Leaseholder News May 2014

LEASEHOLDER

Yourvoice

matters

May 2014 NEWS

www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk WolvesHomes 01902 556789

Welcome to Nikki Want to save energy and money? Need help decorating?

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Messagefrom LesleyI’ve been to manyLeaseholder Forummeetings since the lastnewsletter and one of the main things

that your forum members and I am

concerned about is how satisfied you

are with our services.

We really want to hear from you and

you have a great opportunity to speak

to us at the next “Your voice matters”

drop in sessions. You can find out the

dates and venues on page 3. We all have

busy lives, so if you can’t come along

please get in touch by phone, email or

any of the ways listed on the back page.

Another issue we’ve talked about at the

Forum meetings is safety – both yours

and your neighbours� safety. Please

take time to read page 4 and find out

how we can help everyone be safe.

Thank you.

Lesley RobertsChief Executive of Wolverhampton Homes

Message from MartinWelcome to this edition ofLeaseholder News. There is a lotof information in this issue thatimpacts leaseholders, so I hope

you can find time to read through. Many of youwill have spoken to Ben Howley who has takenup a new post within Wolverhampton Homes.I’m sure you will join me in sending Ben ourbest wishes for the future and to thank him forhis support. I would also like to welcome Nikki Downing who will be joining the team.

This is a good time to ask you to provide up to date contact details (phone number, emailaddress etc). This enables the team to send up to date news by email and text. LeaseholdOfficers are arranging the next Drop-ins that let leaseholders raise issues causing concern.Information can be found on page 3. There willbe elections to the Wolverhampton HomesBoard in July and it is our chance to vote forleaseholder Board members, ensuring ourcontinued representation within the organisation.Information can be found on page 3.

Finally, the Leasehold Team have introduced a change to the billing system that allows thecollection of ground rent automatically if youpay your service charges by Direct Debit. Can I personally recommend using direct debit tosave you time.

Enjoy this issue of Leasehold News and I lookforward to meeting you at the Get Togethers.

Martin CartwrightChairman, Leaseholders’ Forum

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Got a worry about your home or lease?Got a repair issue?Want to find out how WE can save YOU money?Want to give us feedback on our services?

Come and talk to the leasehold management team at our next drop-in session.

If you want to talk about a particular issue, let us know before the meeting and we’ll add it to the agenda.

If you need helpwith transportto get there justlet us know on 01902 556789.

Board electionscoming soonWho would you like to be your next boardmember? Board members help decide on ourservices, budgets and priorities and this year –we have three vacancies for resident members.

In July you’ll receive your ballot paper and details of the candidates. Just make your choice and send it back by 7th August 2014.

Want to know more? Visitwww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/

board-elections

Meet the candidates:The candidates will be at the Leasehold Forummeeting on Wednesday9th July, 7pm at Merry

Hill Meeting Room,Leasowes Drive,

Merry Hill, WV4 4PZ.

Welcome to NikkiMeet NikkiDowning, the newestmember of theleaseholdmanagement team.

Working with Chris Churm, she can help with queries on:

• Service charges and invoices• Payment plans• Permission for alterations• Gas servicing • Major improvements

So give her a call on 01902 556789 or email nicola.downing@

wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk or come to the drop-in sessions

and meet her.

YOURVOICE

MATTERS

Wednesday 4th Junefrom 6.30pm

Wolverhampton Homes, Alfred Squire Road,

Wednesfield, WV11 1XU

Tuesday 10th Junefrom 6.30pm

Merry Hill Office, Leasowes Drive,

Merry Hill, WV4 4PZ

3333

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IS YOURFLAT SAFE?We want you and your neighbours to be safe. So please think about two things – gas andfire safety.

Gas If gas appliances aren’t serviced they can be verydangerous and can cause:

• gas leaks • fires • explosions • carbon monoxide poisoningThese put you, your family and your neighbours in danger.

The Health and Safety Executiverecommends that you have yourappliances checked every year. If yousublet your flat, an annual check is a statutory requirement.

Please make sure you get a Gas Safeengineer to safety check or serviceyour appliances.

We can help – we offer:

• a range of annual servicing options from £88 + vat to £180 + vat

• a one-off gas safety inspection – check all your appliances for a one-off fee of £45 inc vat

FIRE!Is your front door fire safe?

Did you know that if you live in a flat with communalareas, you need to makesure that your door is a firedoor and will resist fire for at least 30 minutes?

We do carry out fire risk assessmentsand if we find that your door isn’t fireresistant we’ll contact you and let youknow that you may need to replace it.

The good news is that we can help.We can supply and fit a fire-safe door at your home and you can pay in instalments over 12 months – interest free!

