RESIDENTS
NEWS
Home Ownership News
Safety Matters
Toynbee Hall
Spring Planting
Volunteers and staff got together on the
St George’s Estate in April to plant a new
community garden. The planting event, held
on St George’s Day, brought to a successful
close the latest greening project to take place
on the estate. To find out more, please email
[email protected].
More inside on page 8
Are you 16-25?
The Queen at 90
Noticeboard
Performance counts
Spring/Summer 2016
Issue 35
RESIDENTS
NEWS
New Homes
EastendHomes is committed to social housing in
Tower Hamlets, and we are actively pursuing innovative
opportunities to increase our housing stock.
Most recently, we successfully transformed Juniper Hall
into two accessible ground floor properties with bespoke
adaptation. Also on the Glamis Estate, a new development
in King David Lane will provide eight new social rented units
with the handover scheduled for October 2016. Additionally,
we are delighted to have acquired ten new homes for social
rent within a new development located in the Victoria Park
conservation area.
All of these properties have a high specification to the
advantage of our new tenants. We warmly welcome them
and wish them every happiness in their new homes. All
available homes for social rent are advertised and let within
the framework of the Tower Hamlets Allocations Scheme, and
EastendHomes is a full landlord partner of this scheme.
Safety Matters
At EastendHomes we are committed to providing the safest possible environment for all residents. As part of our ongoing
commitment to safety Fire Action Days have been held. Fire Action Days provide an opportunity to highlight possible fire
risks in your block, particularly the hazards caused by incorrect disposal of rubbish, as well as the dangers caused by
personal property left in communal areas, and the installation of metal door grills.
Staff spoke to residents
in block foyers advising
them of various aspects
of fire safety and knocked
at
properties
where
we identified particular
concerns.
During
the
Fire Action Day a special
bulk rubbish collection
was arranged to remove
unwanted items. At the Fire
Action Days in Mile End,
Fuel for fires. Please don’t create hazards!
feedback from residents
highlighted to us the
presence of rough sleepers in the area and this information helped us to secure Court Injunctions banning them from our
properties. EastendHomes continue to work together with our residents to ensure a safe environment and plan more Fire
Action Days later this year. Please look out for these advertised on your notice board!
Bin it: don’t block it!
Plumbing repair costs have been charged to households
that have blocked their sinks and toilets through misuse.
Remember! The majority of London’s blockages are caused
by cooking fats and oils. Think before you put it down the
sink! Bin it: don’t block it to avoid inconvenience and cost.
2
Spring/Summer 2016 | Issue 35
Join the Scrutiny Panel
Do you have an eagle eye? If so you may be just what we’re looking for to join our Resident Scrutiny Panel. This
is a small independent group of EastendHomes residents who meet to look at what we do and how we do it. The
Panel decide for themselves what they want to investigate and EastendHomes provides them with support and
information to carry it out.
Support and training are available to all members which can help to develop your skills – and EastendHomes will
offer an annual ‘thank you’ voucher to all members. Plus, you’ll get to see for yourself the difference residents
can make by reviewing our services and making recommendations to the Board. Recent projects have included
updating the text of the ASB leaflet, a new design for Residents News, and reviewing the
new tenant sign-up process.
Panel Chair Genia Leontowitsch: “New members are sought for the resident-led Scrutiny
Panel. It aims to improve services for all EEH residents. No experience is necessary,
but an attitude that is questioning and determined to see improvements for all EEH’s
residents is needed.”
Could you be the person that the Scrutiny Panel is looking for? The panel is looking for new
people to get involved. If you want to find out more, please get in touch with Gill Parker on
020 7538 2340 or email [email protected]
Home Ownership news
Voluntary Right to Buy Scheme
The Home Ownership Team is receiving a high volume of enquiries about the Voluntary Right to
Buy scheme. The Housing and Planning Act has now passed but the scheme is not expected to
start until autumn 2016 at the earliest and many details are yet to be finalised. There are currently
five Housing Associations taking part in the pilot. However, EastendHomes are not part of this
pilot scheme. Tenants are encouraged to register their interest if they wish to buy their home. To
register for updates and to find out more information, please visit:
https://righttobuy.gov.uk/am-i-eligible/housing-association-tenants
You can also contact the Government Right to Buy Advisory Service on 0300 123 0913,
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Estimated Invoices
for Major Works
Contractors are now on site carrying out refurbishment works
and estimated invoices will be sent soon to leaseholders
at the following blocks: Eric Street, Ennerdale House,
Wentworth Mews, Herbert House and Jacobson House.
