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NEWS and INFORMATION
Special Uplifts
Every household is entitled to 3 free uplifts annually for bulk items. Please contact North Lanarkshire Council Cleansing Department on 01698-302010
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Be prepared for Winter...
Find our where your stop cock is.
Don't wait until the water is running through the ceiling before trying to find your stop cock. Try to make sure everyone in the house knows where to turn off the water.
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Burst Pipes - Preventative Steps
Burst pipes can cause serious damage to the structure and electrical wiring of your home. In order to avoid this situation it is advisable to familiarise yourself with the preventative steps as detailed here.
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FREE Home Fire Safety Visits
Strathclyde Fire & Rescue are now offering FREE home fire safety visits to everyone in our area.
During the visit experienced firefighters will check each room of your house with you, helping to make sure your house is safe. If you do not have a smoke alarm they will fit one for free.
You can arrange for your FREE visit in a number of ways. Our staff can make a referral or issue you with the appropriate form or alternatively you can call 0800-0731-999, phone Motherwell Fire Station on 01698-262222 or text check@ to 61611 on your mobile.
Your local fire station will then contact you within 7 days to arrange a time and date that suits you.
Wishaw and District Housing Association has also agreed to work in partnership with the services' Community Safety Advocates, to assist them in the delivery of their service priorities and meet their outcomes, by making referrals for Home Fire Safety Visits for any individuals who are most vulnerable to fire within the home. This will only be done with the indivudual's consent.
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Scottish Water laying a new drain in Margaret Drive, Muirhouse Area
In the coming weeks Scottish Water will be laying a new drain along the rear of our properties at Margaret Drive in Muirhouse. They will be accessing the works from the bottom end of Shields Drive across the area of open ground beside Margaret Drive and will reinstate any damaged areas following completion of the works. We understand that works are due to start around the 19th October and will last for around 28 weeks.
These works should not affect access to our properties in Margaret Drive and should not affect residents' water supply or drainage services. If you do experience any problems with disturbance / loss of services in connection with this work then please contact the Association and we will notify Scottish Water direct.
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Medical Adaptations
Each year the Association carries out a number of medical adaptations within our tenanted properties. These works generally arise from a referral by an Occupational Therapist and the cost is funded by the Scottish Government.
The funding available to Wishaw and District Housing Association for medical adaptations for this financial year has been used, however any outstanding referrals will remain pending until future funding is secured by us from the Scottish Government.
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Furniture Provision
Wishaw and District Housing Association is pleased to let you know that we will be working in partnership with RECAP.
RECAP is a community based furniture initiative which aims to recycle donated furniture and electrical white goods for sale to families and individuals on low income.
If you are trying to find your feet after being homeless, have been offered a house but have no furniture or are in need of white goods, bedroom furniture or a suite why not go along to their retail outlet at 1-3 Tannoch Drive Lenziemill, Cumbernauld, G67 2XX and spend some time browsing around.
Alternatively, if you can donate unwanted furniture and electrical goods that are in reasonable condition or working order, please contact them on 01236-728872 to arrange a FREE collection.
Our partnership will mean that the Association will be able to refer those on a low income to them. We have negotiated a range of discounts off their already low prices for those in financial hardship.
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Progress at our Hill Street (Phase 2) and Bonds Drive sites...
Wishaw and District Housing Association are pleased to advise that our second phase of development in Hill Street is underway, with an expected completion of January 2010. Further information on this development can be found here.
Wishaw and District Housing Association are delighted with our recently completed site at Bonds Drive and the brand new street, South Calder Way in Newmains. For more information on this development please click here.
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Housing Council Tax Benefit
If you are on a low income, or in receipt of certain state benefits, you may be able to claim Housing Benefit to help you pay your rent or Council Tax. Even if you do not qualify for help with all of your rent or Council Tax, depending on who lives in your house and your household income, you may be entitled to some assistance.
You can check your eligibility at North Lanarkshire Council's on-line calculator. If you have any questions on your eligibility you can get help and advice at the Council's nearest 'First Stop Shop'.
