direction
the water supply will be shut off.
Stopcocks are usually found in your
kitchen, below the sink unit.
However in some houses the
stopcock is found in a front or back
hall or in a larder unit. It is important
that you know where the stopcock
is and that it is working.
What should I do if I
have no water?
If your water supply fails, the
problem may be a burst pipe in your
home or there may be a leak in the
mains system outside your home.
If there is cold water at the cold
tap in the kitchen then the mains
supply is working.
If you think it is a mains supply
problem, call NI Water on
08457 440 088 or
email: [email protected]
If you have a burst pipe
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Turn off the water by turning the
stopcock clockwise.
Turn on all the cold taps.
Block the escaping water with
thick cloths like towels.
If the water has come into
contact with electrical fittings
the electricity should be turned
off at the mains.
Turn off your gas or oil heating
systems.
If you have a solid fuel
roomheater or an open fire, let it
go out.
Ring us ……03448 920 901
for further advice or
report your repair online at
www.nihe.gov.uk
or email our out of hours
emergency services
[email protected]
Help your neighbour
The cold weather can be a difficult
time for people who are vulnerable.
If you know someone who is elderly,
has a disability, or is housebound,
check on them and make sure they
are okay. During extreme weather
conditions many older people will
not be able to get out and a visit
may be appreciated.
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5
Housing
NEWS 2011
Useful Telephone Numbers
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Main Number ................................................... 03448 920 900
Repairs (24 hours)........................................... 03448 920 901
Housing Benefit ............................................. 03448 920 902
Emergency Homeless Service.................... 028 3833 4444
Craigavon Borough Council ....................... 028 3831 2400
Citizens Advice Bureau (Portadown) ....... 028 3835 3260
Citizens Advice Bureau (Lurgan) ............... 028 3832 3571
Northern Ireland Electricity
Emergency Service ........................................ 08457 643 643
Jobs and Benefits Agency
Lurgan ............................................................... 028 3831 5600
Portadown ........................................................ 028 3839 7200
Water Service
Faults/Emergency Service ........................... 08457 440088
Craigavon Area Hospital .............................. 028 3833 4444
Childline ............................................................ 0800 1111
Women’s Aid 24 hour Helpline .................. 028 9033 1818
Consumer Council.......................................... 0845 601 6022
Police Service ................................................... 0845 600 8000
You Can Still Buy Your Home
For Housing Executive tenants with more than 5 years tenancy, now may be the time to buy your home.
Housing Executive property values have decreased on average by 47% over the past three years to just below
£60,000. Maximum discount remains at £24,000. There are various companies who will offer to manage this
process for you. They are totally unnecessary and will only add significantly to your costs. Contact your District
Office for advice and further details.
Abandoned Homes
If you know of a Housing Executive property which has been abandoned or is not being lived in, report it to your
District Office immediately. You do not have to give your name.
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