Interested?Call Wayne in the leaseholdmanagement team on 01902 556789 or [email protected]

Find out more atwww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/leaseholders/gas or phone the leaseholdmanagement team on 01902 556789.

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Want tosaveenergy andmoney?Our climate change teamcan help. They are on handto advise you how to keepwarm for less money, howto be energy efficient andadvice on insulation andenergy saving products.

Want to know more – ask for a free home energy visit for:

• A whole home energy survey• Energy company switching• Saving money through Social Tariff schemes• Reducing condensation • Advice on how to use your heating system.

Visitwww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/

energy-managementfor more information or call

01902 556789.

LETTING OUT YOUR FLAT– let us do the workWe can let and manage your flat with:

• Guaranteed rent.• A generous free-repairs allowance for the duration of the lease.• Full tenancy and property management.• Management fees starting from just £15 per week.

Find out more at www.whomes.org.uk/city-homesor phone Andy Hughes on 01902 553253.

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Want to improve your neighbourhood?Got a problem with:

• Untidy gardens • Abandoned vehicles • Litter • Vandalism

Join your local estate inspection and help spot the problems, yourestate manager will do the rest.

Find out the date of yours atwww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/estate-inspections

WANT TO GET ONLINE?

making online learning easy

Did you know that using the internet for shopping and paying billscould save you about £560 per year?

Perhaps you don’t know where to start, you may even be terrified of computers, orperhaps you know the basics but want to know more.

Our Web Wizards can help you get the skills you need and help you make the most of allthe internet has to offer.

If you already know the basics - choose from lots of e-learning courses from:• Online basics • Banking online • Shopping online • Facebook and socialising

Visit www.learnmyway.com to create your free account and add 3456107in the centre code box.

Or if you don’t know where to start - come to our friendly drop-in sessions. Call 01902 556789 and ask for the Web Wizards to find out more.

WE NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

Help us save you money by lettingus contact you by email not post.

We can send you Leaseholder Newsand other mailings, straight to yourinbox. You’ll also get extra monthly e-newsletters as a bonus.

Send us an email to [email protected]

or visitwww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk

/leaseholder-feedbackand we’ll put you on the mailing list.

@Are you queuing to pay?Do you make a trip to one of our shops to pay yourservice charge and council tax?

There’s an easier way! Visitwww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/pay andchoose housing payments (for service charges andinsurance) or council tax.

COMING SOON Check your service charge

account, update your details and more… using yourDo It Online account.

The all-new leaseholders’ Do It Online account willbe launching in 2015. Want your own account? Justsend us an email and we’ll let you know as soon asit’s ready: [email protected]

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When you bought your flat the loft space wasn’tincluded as part of the sale. This is because we mayneed to get into the loft to carry out repairs to theroof or to the wiring which runs through the loft space.

If you are the only person who has access to the loftspace, you are welcome to use it for storage and youcan loosely board over the beams but you cannotinstall a window or use it as a habitable room.

The council will sometimes give planningpermission for a loft conversion but they will notcheck your lease, so this does not mean you cango ahead with the work.

Please check your lease before you carry out anyimprovements or contact the leaseholdmanagement team for advice.

If you’re aged over 60 and are on incomerelated benefits or registered disabled, you may be able to get help from the

handyperson service.

The handyperson service can help withfixing leaking taps, broken windows andfixing loose carpets to energy efficiencymeasures to make your home warmer.

Get in touch [email protected] or phone01902 551155 and ask about the

handyperson service.

Handy personservice

Thinking of a loft conversion?

STOP!We’ve had a few cases lately where leaseholdershave converted lofts into rooms and we’ve hadto ask that they put the loft back to its originalcondition.

Need help withdecorating?

Find it difficult to decorateor are you just too busy? Let us do the work.Wolverhampton Works can carry out small painting and decorating jobs in

your home for a small fee.

Interested? Call 01902 551981 and ask for

Wolverhampton Works.

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Quiz TimeTry our Sudoku puzzle and you couldwin £20 in vouchers. Just send yourcompleted puzzle to the address below by 1st August 2014

The winner of our last puzzle was Mr Corrigan of Pendeford.

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Contact uswww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/leaseholderschristopher.churm@wolverhamptonhomes.org.uknicola.downing@wolverhamptonhomes.org.ukhome.sales@wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk01902 55678901902 552999 for out of hours emergencies www.facebook.com/wolverhamptonleaseholders @wolveshomesWrite to:Leasehold Management Team,Wolverhampton Homes, Leasowes Drive, Merry Hill, Wolverhampton WV4 4PZ.

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Your Feedback and Sudoku entryTell us what you think about any of our services.

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Return to: Communications, Wolverhampton Homes, Chillington Fields Industrial Estate,Off Hickman Avenue, Wolverhampton, WV1 2BY

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