Home issue 20

General Enquiries North 020 8314 7997 | South 020 8314 7991

Your home, your view

Residents’ Conference

Make Lewisham safer

HomeNews about your Council home

issue 20 | february 2013

Work experience in Lewisham | Money Shop now open | Streetdance Deptford

Keeping warm this February

Inside

0800 028 2 028 press 6

[email protected]

Contact the Antisocial behaviour team to receive

free dog microchipping, poop scoop bags or neuter vouchers.

Pick it up or pick up a £75 fine. Love where you live

Latest news from Lewisham Homes

A review of some of our most successful community projects from 2012

Love Lewisham? Find the golden nugget and win £25 vouchers!

Why you need to let your Gas Engineer in.

Residents’ Conference 2013: Come join us!

A Community Involvement officer helps a garden bloom

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What made you want to become a board member at Lewisham Homes? I wanted to see if there was any opportunity for me to make a difference, rather than complaining from the sidelines. I wanted to see if I could help improve things.

What are the priorities for Lewisham Homes? Providing decent homes residents can be proud of, but ideally making external improvements. For example, there is a space near my home and I think it could be put to better use and turned into a

Resident board Member Grace Padanou Addy

garden or even used to create some extra parking spaces.

And the biggest challenges? Communicating to residents what Lewisham Homes is responsible for maintaining in the borough and making sure they understand.

Resident indifference – reaching those who don’t seem to understand that by getting involved, they can change things for the better.

To come up with creative innovative strategies to deal with stricter budget constraints.

What are your hopes for Lewisham Homes’ residents? My hope is that every voice is heard. My hope for residents is for them to feel that they can contribute or make a difference.

Home

Editor Laura SealDeputy Editor tamara WrightDesigner Caroline Grimshaw

WEbSItEWeb editor Pam o’Connor

www.lewishamhomes.org.uk0800 028 2 028communications@

lewishamhomes.org.uk

Go to facebook.com and search Lewisham Homes

@Lewishamhomes

60 seconds with...

Our missiOn To deliver great housing services for thriving neighbourhoods.

www.lewishamhomes.org.uk

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Home

General Enquiries 0800 028 2 028 | 020 8613 4000

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our specialist welfare benefit advisors Kriss Graham and Roland Efedua help make benefits simple to understand.

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GOt a questiOn? You might find the answer on our Frequently Asked Questions page online at www.lewishamhomes.org.uk/faq or email [email protected]

Residents received free advice on benefit matters, training and employment at the first ‘Money Advice Shop’ held on the 5 December at Pepys Housing Office.

Kriss and Roland were on hand to give free welfare benefit health checks to residents worried about the upcoming changes to the benefits system in April.

“the Government is making huge changes to the benefits system. If you’re of working

age and receive benefits you need to be prepared as you maybe be affected. It’s

not too late to get help. Ring us today.”

Kriss & Roland’s Money Advice Shop opens for business

Kriss Graham and Roland Efedua

For more information contact our Welfare benefit advisors 020 8613 4873.

How many bedrooms do you have?

From April 2013 your housing benefit will be reduced if the Government thinks you have more bedrooms than you need.

You will lose 14% if you have one spare room and 25% if you have two spare rooms.

Your children may be counted as sharing a room – even if they don’t.

So call us now to see whether or not you are affected – don’t leave it until your benefit changes!

Don’t get caught out!

?

Call us now, or you can also visit our website at www.lewisham homes.org.uk/welfare_reform or Lewisham Council’s web page on Welfare Benefit Reform

www.lewisham homes.gov.uk/benefitchanges

bRIEFS SPRINKLERS At SoMERVILLE

We recently fitted the Somerville Extra Care sheltered housing scheme in New Cross with a new indoor sprinkler system. Sprinklers provide the highest level of protection to vulnerable residents in the event of a fire and Lewisham Homes is the first housing organisation in London to use this system.

KEEP YoUR GAS APPoINtMENtSLewisham Homes’ tenants who keep their scheduled gas safety appointment are entered into a prize draw to win £100 worth of Sainsbury’s vouchers. Mrs D Hartley, North Lewisham, is the latest resident to win vouchers.

