Sheltered and Retirement Housing Guest Rooms Remain Closed

The guest rooms at our sheltered and retirement units remain closed. We don’t have the resources to manage the change-over and cleaning requirements to the safety standards now needed as a result of the pandemic.

We will be reviewing the provision of guest rooms in the near future. This means that in the meantime, family members or relatives will regrettably have to make their own arrangements in local hospitality venues, as happens in some other neighbouring local authorities.

Information on places to stay can be found on the Visit Angus website

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Delays to Heating Upgrades at Andy Stewart Court, Cliffview Court, Balmain Court, Murray Court, Springfield and St Drostans Court

We are currently carrying out electric heating upgrades at Andy Stewart Court and Cliffview Court, Arbroath, Balmain Court and Murray Court, Montrose, Springfield, Forfar and St Drostans Court, Brechin.

Our Contractor has advised of a further delay in the supply of the heaters required to carry out the heating upgrade and anticipates that they will be unable to restart any electric heating installations before January 2022. This is due to global supply chains remaining severely stretched because of the worldwide pandemic and many other impacts.

We apologise for the delay, and appreciate your co-operation at this time and hope you find this information useful, but if you have any queries about this post, please contact us by emailing HousingTechnical@angus.gov.uk

ELECTRIC HEATING UPGRADE FOR ANDY STEWART COURT, BALMAIN COURT, MURRAY COURT AND SPRINGFIELD

Angus Council is carrying out electric heating upgrades at Andy Stewart Court, Arbroath; Balmain Court and Murray Court, Montrose; and Springfield, Forfar.

Unfortunately the replacement heaters are temporarily unavailable due to ongoing issues experienced by global supply chains and the contractor anticipates a 2 month delay to the work progressing.

We apologise for the delay and will resume work as soon as the supply issues are resolved. If you have any queries meantime, please contact us by emailing HousingTechnical@angus.gov.uk

Retirement housing in Ferryden

We have some retirement housing available to rent in the Southesk Court complex in Ferryden.

Ferryden is a quaint and quiet fishing community just on the outskirts of Montrose.  There are bus links to local services, the town centre and further afield, throughout Angus, and beyond!

The properties available are one-bedroom apartments, they come with modern kitchens, gas heating (cost of which is incorporated into the rent and service charges) and level access shower, as well as a communal laundry facility.  There is also a communal lounge (re-opening soon, currently closed to comply with COVID restrictions). Retirement housing is recommended for those over 60 years of age, although consideration is given to younger ages.

If you think this type of accommodation suits your needs, or that of a family member, please get in touch with our Montrose and Brechin Community Housing Team: brechinmontrosecht@angus.gov.uk

Photos of Southesk Court:

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Housing Services – Level 4 update

From 26 December Angus will move to Level 4 of COVID-19 restrictions.

The changes will mainly affect our repairs service. We will only accept new emergency repairs in occupied properties, and this includes:

•    loss of heating and/or hot water – Total loss of both heating & hot water with no electric shower

•    an uncontainable leak

•    sewage backing up and overflowing into the property

•    a serious security problem, such as a front door that cannot be locked

•    loss of essential services, such as water or electricity

The Right to Repair will be suspended.

When you contact ACCESSline on 03452 777 778 to report a repair, we will ask you the following questions to help us determine how best to protect against the spread of the virus:

1.    Do you currently have any symptoms of coronavirus? (new cough, high temperature, loss of smell or taste)

2.    Has anyone you work or socialise with closely had coronavirus within the last 14 days?

3.    Are you in a vulnerable or shielding group as identified in government guidance?

We will then:

1.    Assess the repair required and if it is classed as emergency, your repair will be processed in the normal way.

2.    If your repair is not classed as Emergency, we will not carry out the repair at this time. As before your housing officer will keep note of your routine repair.

3.    Please be advised that contractors will have to wear specialised personal protective equipment while in your property.

If you’ve already reported a repair, and it hasn’t been completed by Christmas Eve, then it will be on hold until the restrictions are relaxed again.

If you are reporting a gas repair to WRB directly you will be asked the same questions to allow them to assess how they will deal with your repair.

When we are able to deal with routine repairs again, we will post an update here.

If you report a repair to us, we will assume that we have your permission for our contractor to carry it out if they can.

Planned Maintenance

Many of our planned works, examples listed below, were due to restart on 5 January 2021, but this is no longer the case and we will contact tenants who have been given installation dates to advise of this and advise a new date when contractors return in the New Year.

•    Bathroom Upgrades

•    Kitchen Upgrades

•    Planned Heating Upgrades

•    Window Upgrades

•    Energy Efficiency Internal Works (including the ABS and ECO Flex schemes)

External works such as External Wall Insulation will restart as planned.

Other Services

Allocations – House moves to empty properties are unaffected. We will be offering tenancies as normal, and applicants can register and bid for properties at the Angus Homefinder site.

Homelessness – We will have very limited access to accommodation for callers who have nowhere to stay. We would encourage people not to travel or move between different restricted levels areas and to follow the government guidance.

Sheltered Housing

Sheltered lounges remain closed for the time being.

Fire Alarm Servicing is a requirement, and this work will go ahead where tenants have been notified and are comfortable with contractors working in their home.

Communal Areas: there are some planned works to carry out improvements to some lifts which includes a temporary stairlift installation. This work will go ahead, and we would ask that you use social distancing in the areas of this work.