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2010 UK Parliamentary General Election
The Electoral Commission advise that the General Election must take place by 3rd June 2010, and are campaigning to highlight that people living in temporary accommodation are often not aware that they are able to exercise their right to register and vote. Registering to vote is quick and easy and gives you the chance to have your say in the upcoming election. All you need to do is fill in a registration form and return it to your local registration office.
Those who have no fixed address can still register to vote using a 'Declaraion of local connection'. This should be done through a local electoral registration office - their contact details can be found here.
Further information
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Older Person's Advice Project (OPAP)
--- £1 Million Pounds Raised ---
Wishaw and District Housing Association is delighted with the success of their partnership with the Older Persons' Advice Project. Just before the end of 2009 the project hit the £1 Million Pounds mark, by securing benefit gains for older persons' in the Partnerships areas of operation.
Gains for Wishaw and District Housing Association tenants have also been remarkable, raising almost £120,000 for the 74 tenants who have taken advantage of this award winning project.
--- Chartered Institute of Housing
Award Winning Project ---
The project also received the recognition of its peers when, at the prestigious Chartered Institute of Housing Awards ceremony held in London in November 2009, it scooped the Outstanding Achievement in Housing in Scotland Award, against tough competition.
So if you are a tenant of the Association, are 60 or over or have someone in your household that is, why don't you arrange a personal visit to your home from the award winning OPAP team?
Click here for more information about OPAP.
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Older Person's Advice Services (OPAS)
Following the success of the Older Person's Advice Project, the Scottish Government is now funding Link to provide a similar service to those aged 60+ in 3 pilot areas of Scotland. This includes North Lanarkshire. This means that the service available to our tenants via OPAP, is now available to older residents via OPAS. Contacts for referrals are 0845 022 0941 or e-mail opas@linkhaltd.co.uk.
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Home Owners' Support Fund
On the 16th March 2009 the Scottish Government launched its new Home Owners' Support Fund to help home owners struggling to keep up with mortgage payments.
The Mortgage to Rent Scheme has been reviewed and a new Mortgage to Shared Equity Scheme launched.
All new Mortgage to Rent scheme applications received after the above date will be dealt with under the revised scheme. Those currently being processed will be unaffected. Click here for more information
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Money Advice Project - Advice for Tenants and Residents (AFTAR) Project
Wishaw and District Housing Association, working in partnership with the Citizens' Advice Bureau and other local Associations will shortly launch a new service for its residents, called the AFTAR project.
Click here for more information on this project.
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The Energy Assistance Package
This scheme was launched by the Scottish Government on 6th April 2009, in response to the recommendations of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum. It replaces the previous Warm Deal and the Central Heating Programme to provide a holistic package aimed at helping to increase incomes, reduce fuel bills and improve the energy efficiency of homes. Whilst the scheme is targeted at people likely to be fuel poor, energy advice and benefits/tax credit checks will be available to all. Click here for more information.
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Annual Gas Servicing
In past years our heating contractors have reported that sometimes they have found it difficult to gain access to some houses to carry out the annual gas safety check. We cannot stress strongly enough the importance of allowing access. It is in the interest of both your own and your neighbour's safety and we must carry out this work.
Failure to provide access could lead to court action
with the tenant being responsible for all costs incurred.
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Common Housing Register (CHR) - What does this mean for Applicants?
We are nearing the launch date for the Common Housing Register and this means that Applicants will only have to complete one Application form yet still be considered for housing on all CHR member Landlords.
If you are currently on the waiting list of Wishaw and District Housing Association you will receive a Common Housing Register Application Form from North Lanarkshire Council this must be completed and returned to either our office at Kirk Road or to your local One Stop Shop this will ensure that you remain on the waiting list and also be considered for housing by other landlords who operate within the areas in which you have shown an interest.
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Positive Action in Housing
Positive Action in Housing, the Scottish ethnic minorities housing agency provides free, independent and multilingual housing advice and information for refugees, asylum seekers, EU migrants and people from ethnic minorities. Click here for more information on drop-in surgery times.
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