0800 028 2 028 press 1 for more information

IN CASE oF AN EMERGENCYWhat would you do if you had a flood or fire or sudden loss of your gas, electricity or water supply?

Lewisham Council has just published a one-stop section on its website that gives advice on what to do, who to call and how to reduce the impact of an emergency on your family.

www.lewisham.gov.uk/emergencies


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DID YoU KNoW? Sheltered Housing is available to people over 60 who need support to maintain independent living www.lewishammylifemychoice.org.uk Sheltered Housing team on 020 8314 9906

they help residents keep communal areas on estates clean and tidy. Meet tony and Saviour, two Lewisham Homes Caretakers.tHE FACtS Tony covers nine blocks in Sydenham. He started working for Lewisham Homes at the age of 18.

Saviour joined Lewisham Homes in 2011. He started off doing fire safety checks before moving onto the Mobile Caretaking Team, based in Home Park. His patch is in the north of the borough, and includes blocks in the New Cross area.

tHE Job Tony really enjoys the social aspect of his job, especially getting to know so many different residents.

His busy workload keeps him active and he feels really proud when he has cleaned one of his blocks from top to bottom.

“As an Estate Services Caretaker, I feel a real sense of achievement when I have managed to get one of my blocks absolutely spotless. But

we do get health and safety issues coming up on a daily basis which means the time I get to actually clean can be dramatically reduced. For example, when rubbish bags and unwanted furniture are left in the chute rooms.”

Saviour says that working closely with residents is the only way to make real improvements on estates and blocks:

“We have received some really positive feedback from the residents about improvements,” said Saviour.

“Some of the problems are caused by people who don’t live here loitering, littering, smoking and even urinating in the stairways. So if they ring the intercom, don’t let them in.”

The Safer Neighbourhood team are increasing their checks in blocks. You can help by keeping communal areas clear of rubbish.

Caretakers – taking care

Saviour

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DiD YOu KnOW? If you are a LewIsham based professional, artist or tradesperson you can swap your skills

www.localskillsswap.com

• Dispose of all household rubbish down the waste chute or directly in the bin.

• Recycle and dispose of recyclable items in your designated recycling points.

• Put any large items of bulk waste at the allocated collection point. Your caretaker will be able to tell you where this is, if you are not sure.

• Take pride in your community.

How can you help your caretaker keep your block clean?

We’re running a poster campaign designed to reduce dog fouling around estates, blocks and the general community.

The posters will be on display throughout February.

In each estate there will be one poster featuring a ‘golden dog poo’ – simply find it and take your picture alongside this poster and send it in to [email protected] to be in with a chance to win £25 worth of High Street Vouchers. Competition ends February 28th. See website for terms and conditions.


FInD tHe golDen

nugget anD wIn a prIze!

Evelyn Estate caretaker, Mark Rees is pictured here with Mr Jones, an elderly, blind man he saved from being violently mugged last November.

Mark fended off 94-year-old Mr Jones’ attackers and helped him back home.

Mr Jones’ wife said: “My husband is visually impaired and suffers other ailments. Others stood and observed, but only Mark ran to his aid.”

Hero caretaker

Saviour

tony

0800 028 2 028 press 6 [email protected]

Contact the Antisocial behaviour team to receive free dog microchipping, poop scoop bags or neuter vouchers.

Pick it up or pick up a £75 fine.

Love where you live

“My husband is visually impaired

and suffers other ailments.

others stood and observed, but

only Mark ran to his aid.”

“ I do feel a real sense of

achievement when I have managed to get one of my blocks absolutely

spotless.”


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DiD YOu KnOW? If you’re worried about being able to pay your rent your Income Officer can help you

0800 028 2 028 press 2 to book an appointment.

Help make Lewisham a safer place

The results of the Survey will be used by the partnership, which includes Lewisham Council, the police, probation and fire services, health, and voluntary groups, to set its annual priorities.