Estate management – Housing and antisocial behaviour officers will continue to contact customers mainly by telephone. Home visits will be the exception and mainly limited to doorsteps only.

We appreciate that this enforced change is frustrating. Our team is working really hard to provide support for you, but our resources are fully stretched at the moment. Our officers are doing their best to deliver as much of our normal service as they can, whilst also taking on additional activities related to the COVID Emergency response. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this difficult period.

Weekly Fire Testing Continues at Sheltered Housing

Tenants of our Sheltered complexes are used to fire alarm testing happening at the same time every week and this will continue for the foreseeable future.

We would ask tenants to continue to stay within their homes whilst these tests are carried out to minimise any potential risks to tenants and staff during the current coronavirus situation.

If tenants hear the fire alarm sounding at any other time, they should follow the fire safety guidance issued at their complex. If any tenant wants to check the timings of the fire alarm testing, these are advertised on the notice board in each complex.

Age No Barrier to Cycling Enthusiasts in Carnoustie

Just because there’s frost on the roof doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the freedom of being on a bike again.

Being able to get outside is something that many of us take for granted, whether that’s part of our daily commute, to do a bit of physical activity, or simply to enjoy the fresh air. For many people, however, mobility issues and other barriers can limit being able to get outdoors.

The Cycling Without Age Carnoustie chapter hosted their launch event on Friday 31 January at the Kinloch Care Centre. Cycling Without Age is a global initiative that has quickly spread to over 40 countries. The Carnoustie chapter wants to transform people’s lives, re-engaging them with the outdoors through trips on specially designed trishaws piloted by trained volunteers. They want to provide a service to a group of people often excluded from enjoying the cycling and path infrastructure that Carnoustie offers its residents.

Some photos from launch event at the Kinloch Centre:

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We have been working closely with the group for the introduction of the Carnoustie chapter. The group successfully bid for funding from the Open Legacy Fund (set up after the 147^th Open Championship) to support projects and programs that will have a positive and lasting impact on the town of Carnoustie. This legacy funding allowed the group to purchase three trishaws and associated equipment.

The initiative gathered pace after securing funding from the Social Housing Fund, a collaboration between Cycling Scotland, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Living Streets Scotland and Sustrans Scotland. This fund supports residents living in social housing across Scotland by providing funding for improved facilities to make walking and cycling easier, more attractive and more accessible.

With this funding, the group bought and installed a robust storage facility, as well as the purchase of a hybrid bicycle, which are stored at the Kinloch Court Centre. This demonstrates the group’s commitment to place social housing tenants at the forefront of this project.

The Cycling Without Age Carnoustie Chapter has been led by volunteers. Lorraine Young, (Co-Chapter Organiser with Jean Brown), a key driving force for the project, said:

The objective of the project is to transform the lives of older people in our community, re-engaging them with the outdoors through open-air trips on trishaws operated by our volunteers.

At present we have 20 people signed up to volunteer with the service, of which 10 are already fully-trained, and a further 10 at different stages of training. These trained volunteers will cover a range of tasks from being a pilot, a co-pilot or a co-passenger. We would also welcome enquiries from members of the public who may be interested in volunteering.

We hope that Cycling Without Age will be a tremendous benefit to a significant number of people in the local area. Friday’s launch was an important step for the group as we aim to gradually introduce frequent sessions to support local residents often excluded from truly experiencing everything that Carnoustie has to offer

Hugh Macgregor, Development Officer at Cycling Scotland said:

We’re delighted to support Angus council and Cycling Without Age Carnoustie to help residents stay active and hope that this project will help reduce social isolation. Cycling Scotland works closely with partners to help employers, community groups and housing associations take advantage of the benefits of cycling.

Additional information about Cycling Scotland and the Social Housing Fund can be found at the following Cycling Scotland and Cycling friendly websites.

 

 

Calling the Over 50s in Angus!

If you’re over 50, we’re looking at ways to help you find services and improve housing options in Angus. To gain a better understanding of housing-related issues for older people, we’re undertaking a survey. The survey is aimed at people aged 50 or over from all housing tenures, whether you own or rent your property from the council, private landlord or housing association.

We want to know about:

• You and your household
• The characteristics of your home
• Your future housing aspirations and plans
• Any barriers preventing you from living in suitable accommodation that meets your needs

So please take part in our survey by completing the online questionnaire here .

If you are unable to view the online version,

please contact ACCESSLine on 03452 777 778

leave your name and number

and a member of our housing team will call you back to conduct the survey over the phone.

The survey is open now and has been extended to  30 November 2018.

Andy Stewart Court tenants show their support for Macmillan Nurses

Residents of Andy Stewart Court, together with housing officers, ran a fundraising event for Macmillan Cancer Support and raised a whopping £800.00.

Well done Andy Stewart Court!

 

Supported housing available to let now

If you are looking for supported accommodation (also known as very sheltered or extra care housing) and are over 50 or over 60 years old, we have some properties on our Houses for immediate let website on angus.gov just now.

Supported housing helps people to retain their independence in their own tenancies, and offers the reassurance of 24 hour assistance from onsite staff when required. If you’re interested in this kind of accommodation, we’ll do an assessment of your needs to make sure it is right for you and you qualify for it.

Here are some photographs of the available schemes

St Drostan’s Court,Brechin 

 Provost Johnson Road, Montrose

To apply or to find other housing available to let, go to our

Houses for immediate let website