Are you interested in cooking?

Are you interested in cooking with others and would you like to help us develop a Community Café ?

Join the Arbroath Cooking Groups on Mondays or Tuesdays in Arbroath Academy.

 

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Want to Buy a Home but Can’t Afford the Full Price?

The Open Market Shared Equity Scheme (OMSE) helps people who want to buy a home on the open market but are unable to meet the full price.

The scheme is available again from December last year and here is a short, informative animated film which explains the scheme and the eligibility criteria for potential applicants.

Demolition of Damacre Centre, Brechin – Information for Nearby Residents

Contractors will soon demolish the vacant property at the Damacre Centre. Work is due to begin on Monday 26 February, and, barring any delays, will be completed by Friday 13 July 2018.

A site compound will be installed around 26 February as you will see on the attached map: Site Plan-CDM – 02. The contractor, Gowrie Contracts, Dundee, will make every effort to keep their vehicles in that area.

This work should not affect neighbouring properties, although there will be some disruption.

There may be some risk of dust being blown by the wind towards neighbouring properties and at times there may be some low level noise. Every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum and to ensure works do not inconvenience residents.

Work will take place from Monday to Friday, between the hours of 7.30 am and 4.30 pm with perhaps some occasional weekend working.

We thank residents in advance for their understanding and cooperation. Any questions or concerns either before or during the works, should be directed to Darren Stewart on 01241 435135.

Alternatively, you can contact Jim Duthie, Site Supervisor, Gowrie Contracts, on 01382 826579.

 

Private Landlords – Getting Advice and Support from Landlord Accreditation Scotland

 

What do they do?

Landlord Accreditation Scotland (LAS) is a voluntary scheme set up to promote and support landlords and letting agents in Scotland by accrediting their property management skills. The scheme is run by landlords for landlords.

LAS Aims to:

• promote best practice and continuous improvement of standards in the private rented sector in Scotland
• provide tenancy management advice to landlords and letting agents giving tenants reassurance that they can expect their landlord or letting agent to operate high management standards through an ongoing programme of training throughout the country

 

Who recognises accredited landlords and letting agents?

LAS works in partnership with local authorities across Scotland, to maximise contact with all Scottish landlords and agents. Local authorities recognise that those who have chosen to meet accreditation standards are those providing the best service for tenants in that area. The Scottish Government supports the aims and objectives of LAS, and recognises the good practice of accredited landlords and agents.

What is the benefit of being accredited with LAS?

LAS offer Scottish landlords and letting agents a method of recognition in an industry where professionalism is paramount. By becoming accredited, you have access to a wide range of training, information and support documents, as well as regular email updates to help you provide the highest management standards.

Training & Information

LAS provide training on a wide range of topics aimed at all levels of knowledge and experience in the private rented sector. An example of course topics is as follows:

Core Standard Training

Level 1 Property Condition & Property Management                                                           Tenancy Management, Tenancy Agreement & Notices

Level 2 Managing Common Repairs                                                                                   Managing Tenant Complaints, Tenancy Agreements & Repossession

Best Practice Training

Dealing with Abandonment                                                                                                   Creating Inventories                                                                                                                   Health & Safety Requirements                                                                                             Landlord Tax

Contact:

Landlord Accreditation Scotland                                                                                   Hopetoun Gate, 8b McDonald Road,                                                                                        Edinburgh EH7 4LZ                                                                                                                         Tel: 0131 553 2211

Email: info@landlordaccreditationscotland.com

Web: www.landlordaccreditationscotland.com

 

 

 

 

 

Looking to the Future – Our Plans for Council Housing 2018 – 2022

Rent increases help us protect housing services, build new homes and to continue to invest in our homes so they meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and will meet the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing by 2020.

Last year, our Tenants Steering Group agreed that rents should be increased to ensure we can continue to invest in its existing homes as well as build new affordable housing in Angus. Three rent increase options were proposed by the Tenants Steering Group.