The survey is open from 21 January until 5pm on 25 February and will only take a few minutes to complete.

www.lewisham.gov.uk/consultation

You’ll be given two options so we can monitor service levels and deal with any problems quickly. If you are satisfied, press 1. If you are not satisfied, press 3 and you’ll be automatically connected to the repairs contact centre. They will discuss any problems with you and agree how we can resolve them as quickly and efficiently as possible.

the Safer Lewisham Partnership is running a survey. they want to hear your views and your experiences of crime and antisocial behaviour in Lewisham.

We will contact you by phone straight after a repair is complete to check levels of satisfaction.

In November 2012, we launched a short video as part of our campaign to help residents reduce condensation in their homes. The video gives practical steps to deal with the problem by:

n Preventing it; n Measuring it; and n Controlling it

Watch the video and reduce condensation in your home:

www.youtube.com/lewishamhomes

We provide residents with a free Hygrometer (which measures moisture levels) and advice leaflets. So far 2000 hygrometers have been distributed to our residents.

To request a hygrometer and leaflet, contact 0800 028 2 028 or 020 8613 4000.

We’re tackling condensation

Your view on repairs

L-R: Joy burnett, Community Involvement officer, Lucy Wines Community Involvement officer, Richard Wright Community Involvement officer, Sue Asquith Community Involvement manager, Paul Sinclair Community Involvement apprentice, Katy White Community Involvement apprentice and briony Kwouk Community Involvement officer. Christina Evwierhoma, Community Involvement Officer (not pictured).

[email protected] 020 8613 7660

wHo’s wHo In CommunIty Involvement

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DiD YOu KnOW? If you are a LewIsham based professional, artist or tradesperson you can swap your skills

www.localskillsswap.com

Struggling to heat your home?

Make sure you’re getting the best deal on gas and electricity There are deals out there. The Consumer Focus website can help. www.consumerfocus.org.uk/get-advice/energy

Read your meters Bills are often estimated, so by reading your meter regularly and passing the information on to your supplier you will make sure you only pay for what you have used.

Reduce your energy use You can cut your bills by using low energy light bulbs turning down your heating thermostat by one degree, switching lights off and not leaving appliances on stand-by. The Energy Saving Trust has more tips www.est.org.uk

Winter Fuel Payments – this is a payment made to people who have reached pension credit age.

Cold Weather Payments – if you are on a low income or an elderly resident, you may be eligible for a cold weather payment if the temperature in your area falls to 0° centigrade or below for seven days in a row.

Warm Home Discount – if your electricity supplier belongs to this scheme and you’re getting the guaranteed part of Pension Credit, you will get an annual discount of £130 off your electricity bill.For more information contact the Winter Fuel Payment Team, details below.

Gas and electricity prices are on the rise, but there are several ways you can keep your fuel bills down this winter.

We’re tackling condensation

If you were born on or before 5 July 1951 you may qualify for a winter fuel payment. It’s an annual tax-free payment of between £100 and £300 which helps pay for heating in the winter. If you’re eligible, you’ll need to complete a form and return it to the Winter Fuel Payment team before 31 March 2013. You should get a Fuel Payment automatically if you get the State Pension or another Social Security benefit (not Housing benefit, Council tax benefit or Child benefit).

08459 15 15 15 www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment

Winter Fuel Payment

MoNEY SAVING tIPS


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Andrew PotterCEo Lewisham Homes

Julia CottonResident ChairLewisham Homes

What are your priorities for your home?

As you know, the council has been consulting with residents on its housing priorities and the future of housing in the Borough. More than 2,000 of you took part in the consultation leading up to Christmas, supported by independent tenant advisers, TPAS. The results of the consultation were discussed at the Mayor and Cabinet meeting in January and all the options were considered.

We are delighted to report that residents showed strong support for Lewisham Homes – 75% of respondents said they were satisfied with our services. As a result Mayor and Cabinet decided that further consultation with residents should only include the two options involving Lewisham Homes:

• Lewisham Homes staying as an ALMO, owned by the Council, or;

• Lewisham Homes evolving into a new resident-led housing organisation, obtaining investment for our communities.

The options to transfer housing stock to a registered social landlord (RSL) and return to Council management were ruled out.

