Help for People Affected by Domestic Abuse

If you are experiencing domestic abuse help is available. Don’t delay in seeking help during the lockdown.

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is not always physical violence. It can also include, but is not limited to:

• coercive control and ‘gaslighting’
• economic abuse
• online abuse
• verbal abuse
• emotional abuse
• sexual abuse

What signs to look for:

If you believe that you or someone else could be a victim of domestic abuse, there are signs that you can look out for, including:

• being withdrawn
• having bruises
• someone else controlling their finances
• not being allowed to leave the house
• monitoring technology use such as social media platforms

 Where to get help ?

Don’t delay in getting help or reporting domestic abuse because of the coronavirus situation.

 

Call the 24-hour Domestic Abuse Helpline in confidence on 0800 027 1234 or visit the Safer Scotland website

If it is an emergency, always dial 999 and ask for the Police.

For links to services in Angus visit our website

SMS 999 text system

People who are Deaf, hard of hearing or have issues communicating verbally can use the SMS 999 text system (you must register for this service).

For non-emergency use dial 101. Members of the deaf community can use the Contact Scotland facility. You can find the online form on the Scotland Police website.

If you are behaving in an abusive or harmful way please call Justice Services in confidence on 07920284216 and we will work with you to make positive changes.

 

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Reminder: Changes to Repairs Delivery Due to Coronavirus

As we announced previously, we are suspending the Right to Repair and we will only carry out certain emergency repairs to tenants’ properties.

The reduced list of emergency repairs which we will still do is:

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

• Uncontainable leak

• Sewage backing up and overflowing into the property

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

• Loss of essential services, such as water or electricity

We appreciate only undertaking emergency repairs is frustrating for everyone, including ourselves.  However we take a zero tolerance  approach to abuse of staff who are complying with government guidance – abuse towards our staff will not be tolerated.

Changes to Repairs Delivery Due to Coronavirus

 INFORMATION FOR ANGUS COUNCIL TENANTS

On 17 March 2020 the Government advised that people most at risk from the coronavirus were strongly advised to reduce unnecessary contact with others. To slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), the general public were asked to stay at home as much as possible and avoid unnecessary social contact.

So we can achieve this, we have reviewed our housing repairs service.

To safeguard the health and safety of tenants, staff and contractors, we will only be carrying out emergency repairs inside tenants’ homes from Monday 23 March 2020.

We will continue to carry out all communal and external works to our properties as normal. In the meantime we are suspending the Right to Repair.

The reduced list of emergency repairs which we will still do is:

• Loss of heating and/or hot water – Total loss of both heating & hot water with no electric shower
• Uncontainable leak
• Sewage backing up and overflowing into the property
• Serious security problem, such as a front door that cannot be locked
• Loss of essential services, such as water or electricity

When you contact ACCESS line 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. Have you returned from any risk areas as identified by the government within the last 14 days?
2. Has a member of your household returned from any of the same risk areas within the last 14 days?
3. Has anyone you work or socialise with closely been subject to exposure for corona virus within the last 14 days?
4. Are you in a vulnerable 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,.
3. Please be advised that contractors will be required to wear specialised personal protective equipment while in your property.

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.

Once the risk has reduced and we are in a position to resume other emergency, urgent and routine repairs, we will advise of this as soon as we can. You will need to report any repairs we have been unable to do in the meantime. We are sure that you will appreciate how challenging the current situation is for everyone but, please be assured that our reason for this temporary measure is to keep tenants, staff and contractors safe.