In July 2017, we carried out a rent consultation for our residential tenants. The majority of tenants (58%) who responded to the consultation supported an increase of inflation (as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) +1% which equates to a 4% based on September 2017 CPI of 3%. The rent increase will increase the average rent to £66 per week and mean that our rents will continue to remain in the lowest 25% of all Scottish local authorities.

The results of this survey were presented at the communities committee at the beginning of February 2018 and the final decision on a rent increase for 2018/19 was made. You can read the papers here. The committee approved an average rent increase of 4% for Council houses, garages and travellers’ pitches. Associated service charges for sheltered, retirement and dispersed accommodation will continue to be based on actual costs in the previous financial year. Tenants will receive their new rent cards for 2018/19 in the next few weeks. Please let us know by calling ACCESSLine on 03452 777 778 if you haven’t received your new rent card by 5 March 2018.

The committee also agreed the capital programme for the financial years 2019/20 to 2021/22. The five year programme will provide £100m investment in the homes and communities of Angus by increasing the Council’s investment in building new homes and improving existing stock. We will:

• Upgrade 2,250 heating systems, around 450 per year.
• Install energy efficiency measures in around 3,000 homes including external insulation.
• Accelerate the bathroom programme to deliver around 7,000 new bathrooms over the next eight years. This will see a new bathroom in every Council home by 2026.
• Continue our ongoing adaptations programme, supported by funding of up to £520,000 per annum. This supports people to live independently in their own homes
• Deliver around 80 new build units per year over the next four years, including at least 20% for particular needs. Projects proposed include large scale regeneration at Timmergreens, Arbroath, redevelopment of land at Invertay House, Monifieth and the use of surplus land at Coronation Way, Montrose.
• Continue to provide sprinkler systems in new build homes.

The construction activity in the plan will have a significant impact on the local economy and studies have shown that every £1 spent can generate £2.84 in indirect and direct economic stimulus. It is estimated that the agreed capital programme could:

• Generate economic benefit of £284m over the next five years
• Create and sustain around 1800 jobs
• Support at least 12 apprenticeship places

We are grateful to our tenants and staff for working with us to develop this ambitious programme which will have a significant positive effect on our communities.

 

Activities for families at Arbroath Academy

Some new activities are available for families at the Community Space in Arbroath Academy. If you would like to participate or need more details, contact Avril Gordon at 01241 438255

 

For Under 5s

 

The Learn, Laugh, Play free Breakfast Club sessions on Tuesdays between 8.45 and 10 am at Arbroath Academy.

For more information phone 01241 438255 and ask for Avril Gordon

 

 

 

 

 

 

For pre-school and school-aged children –

 

 

New regulations for Letting Agents in Scotland

From 31 January 2018, all letting agents in Scotland must comply with the Letting Agent Code of Practice and, by October 2018, must join the Register of Scottish Letting Agents. Failure to do so could lead to a fine of £50,000 or a six month prison sentence, or both.

The statutory Letting Agent Code of Practice sets out the minimum standards that letting agents must meet in managing their business and providing services to tenants and landlords, including training, financial services and insurance.

Information on letting agent registration, including how to apply, is available here.

What if a tenant thinks the code has been breached?

Under the code, letting agents must have a written complaints procedure for handling complaints and they must make that available to their customers on request. If an agent has failed to do what the Code of Practice says they’re expected to do, the first step is for a landlord or a tenant to make a formal complaint to the agent.

If the agent does not resolve the complaint within  a reasonable time, then the landlord or tenant can make an application to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing & Property Chamber). More information on applying to the Housing and Property Chamber is available on the Tribunal website.

Replacement care home for the Gables approved

The existing Gables home

 

Our Policy and Resources Committee approved a two-year project for the replacement of The Gables care home in Forfar which provides services to adults with learning disabilities. The old care home is considered as outdated and not suitable for the needs of residents and will be replaced with new properties which will provide more personalized models of housing support to meet the needs of its residents and families. Caledonia Housing Association was appointed as the preferred Registered Social Landlord for the project.

The proposed project will provide:

• 11 one-bedroom flats
• 1 two-bedroom house
• Communal lounge
• Staff accommodation.

Additionally, 6 new affordable homes will be built on the existing site.

For more information see our news website.