Well done to the tenants at Andy Stewart Court sheltered housing complex in Arbroath who raised over £200 for their comfort fund recently with a strawberry tea!
Picture at the event are tenant organisers and staff from the local Community Housing Team…
… and folks enjoying their strawberries and tea!
The guide, launched by sight loss charity Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT), provides information and advice for visually impaired people who are looking for a new home, seeking to live independently for the first time or experiencing problems in their current accommodation. It was co-produced with people with sight loss and shares personal experiences of visually impaired people who have different life circumstances, provides useful suggestions and signposts to over 100 sources for further advice.
The guide can be found on the Thomas Pocklington trust website.
You can follow or contact the Trust on Twitter by using @TPTgeneral and #TPTResearch.
Kirrie Connections is the community hub operated by the Dementia Friendly Kirriemuir Project.
Project Co-ordinator, Graham Galloway, Project Co-ordinator said:
“We offer a variety of activities and sessions throughout the week that are free and open to people living with dementia and their carers. These include crafting activities, gardening groups and games sessions. We are also open throughout the week on a drop in basis to offer help and advice. If you are interested in finding out more, or would like to enquire about volunteering for the project, pop in for a cuppy and a chat at the hub at 5 Bank St, call and ask for Graham or Evelyn on 01575 573805 or email kirrieconnections@gmail.com.”
Picture of a session in the hub
Community garden
For more information visit the Kirrie Connections website
How to protect a deposit
If a landlord takes a deposit from their tenant, the deposit must be transferred to an approved tenancy deposit scheme within 30 working days of the tenancy start date. This is required under the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011. Should a landlord fail to protect a deposit, a tenant can apply to the Sheriff Court for financial sanctions of up to three times the amount of the deposit against the landlord.
To comply with the Regulations and avoid financial sanctions, a landlord should:
The schemes are free to use.
How to repay a deposit
When the tenancy comes to an end, you should log in to the scheme’s website or phone their office to confirm the tenant has moved out and how the deposit should be repaid (e.g. if the full amount should be repaid to the tenant, or if you want any paid to you). The scheme will contact the tenant to ask if they agree with the breakdown you have provided. If you and the tenant agree, the scheme will repay the deposit within 5 working days.
You can find further information on the Regulations on the Scottish Government website.
Safe Deposits Scotland www.safedepositsscotland.com
T: 03333 213 136 E: info@safedepositsscotland.com
Caledonia Housing Association is now taking applications for their shared equity properties at Anderson Street, Carnoustie.
The development which consists of 8 two-bedroom flats and is part of a wider private development by Ogilvie Homes, overlooks the golf course.
The properties should be ready in November 2017 and offer a route into home ownership for those households on lower incomes.
To find out how to apply, as well as the qualifying criteria, please visit Caledonia HA Shared Equity page
This exciting new development is part of a wider programme of affordable housing developments in Angus supported by the Scottish Government.
We’re keen to get customer feedback about our Housing Options services. So if you have met with one of our Housing Options officers to talk about your housing situation, please complete our SURVEY to let us know what you thought of our service.
Customer opinion is very important to us and can help us to improve our services.
The SURVEY will be carried out in July, August and September.
Calling all Angus tenants. We’re seeking your views on the proposed rent increase for 2018/19 and options on how your rent money will be spent.
All three options will keep your rent amongst the lowest in Scotland and well below what the Scottish local authority average for 2018/19 is likely to be.
We need more tenants to get involved in the decisions that affect the service they receive. We and the tenants on the Rent Setting Group would really like to hear from you. There is no better time to get on-board, take part and have your say.
Why are we proposing to increase the rent?
We need to make sure the rent we receive is enough to pay for improvements needed to tenants’ homes and to help build new homes.
Since 2014, we have been increasing rents in-line with the previous four year agreement which has now come to an end.
We’re carrying out a consultation to help tenants consider the rent increase options so they can clearly see how their rent money will be spent.
The results of this survey will be presented at the communities committee in February 2018. At this meeting the final decision on a rent increase for 2018/19 will be made.
Rent increases will help protect housing services, build new homes and help us to continue to invest in our homes that meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.
How is the rent increase measured?
The rent rise is partly based on the inflation measure of CPI (Consumer Price Index) in September 2017, as well as an additional set percentage agreed between the council and tenants.
We use the September CPI figure because the council’s budget setting arrangements need to be in place by October 2017 so that everything is ready for the next financial year which starts in April 2018.
Rent Increase – the options
The tenant Rent Setting Group has agreed three options which the members feel will bring benefits to tenants while keeping rents affordable.
The three options are:
| Option 1 – Recommended by the Rent Setting Group | Option 2 | Option 3 | |
| Rent Level | CPI + 1% | CPI + 1.25% | CPI + 1.5% |
| Capital spend (this is money invested to buy or upgrade fixed, physical, non-consumable assets, such as buildings and equipment) | £18 million capital spend over the year | Additional £850,000 capital to spend in addition to Option 1 | Additional £1.7m capital to spend in addition to Option 1 |
| How many new builds? | 70 new homes over the year | 70 new homes – any additional funds will be used to improve existing stock | 70 new homes – any additional funds will be used to improve existing stock |
| What stock improvements can tenants expect? | 450 Gas & Electric Heating installations;
600 properties receiving external wall insulation & energy efficiency measures; 700 bathrooms.
|
In addition to planned improvements listed in Option 1, for example:
39 Gas Heating installation (including loft insulation); 13 Electric Heating installations (including loft insulation); 37 Kitchen Replacements; 58 Bathroom Replacements; 7 External Wall Insulation; 42 Window & Door Replacements. |
In addition to planned improvements listed in Option 1, for example:
78 Gas Heating installation (including loft insulation); 26 Electric Heating installations (including loft insulation); 73 Kitchen Replacements; 117 Bathroom Replacements; 14 External Wall Insulation; 84 Window & Door Replacements. |
The tenant representatives recommend that tenants choose Option 1 (the lowest option), which will mean a rent rise of CPI as at September 2017 plus 1%. This option is considered to be the minimum level of income needed to deliver the current Business Plan. It, along with Scottish Government grant funding, will enable us to build 70 new homes in 2018-19, as well as these improvements to existing stock: 450 Gas & Electric Heating installations, 600 properties receiving external wall insulation & energy efficiency measures, 700 bathrooms.
All three options would keep rents affordable, keeping average rents in Angus amongst the lowest in Scotland, and well below what the Scottish local authority average for 2018/19 is likely to be.
*Please note this consultation is open to current Angus Council tenants only
The full Universal Credit service comes to Angus in November 2017.
If you’re claiming Universal Credit or want to know more about it, these practical videos from DWP give an overview of Universal Credit and how the online services work.
You can also find out more on our UC webpages.
Angus Council Housing News 