As soon as contracts are assigned for works at Island
Gardens and Mile End, leaseholders of Galleon House, Bede
Estate, Coniston House, Beckley House and Tracy House
will also receive their Estimated Major Works invoices. The
intention is to provide you with an indication of your monthly
contribution. If you start to make early payments, your
liability to contribute will be greatly reduced when the works
are completed, and the actual costs are known. Please
contact us on 020 7517 0424 to set up a payment plan or
Direct Debit.
Monthly Surgeries
A reminder of your monthly surgery. Please
contact your Home Ownership Officer to arrange an
appointment as follows:
Bede/British/Brokesley - the last Monday in every
month
Glamis Estate - the last Wednesday in each month.
Please contact Trish Hadden on 020 7517 0423.
St George’s Estate - the last Tuesday in each month.
Island Gardens - the last Thursday of the month.
Call Khalid Mahmood on 020 7517 0425.
Holland Estate - last Monday in the month.
Treby and Eric Estates - last Thursday in each month.
Call Kim Lewis or Shanthi Abeysena on 020 7517 0422.
3
Get the
credit due
to you
I’m a single pensioner on
less than £155.60 a week
and found out I could get
Pension Credit.
If you’re a couple on less
than £237.55 a week you
may be entitled too.
To find out if you’re eligible
contact your local Age UK
Spring/Summer 2016 | Issue 35
EastendHomes announces
further investment in homes
and estates £22m scheme on its way
1980
Over the next five years, EastendHomes will invest over £22million into further
improving homes and estates. Every area will benefit from a comprehensive
major works and planned maintenance programme, building upon the investment
to date.
Since 2005 EastendHomes has been carrying out a major programme of
improvement works to ensure that homes meet the Decent Homes standard
as well as completing new homes and major landscaping projects. To date,
EastendHomes has invested over £135m in the improvement and regeneration
of our estates and in building new affordable homes for local residents. Works
continue - the overall intended investment programme will be around £170m. As
our regeneration programme draws to a conclusion, we will be taking steps to
ensure that work is undertaken as part of our planned maintenance programme
to repair or replace building components which have reached the end of their
useful life and the five year programme demonstrates this.
Island
Gardens
£2m
Holland
£2.2m
New central heating
Electrical upgrades
Mile End
£4.8m
+ – £2.4m
£750,000
Sanitary ware
H C £400,000
External works to houses
1992
new
bathrooms
970
St
George’s
£3m
£3m
New kitchens
new kitchens
new heating
systems
5 year programme from April 2017
Glamis
£2.4m
In ten years,
EastendHomes
has installed:
1682
new front
doors
962
rewires
£1.2m
“This major investment by EastendHomes demonstrates our
commitment to continue investing in homes and estates in the
years post-Decent Homes refurbishment.”
Roger Thompson, Head of Asset Management
1
community
orchard
5
RESIDENTS
NEWS
Lots on offer with Toynbee Hall
LinkAge Plus is an innovative project for people over 50 living in Tower Hamlets. It is based in five locations
throughout the borough, now including the Community Centre in Old Castle Street, purpose-built as part of the estate
regeneration by EastendHomes.
There is something for everyone! Services are delivered by Toynbee Hall, a charity with a noble history of more than
130 years in the East End. There is an active and varied programme, including activities, advice
and health care. Visiting massage, osteopathy and foot care is on offer. Activity sessions such
as art, crafts, history, reading and information technology (IT) are available. Social afternoons are
every Wednesday from 1.30 to 3.30pm. There you will find seated exercises and Tai Chi classes.
