Free English Classes (ESOL) in Angus

We now have face to face evening classes in Forfar, Brechin and Montrose and a variety of daytime classes for learners of all abilities.
We also have online classes if you find it difficult to travel or have work or childcare commitments.
Classes have stopped for the spring holidays but start again week beginning 15th April.
We are also about to start session to help you prepare for your Driving Theory Test, your UK citizenship test and art sessions – see flyers below.

You can find out more details and keep up to date by following this link – please bookmark and check the link for updates.
If you have any questions about classes or ESOL delivery across Angus please contact Neil Paterson

Our Annual Assurance Statement 2023

Under the Regulatory Framework, we must submit an Annual Assurance Statement to the Scottish Housing Regulator every year. We also must publish it so tenants and service users can see it.

Our statement was approved at Communities Committee on 26 September and states that the Committee, which is our governing body, is assured we meet all statutory requirements, with listed exceptions

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aas2023Download

Shopping Vouchers Available for Tenant Focus Group Members

Last week we told you about our Focus Group sessions with TIS. We will give a £10 shopping voucher for a local supermarket to the first 15 tenants to sign up and attend each of the sessions. To qualify, tenants need to pre-book their place by emailing info@tis.org.uk or tenantparticipation@angus.gov.uk

The sessions will take place on:

Thursday 31 August at 6pm at Forfar Fire Station, Strang St, Forfar DD8 2HR;

Friday 1 September at 10am at Bruce House, Wellgate, Arbroath DD11 3TP; or

Wednesday 13 September at 6pm via Zoom virtual meeting platform

If you’ve already booked your place, don’t worry, we will arrange your voucher to be sent out after the meeting.

Call for Tenant Volunteers at our Focus Groups with the Tenants Information Service

We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Tenant Information Service (TIS) and our tenants to develop tenant participation and scrutiny practice of housing investment and related services.

Working together, we will develop an understanding of ‘how your rent is spent’, whilst increasing opportunities for tenants to influence decision-making around the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

TIS are experts in housing, community development, and engagement practice. As a National Membership Organisation, with over 200 tenants, community and housing organisation Members, TIS is committed to influencing change and strives for an active, inclusive, and just Scotland, with strong, equitable, and sustainable communities.

What is tenant participation?

Tenant participation is about tenants, and wider customers of housing services, taking part in decision-making processes and influencing decisions about housing policies; housing conditions; and housing (and related) services. It is a two-way process which involves the sharing of information, ideas, and power.

Scrutiny

Customer-led scrutiny of housing services enables landlords and their tenants to work in partnership, to identify where services and investment are well placed, and where value for money is being delivered. More importantly it identifies areas for improvements, which in turn can lead to improved service performance and increased tenant satisfaction.

Scrutiny is an opportunity for tenants, landlords, and community groups alike to work together and influence decisions about housing services.

Achieving the right level of scrutiny and participation is important for us to support shaping the delivery of housing investment and services. It provides us with a valuable insight into where resources should be prioritised, so that performance levels, and value for money are properly aligned.

Scrutiny empowers tenants to question their landlord on how their rent money is spent and whether it is spent in a way that achieves value for money.

Why get involved?

We are looking for tenant participation volunteers to work in partnership with us, with the support of TIS, to learn more about the HRA and how tenants’ rents are invested in homes and services. Working together we can improve services and make a real difference!

You don’t need previous experience as support to develop your confidence and skills will be provided.

Interactive Tenants Focus Group Sessions

Come along to one of our interactive tenants focus group sessions and take part in open discussions about the HRA and how tenants rents are invested in homes and services you receive from Angus Council. Sessions will take place on the following:

o            Thursday 31 August at 6pm at Forfar Fire Station, Strang St, Forfar DD8 2HR

o            Friday 1 September at 10am at Bruce House, Wellgate, Arbroath DD11 3TP

o            Wednesday 13 September at 6pm via Zoom virtual meeting platform

To book your place at a focus group, please call the TIS free information line on 0800 488 0982 or email info@tis.org.uk  or drop us a message at tenantparticipation@angus.gov.uk

Angus Homefinder Review

The Homefinder team is reviewing all current Homefinder applications – please look out for your email or letter to review your application.

We are reviewing all housing applications over the next few months. If you have a live application, we will send you an email or letter to ask you to login to your housing application and tell us whether you wish to stay on our housing list. If you do wish to stay on the list, we need you to report a change of circumstances. You can access your application here.

Once logged in you should choose “Report a change of circumstances”. This will take you through your application, so you can check all your details are correct.

Click through the whole application using the “Next” button. If you have changed address, please make sure to view the household members section – this will show as completed, but must be updated with the current address. Once you have completed any changes of address you can then continue using the “Next” button to review the rest of the application.

At the end of the application, make sure you enter the current date in the Privacy Notice, then click “Finish” to submit your changes.

Changes you make on your application need to be reviewed by a member of our team. You will not be able to place bids during this process. We aim to review your changes within 28 days. For the team to process without delays, please make sure all information is reviewed in your application. Your application may take longer than the 28 days due to the number of renewals ongoing, but the team hope to keep this to a minimum.