The Council has asked us to continue the conversation with residents, and to find out about your priorities for your home. Over the next few months we will be asking you what would make the biggest differences to you and your communities. We will be explaining how additional investment could be used to support your priorities and improve services if Lewisham Homes was your landlord. We will also explain what a resident-led organisation could look like and how it would compare to Lewisham Homes as it is now.

In addition, we will explain how, if there is no change, we might be able to use existing funding arrangements to deliver on your priorities.

In July, once this work is complete, the Mayor will be considering residents’ views and will decide on the way forward.

These are still early days and you will have lots of questions. The newsletter enclosed with this issue of Home magazine will provide you with some of the answers and set out some of our ideas.

If you would like more information, or want to tell us your views, please contact the Housing Matters team on [email protected] or 0800 028 2 028 (press 7). We look forward to hearing your views.

Yours

Dear residents


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DiD YOu KnOW? You can like our facebook page www.facebook.com/lewishamhomes

Community Investment newsthrough our Major Works contractors, breyer and MItIE, we are able to deliver a range of initiatives that benefit our residents. Here are some of our projects delivered by the community investment programme:

Street Dance Deptford on film!Deptford Green school girls wowed the crowds in December with their street dance moves. Twenty girls attended weekly training sessions with a professional dance instructor to prepare for a performance at Deptford Green’s open evening. Due to the success of the programme we are running more street dance during 2013.

020 8613 7660 [email protected]

In the meantime, check out their dance moves on YouTube: www.youtube.com/lewishamhomes

An empty concierge room in Eddystone Tower has been turned into a community space with funding from the Community Investment programme. The room will be used by the local Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) as an office and for drop in surgeries as arranged by the TRA.

New Community Space for Eddystone tower

TPAS Awards 2013 have recently revealed the landlords that have made the shortlists for the Southern Region. The good news is that Lewisham Homes has been shortlisted in two categories.

Firstly, the ‘Excellence in the Community’ Award, for the Hazel Groove Intergeneration project, which includes a film made by the residents of Hazel Grove about life on the estate, past and present.

The Hazel Groove project was funded by the Community Improvement Competitive fund. And a member of the Lewisham Homes Community Involvement team, Lucy Wines, has been shortlisted for the Tenant/Resident Involvement Officer of the Year – Landlord.

The awards will take place on Friday 1 March at the Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden, London.

Our Community Investment programme has also been shortlisted for a Partnership Excellence award with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

Community Investment programme in the spotlight

Free DIY trainingOur major works contractors held more free DIY training sessions in Deptford and Catford in December. These popular courses show residents how to paint and decorate to a high standard. We have more sessions coming up on Thursday 14 March in Catford and on 26 March in Deptford. Contact Community Involvement now to book your place.


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Deptford Green teens get inspiredAs part of their community investment commitment to Lewisham’s young residents, MITIE have held a number of career based opportunities, including two career events for Deptford Green pupils. Taking place at Deptford Lounge, the events included mock interviews and CV writing.

Students described the sessions as ‘inspirational’ and as helping to ‘increase my confidence in speaking to other people’.

MITIE intends to offer more careers support for young residents in Lewisham during 2013.

gettIng baCK to worK

Breyer and MITIE run work clubs in Deptford and Catford every month.

Set up as informal drop in sessions, residents can get CV advice, job application support and tips on how to impress at an interview.

132 residents have attended the clubs since April 2012. Why not drop by and see if we can help you on your way to your dream job. No appointment required. 020 8613 7660

get [email protected]

Catford Deptford

21 February 2013 7 March 2013

21 March 2013 4 April 2013

Looking for work experience in Lewisham?

Exclusive to Lewisham residents, successful applicants will receive mentoring support during a 9 week placement, working 4 days a week.

To apply, you will need to attend an Open Day in March. Contact Community Involvement now to register your interest.


MItIE, working with a variety of Lewisham based businesses, is offering valuable work experience opportunities as part of its long running Real Apprentice scheme.

The next round of the community fund will be launched on 9 March. If you have have a project that address community, safety in the area or the environment get in touch with the Community Involvement team [email protected]


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DiD YOu KnOW? You can pay your rent by text.www.lewisham.gov.uk for more information.

remInDer to leasHolDersA quick reminder to our leaseholders – Service Charge invoices will be issued in April 2013.