But if all you fancy is simply a chin-wag and a cuppa, then there is always a warm welcome on
offer. Refreshments are available daily and light lunches Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
To find out more, please ring 020 7392 2914 or email [email protected]
“The variety of activities and the support offered is terrific.” (Marian, 84)
6
TOYNBEE
HALL
Spring/Summer 2016 | Issue 35
The Queen
at 90!
On 21st April a splendid afternoon
tea was held to celebrate the
occasion of the 90th Birthday of Her
Majesty The Queen. The event may
have been funded by EastendHomes
but the effort was all by the hard–
working volunteers from the Bede
Estate. A good time was had by all. If
you’d like to help out at community
events, or find out what’s on, please
call 020 7517 0409.
Recent HMQ90 events held were:
West Ferry Garden Party
West Ferry celebrated summer and Her
Majesty The Queen’s reign on the 4th
June.
Wager Street Party
As Residents News went to press, Bede
Estate planned to join in the nationwide
celebrations for Her Majesty with a street
party on 11th June.
See next issue of Resident’s News for
a report.
For your chance to
win a little something,
please email
[email protected]
or ring 020 7517 0409
leaving your name and
contact details and the
name of your favourite
song or piece of music.
Entries by 30th June.
7
RESIDENTS
NEWS
Spring planting comes to
St George’s Estate
8
Spring/Summer 2016 | Issue 35
Residents act on
sustainability
Four local charity projects have been awarded funding from
the Tower Hamlets Community Points scheme, a collaborative
pilot project between EastendHomes, residents, and recycling
incentive scheme provider, Local Green Points.
The scheme has been running at Stockholm House, St George’s
Estate in Shadwell for the past year. Over 30% of residents have
signed up to the voluntary scheme. Residents earn Green Points
for one of four local causes by composting their food waste and
recycling all they can. All food waste collected is composted by
volunteers and turned into a nutrient-rich soil fertiliser for the St
George’s Community Orchard.
An awards ceremony featuring the four local charities took place
on Saturday 23rd April on the St George’s Estate alongside a
Community Planting Day run by the charity Trees for Cities. The
local charities which received funding were: Shapla Primary
School, St Paul’s Primary School, St George’s Senior Club and
St George’s Greening Project, an initiative of local residents,
supported by EastendHomes.
David Barraclough, a lead volunteer for Tower Hamlets
Community Points said ‘we’ve seen a real surge in food being
deposited over the last couple of months and our first batch of
home-grown compost is now ready to use in the community
garden. It’s great to see local food waste being put literally right
back into the local community orchard through compost!”
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has supported the
initiative by supplying residents with kitchen food waste caddies,
compostable liners and composting tumblers.
Compost champions David, Genia and Jim
9
RESIDENTS
NEWS
Visitor Parking
Please do not forget that LBTH
visitor scratch cards are not valid on
EastendHomes estates. Please contact
your local office for estate parking advice
if needed. If you would like to tell us your
views on estate parking, please email
[email protected]
P
Are you 16-25?
Spotlight isn’t a youth club or a youth centre, it’s a multi–
million creative arts youth space designed to inspire! Hiphop and freestyle dance, art, music, singing, radio and a lot
more taking place in a fantastic venue. This is something
shaped by young people for young people and, not only
that, it’s all free!
The summer programme is out now so have a look at
http://wearespotlight.com for more.
LBTH Permit Transfer
Scheme (PTS)
If you change address, even within the same parking
zone, you must return your permit and apply for one
at your new address straight away. If you wait until the
existing permit expires, you will lose your right to a permit
under the scheme. The rules state that you should return
the permit to LBTH within a fortnight of your new tenancy
start date. For more details contact LBTH Parking on
020 7364 5003 or [email protected]
Mile End
elections
Elections to the Mile End Estate Management Board
(EMB) will take place this year. Notification will be sent
to all relevant households. If you would like to discuss
what is involved in joining an EMB, please get in touch
with your local office.
Warning over phone con
REPRINTED FROM EASTEND LIFE
Summer’s here and cricket is of course our national summer sport. If you
are bowled over by the great game and would like to win a junior replica
cricket shirt, please send your name, address, phone number and any
suggestion you would like to make about improving Residents News to
[email protected] or by post to FREEPOST ENDHOMES
Ideal to wear in the event of an early exit by the England team in Euro2016.