You can see a user guide for completing a change of circumstances here.

Cancel your Application
If you no longer wish to remain on the Housing Register, you can cancel your application by logging in and selecting “Cancel my application”.

If you do not respond to the review within 21 days, we will cancel your application and you will not be able to bid on or be matched to any available properties.

If you need further advice or assistance, you should contact any local library or ACCESSLine on 03452 777 778.

Council House Repairs – Now Back to Normal

Our system problem has been fixed, so Council tenants can report repairs as normal. Thank you for your patience during the outage.

Looking for Work? Job Fair Tomorrow

The Department for Work and Pensions is holding a Job Fair in Arbroath tomorrow.

Where?: Old and Abbey Parish Church, West Abbey Street, Arbroath DD11 1EQ

When?: Tuesday 14 March 2023

What time?: 10 am – 1 pm

For more information email DWP

Choice-Based Lettings – House Size – Number of Bedrooms

Here’s the latest in our series of guidance posts about Choice-Based Lettings:

When we register your application you will only be able to bid on properties that match the number of bedrooms for which you are eligible. This helps us make the best use of the stock that becomes available.

We will work out the number of bedrooms that you need based on who will be living permanently with you. Generally, single people, couples and non-dependants are each entitled to a bedroom. However, we will allow single person households and couples to bid on properties with two bedrooms, subject to affordability checks.

We will apply Department for Work and Pension rules to assess the number of bedrooms allowed for children – considering how old they are and their sex. The bedroom entitlement rules assume that:
• Two children aged 0-9 can share a bedroom whatever their sex
• Two children aged 0-15 can share a bedroom if they are the same sex
• Children aged 16+ are counted as needing their own bedroom

We will make common sense exceptions to these rules, depending on individual circumstances. For example:
• Where we have very limited stock and turnover of the house sizes you qualify for and you request a house size smaller than you would normally qualify for
• you require an additional bedroom on medical grounds
• if you provide foster care, or have been preapproved to provide foster care or to adopt children we will provide one additional bedroom per child

We will count an unborn child or children as part of your household if you can provide us with proof of your pregnancy.

Where parents have shared care of their child or children, the parent who provides their main home and has responsibility for them will receive their room allocation. If a child or children spend equal amounts of time in different households, or there is question as to where they normally live, they will be treated as living with the person who is receiving child benefit for them.

For a property with two bedrooms, we will consider families with children who need two bedrooms before we consider single people or couples, regardless of priority banding.

For single people and couples, if you have a history of rent arrears or we think you might not manage to meet your housing costs we will restrict the size of properties you can bid for or can be matched to a maximum of one bedroom.

Choice-Based Lettings – Assessing Multiple Needs & Exceptional Circumstances

Here’s the latest in our series of guidance posts on Choice-Based Lettings:

Assessing Multiple Needs

By “Multiple Needs”, we mean you need housing for a number of different reasons, for example, you are homeless and also need an adapted property.

If you have multiple housing needs, your application will be awarded the highest priority banding for which you qualify. For example, if you are assessed as homeless and have a requirement for a house with adaptations, your application will be awarded a Gold priority banding.

Other Exceptional Circumstances

We know our allocation policy cannot cover everyone’s circumstances and all situations. The Service Manager, Housing (Angus Council) or the Director of Housing, or equivalent, of Hillcrest Homes, Blackwood Homes or Caledonia Housing Association have special powers to use ‘discretion’ where you need to move urgently.

We will only use discretion and award an “outright” priority banding awarded where:
• we decide you need to be rehoused quickly
• our allocation policy won’t give you a high priority
• there are good reasons or special circumstances’ including: significant compassionate grounds: This could include the death of a family member occurring in, or around, the house. In these circumstances, it may be very difficult for the remaining family to remain in the house. We would also consider requests for rehousing from the terminally ill living outside Angus who wish to return to Angus to be closer to their family; management reasons: such as where we need to carry out substantial works to your home and we need to move you out; community safety issues: such as witness protection measures or to ensure the safety of victims of domestic abuse, assisting them to make a planned move and prevent homelessness
• to ensure just in time allocations to prevent homelessness, in line with the objectives of Rapid Rehousing

If the Service Manager, Housing (Angus Council) or the Director (or equivalent) of Hillcrest Homes, Blackwood Homes and Caledonia Housing Association agree to use their discretion, you will be awarded a Platinum priority banding and may be matched to a property if we need to offer you housing quickly and a suitable property becomes available. We will let you know if you are eligible to bid or will be matched to suitable properties.

You or someone such as an advice worker can make an application for discretion through the Common Housing Register team or our Housing Managers can make a discretionary application. A discretionary application may be subject to a housing options and needs assessment.

Calling all Empty Home Owners

Do you own an empty home in Scotland? Scottish Government has commissioned a study to understand the experience of empty homeowners, and what helps bring empty homes back into use. Please use this link to complete the survey.