Communal Areas – Major Works payment options

We can provide support towards these costs by:

Providing interest free repayment options for resident leaseholders for up to 36 months.

Providing support and advice on other payment options.

Giving personal contact and support for Leaseholders with high Major Works bills and identifying support available from other agencies.

If you are a Leaseholder you contribute to the costs of any refurbishment to the external decorations and communal areas of your building.

We have a legal duty to carry out an annual service of gas appliances in all our properties.

These inspections are provided free of charge to our tenants and are scheduled at a time to suit them. If a tenant refuses our engineers access to their home, they are not only in breach of their tenancy agreement but they are placing their lives and anyone else living in the property, at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning and faulty gas appliances.

In one case, tenants of a housing association in Lancashire have been handed 14-day suspended prison sentences for two years after they did not allow gas engineers into their home.

The tenants were sentenced for failing a second time to allow the engineers to make compulsory gas checks. They were also ordered by the judge to pay an £836 fine to cover court costs. Also see page 4.

If you are worried about your refurbishment costs and would like information on above, please talk to the Leasehold Services team on

020 8613 4220.

Don’t forget, last year the Government announced an increase in the Right to Buy discount to a maximum of £75,000. Lewisham Homes has a dedicated Right to Buy team to provide information on the practicalities, costs and responsibilities of home ownership as well as supporting you through the actual purchase of your home.

Contact the Right to Buy team on 0800 028 2 028 or 020 8613 4000

and press 5 for Leasehold Services

Ever thought of buying your home?

Don’t miss out on gas safety

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DiD YOu KnOW? We’ve had such an outstanding group of apprentices from last year that some are staying on with us!


A bathroom fit for a hero

What’s happening?

We’re installing door entry systems in 17 blocks across the borough as part of the current Residents’ Business Plan. The systems are designed to improve security but also give residents easy, secure access to their homes.

Interested residents nominated their block for a door entry system, telling us why they needed it. The applications were then prioritised to those areas with particular antisocial behaviour problems and to improve maintenance.

The 17 sites were then selected by a residents’ panel.Works are scheduled to start to the first blocks in February and will continue throughout the spring.

George Lambert, a Second World War veteran, has been living on the Hillcrest Estate in Sydenham for nearly 50 years. He talked to his Resident Liaison Officer about his mobility problems, and they organised an occupational therapy assessment to look at ways to make things a little easier with some adaptations to his bathroom.

Following the assessment, a walk in shower was installed with grab rails and an easy-use system with larger controls. George said: “I’m very pleased with the work that’s been done. The new bathroom has been a godsend. It’s made me independent again”.

87%

145people have attended our work clubs since April 2012

70 residents have attended our DIY training days since April 2012

2,000 residents took part in the Council’s Housing Matters consultation leading up to Christmas

20 young apprentices have been appointed through our major works contractors

205young people have taken part in our Street Dance initiative in partnership with Positive Futures

number Game 2012

Rolling out new secure door entry systems

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War hero George meets Lewisham Mayor

“the new bathroom has

been a godsend. It’s made me independent

again”.


MARCH High-5 Employability Programme ‘Meet the Trainer’ session Tuesday 12 March, 11am–12:30pm

High-5 Employability Programme Tuesday 19 March to Thursday 25 April, 11am to 3pm.

Lewisham Homes Board meeting Tuesday 26 March 6:30pm Our Board meetings are open to the public. Holbeach Housing Office Catford SE6 4TW

APRIL Basic Microsoft Word Wednesday 3 April 2013, 9:30am–4pm

Food safety in the workplace Friday 5 April, 9:30am–4pm

Basic Microsoft Excel Wednesday 10 April, 9:30am–4pm

Health& Safety in the workplace Friday 12 April, 9:30am–4pm

Basic Microsoft PowerPoint Wednesday 17 April, 9:30am–4pm

First Aid in the workplace Friday 19 April, 9:30am–4pm

Applying for funding Tuesday 16 April, 10am–1pm

Register for any of these events 020 8613 7660 getinvolved@lewishamhomes.

org.uk

Visit www.lewishamhomes.org.uk to see our full performance report!