Entries by 30th June. Good luck!
10
image courtesy ECB
Howzat!
Spring/Summer 2016 | Issue 35
NOTICEBOARD
Microchipping
Microchipping is now compulsory in the Britain for all dogs that are eight weeks and
over. So get your doggie microchipped, and have the assurance
that should it become lost or stolen, it is more likely
to be returned to you safe and sound.
www.dogstrust.org.uk
Active Kids
If you shop in Sainsbury’s but have not
been collecting the Active Kids vouchers
a local primary would very much like to
receive them. Please hand in to your local
office and we’ll send them on
to a local school.
Recycle
Right
The current cost of disposing of
uncontaminated recycling waste is
£17.85 per tonne compared to up
to £129.05 for heavily contaminated
recycling waste.
A host of
golden
daffodils
If you have enjoyed seeing the
thousands of spring bulbs planted by
EastendHomes in communal gardens,
please get in touch to tell us. Email
[email protected]
Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing
their heads in sprightly dance…
Picture post
Jim from St George’s Estate has kindly sent Residents News this fine picture of
Stockholm House accompanied by some splendid spring blossom. If you would
like to share your pictures of whatever takes your fancy when you’re out and about
on an EastendHomes’ estate, please email [email protected]
A little thank you gift for each printed…
Please Recycle Right.
The Elf Green wildflower meadow photo by by Des, Glamis.
Housing
Benefit NEW RULES
From April 2016, Housing Benefit
claimants are only allowed to travel
abroad for a maximum of four
weeks before benefit is affected.
Another rule change for working
age claimants means that new
claims can now only be backdated
for a maximum of one month. If
you have a new claim to make, do
not delay. Please contact
the Council’s Housing Benefit team
for advice on 020 7364 5001 or
[email protected].
11
RESIDENTS
NEWS
Performance
EMPTY
HOMES
Short term void
turnaround times
19.0 empty days
Q3 15/16
?
Target
18 days
Satisfaction
with complaint
outcome
Q3 15/16
100%
85%
have them
achieved Q3 15/16
TARGET
100%
is what we’re
aiming for
98%
Target
ESTATE
CLEANING
External areas
grade B
or above
Appointments Kept
98.2%
valid gas safety
certificate
Performance measured annually
Completed on target
Q3 15/16
percent of properties with a
ANTI SOCIAL
BEHAVIOUR
REPAIRS
95.6%
GAS SAFETY
98%
RENTS
Rent collection
99.9%
100.3%
Q3 15/16
Q3 15/16
96.5%
100%
Target
is what we’re
aiming for
Target
New tenant
satisfaction
Satisfaction with work
99.3%
Q3 15/16
with condition
of home
98%
Target
LETTINGS
Contact us
0300 123 0728
Mile End Housing Centre
123 Hamlets Way
London E3 4TY
020 8880 7055
Phone
St George’s & Glamis Housing Centre
61a Swedenborg Gardens
London E1 8HP
020 7680 8640
Phone
Freephone0800 0281587
Emails:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
EastendHomes will provide a local housing service
which is efficient, gives value for money and meets the
needs, priorities and aspirations of all residents.
Our vision:
To achieve the comprehensive regeneration of our
estates and to bring about a sustained improvement in
the homes and quality of life for residents.
12
Out of Hours Emergency Repairs
EastendHomes Head Office
& Holland Housing Reception Service
3 Resolution Plaza
London E1 6PS
Phone
020 7517 4700
Our mission:
www.eastendhomes.net
88% TARGET
measured annually
Island Gardens Housing Centre
137 Manchester Road
Isle of Dogs, London E14 3DN
020 7538 2340
Phone
Text Phone
07961 941584
Rents 020 7517 0440
Right to Buy &
Home Ownership
020 7517 0424
Our core values:
The core values which support, inform and
guide our work at all levels in the organisation are:
• We value and support resident involvement
• We recognise and value the commitment and hard work by our staff
• We always strive to provide the best possible service
• We welcome and support diversity and we are committed to equality
• We want to improve and succeed in all aspects of our work
To ask for a different format for this newsletter, please
contact your local housing centre.