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NEWS and INFORMATION
Wishaw and District Housing Association - Shared Ownership Properties
We currently have two Shared Ownership properties available for sale. The details of these properties can be found here.
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Wishaw and District Housing Association launched our Credit Union Scheme at our Residents' Conference 'Easy Money' on 24th June 2010
Our residents' conference was a success and the programme provided those who attended a lot of useful information from the speakers on credit unions and general money management issues.
One lucky lady found she could insure all her contents through us for more or less the same price as she was paying to individually insure her laptop. For more information on contents insurance you can contact us by phone or email.
If you would like to tell us what you thought of the conference or our voucher scheme you can do so by phone, email or use of our online comments form. If you missed the conference and would like us to consider holding it again at a different time then please let us know.
Click here to view pictures from the conference.
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Special Uplifts
Every household is entitled to 3 free uplifts per year for bulk items (the year runs from 1st April - 31st March). Please contact North Lanarkshire Council Cleansing Department on 01698-302010.
Examples of what will be uplifted can be found 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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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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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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Progress at our Hill Street (Phase 2) and One for the future...
Wishaw and District Housing Association are now pleased to announce the completion of our second phase of building at Hill Street, which was formally opened on Friday 18th June by Councillor John Pentland. For more information on this development please click here.
We have recently acquired the former Tesco site on Main Street in Wishaw. At the moment we are unclear as to exactly what will be built on this large development site and are undertaking a feasibility study to explore options. Rest assured thought, affordable housing will be at the heart of any proposal...... watch this space!
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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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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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Strathclyde Police - Don't Accept Antisocial Behaviour
Sometime it's the little things that cause the most problems; noisy neighbours, fly tipping and people drinking on your street. We know that you just want it to stop.
Your local community policing team is here to do just that.
To make antisocial behaviour stop.
Visit www.strathclyde.police.uk to find the name and number of your own local officers.
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Older Person's Advice Project (OPAP)
--- £2,132,187 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 June 2010 the project hit the £2 Million Pounds mark and at the end of June 2010 it reached a staggering £2,132,187.45, 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 £151,312.27 for the 92 tenants who have taken advantage of this award winning project
If you are not one of our 92 tenants who have taken advantage of this project and you are 60 years old or over, please contact our office and we can refer to you one of our OPAP advisors.
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
--- £128,268 Raised ---
Wishaw and District Housing Association can confirm that its new partnership project with the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and 4 other local landlords has raised £128,268 to the end of July 2010 for residents in North Lanarkshire. Over £25,000 has been put in the pockets of residents of the Association.
The project has already helped 296 North Lanarkshire residents with a variety of issues ranging from carrying out benefit maximisation checks and assisting with claims, dealing with consumer and debt advice through to helping deal with fuel issues and legal matters. Not bad for a project that only started on 15th March 2010!
If you wish to be referred to the project please contact your housing officer.
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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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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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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Useful Links
If you are looking for more information on Money Advice, Anti-Social Behaviour, Citizens' Advice etc. please click here for some useful links.
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