PERFoRMANCE INDICAtoR

CUStoMER CARE

% repairs calls answered within 15 seconds% resident’s complaints closed/resolved within target timeSatisfaction with repairs service

EStAtE SERVICES% estates meeting required inspection standard

REPAIRS% emergency repairs completed on time% urgent repairs completed on time% routine repairs completed on time% repairs completed on first visit

CoLLECtING RENt% rent collected (excluding arrears)

tENANCY MANAGEMENtTotal number of evictionsAverage time to re-let empty properties

How we did last year

(11/12) *

88%

89%93%

93%

99%99%99% 98%

98%

8423 Days

How we’re doing now (12/13) *

90%

72%96%

88%

99%99%99%98%

98%

18 days

2012/13 target

90%

90%95%

92%

99%99%99%95%

95%

Not Set23 Days

Are we on target?

N/A

Are we improving compared to

last year?

N/A

How are we doing?14

*Performance between 1st April 2011 to 31st March 2012 *Performance based on year-to-date from April 2012 to December 2012

working day diary

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FinD Out abOut jOb OppOrtunities… Follow us on twitter www.twitter.com/lewishamhomes


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with Richard Wright

the Community Involvement team is responsible for supporting 25 resident associations, a £40,000 Community Investment Competitive Fund (CICF) and the Community Investment programme. the team works with residents to build better communities and involves residents in helping deliver services.We put on our wellies and joined Richard Wright, Community Involvement officer, as he went with the Green team on a community gardening project, the bulb planting event – Saturday 8 December 2012

9:30am I checked the weather for the day and was delighted. After a week of freezing rain, we had a day of blue sky and warming sunshine. That was one worry out of the way.

10:00am We got trowels and bulbs from the Silva Community shed and set up the tulip bulb bags with our volunteers: Lucyanne Biship, Mike Keough, Kat Wojnar and John Reardon to name a few.

25 children arrived at the Community Centre and it got very hectic. The children came mainly from the community groups who are based at Evelyn Community Centre.Co-ordinators Mahad Abdullahi and Phung Nguyen encouraged children to attend and helped on the day.

11:00am I explained what the project is about and thanked everyone who came. Lucyanne discussed the right way to plant a bulb – pointy end up! Then everyone got down to work planting the bulbs.

12:00 midday The children did a fantastic job and planted over 400 tulip bulbs in just one hour. We headed back inside for hot tomato soup and buttered rolls. Lucyanne helped kids make alfafa seed pots and we handed out goody bags with the treats and prizes. Everyone left very happy and buzzing after a great day gardening outside and we look forward to seeing tulips blooming and brightening up the estate by the spring.

2pm Back in the office I worked on another project where I am setting up two digital learning hubs at our sheltered housing schemes. Many older people feel excluded and isolated because they do not use computers and the internet. We will provide free communal computers, broadband and training to help them bridge the digital divide.

0800 028 2 028 press x https://www.facebook.

com/lewishamhomes#!/EvelynGardening

“We’ve set up the Green team which brings together parents and children to do gardening at Evelyn. We hope kids will get a lot of pride from improving the areas they live in.”

More bulb planting with Louise Anne

Richard Wright with

the bulb planters

Lewisham Homes Contacts

one call does it all...

0800 028 2 028Calling 020 8613 4000 may be

cheaper from a mobile

Repairs | Gas | Rent

Antisocial behaviour

Caretaking | Leasehold Services


Holbeach Housing office(Open 9am-5pm weekdays except Wednesdays 10am-5pm)

9 Holbeach Road, Catford, London SE6 4TW

Pepys Housing office(Open 9am-5pm weekdays except Wednesdays 10am-5pm)

1a Eddystone Tower, Oxestalls Road, Deptford, London SE8 3QU

Honor oak Housing office (Open 9am-4.30pm weekdays except Wednesdays 10am-1pm)

Spalding House, Turnham Road, London SE4 2HT

Home Park Housing office (Open Wednesday 10am-1pm only)129 Winchfield Road, Sydenham,

London SE26 5TH

Home issue 20

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