InthisIssue:

REMEMBER ....For out-of-hours emergency repairs: 0845 6015676

Issue 43 Spring 2014

News&ViewsYork Housing Association’s Newsletter for Tenants

Investment Works UpdateUpdate on Welfare Reform ChangesPage 2

Your Scrutiny Panel Needs YOU!Other ways of getting involved Page 3

Diary Dates50 Years in BloomStaff UpdateYHA is in top 50 of Social LandlordsBronze AwardPage 4

In recent years we have also started tohelp people get a foot onto the homeownership ladder by providingproperties for sale and sharedownership. We also provide supportservices to over 250 people to helpthem manage their tenancies.

We think that’s something worthcelebrating. To mark our 50th year weare running a series of monthly eventsfor tenants, along with a Garden Party at the Merchant Taylor’s Hall in York on

23rd June, so that everyone has achance to join in the celebrations.

On page 4 of this newsletter you will findfull details of the events we’ll be runningnear your home. At these events therewill be an opportunity to meet with othertenants and staff to both socialise andgive your views on how YHA cancontinue to grow from strength tostrength over the coming years.

Enclosed are details of the GardenParty. Tickets will be allocated on a first

come first served basis so reply early to book your place.

We’ve got lots of fun activities plannedfor the garden party, such as gardeningtips and free plants, stalls, arts andcrafts and of course you will also beable to enjoy a cream tea.

Please enjoy reading this edition of News and Views and we lookforward to seeing you during our50th year!

2014 marks fifty years since York Housing Association was formed. Wehave gone from modest beginnings, providing homes to rent for studentsin our first property on Bootham, in York to now providing homes for over800 households.

As part of our commitment tocontinually improve the servicewe provide you, we areintroducing annual customercare visits. These visits are achance for you to discuss withyour Housing Officer any issuesrelating to your property,tenancy or neighbourhood andto help identify any help youmay need from us.

We will have got round toseeing everyone between nowand next April and your HousingOfficer will be in touch toarrange an appointment withyou. We will then continue tovisit you once a year so that wecan make sure we have up todate details about you andmembers of your householdand can deliver services in away that meet your needs.

Customer carebegins at home

1970’s1980’s

1990’s

21st Century

First tenant joins Board

Property MaintenanceWorker post created

Expansion of supportedhousing services

Passivhaus scheme built atBoundary Close

First extra care schemedeveloped

First properties for sale andshared ownership

New build scheme atBretgate receivesbuilding design award

YHA takes on ownershipof Rothwell scheme

First supported housingscheme for people withmental ill health

First paid Housing Manageremployed

YHA registers with theHousing Corporation (nowknown as the Homes andCommunities Agency)

First new build scheme atMcHugh Court in York

YHA is formed

First properties in York– converted houses forstudents

All work carried out byunpaid volunteers

1980’s 1990’s 21st Century

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50 Golden Years

1970’s

2

Update on Welfare Reform Changes

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and PersonalIndependence Payment (PIP)The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that therewill be a re-assessment for existing DLA claimants to PIP in York. If youor someone you know has received a letter from the DWP inviting you toclaim PIP, please do not hesitate to contact your Housing Officer ormyself, for help or support 01904 636061.

Universal CreditSince our last newsletter, Universal Credit has been rolled out to a furthersix ‘test’ areas including Harrogate. We are expecting to receiveannouncements from the DWP of further roll outs in the coming months,and expect it to be implemented throughout Yorkshire by 2017.

Universal Credit is a new single benefit for working age people. It willgradually replace most means-tested benefits such as income-based JobSeekers Allowance, Income-Related Employment and SupportAllowance, Tax Credits and Housing Benefit.

You will be expected to claim online and payments will be made to youmonthly in arrears, to a nominated bank or building society account. Wewant to ensure that everyone gets prepared for Universal Credit, so wewill continue to keep in touch with you to check that you know how youcan get onto the internet and that you have opened a bank or buildingsociety account.

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)DHP is still available from your local authority for those who arestruggling to cover their rent because they have a spare bedroom in theirhome, and they are claiming Housing Benefit. If you are struggling andwould like to know if you are eligible to claim a DHP, then please contactyour Housing Officer or myself on 01904 636061.

Council Tax SupportYou will now have received your Council Tax bill for 2014/15 and manytenants will be aware that Council Tax Benefit no longer exists as it hasbeen replaced by localised Council Tax Support schemes which areadministered by your local council.

So that we can work out ourpriorities we regularly carry out asurvey of a number of properties andwe call this a ‘stock conditionsurvey’. You may have seen ourBuilding Surveyor, Terry Ashton, outand about on site carrying out thesesurveys.

Even with the survey as a guide,making decisions about what needsto be done can still be difficult andthe priorities that come out of thesurvey aren’t always top of tenants’lists of priorities. This year, wedecided to involve tenants in thedecision making so that we can carryout the improvements that mostmatter to you.

So far we have run an event with theCustomer Panel, but we are alwaysinterested in getting more feedback,and we will be setting up moreevents through the year so that wecan get to see as many tenants aspossible. This will really help us toinclude your views when deciding onprogramme of works for future years.

When we did this exercise atCustomer Panel these weretypical comments;

What next?The general feedback from tenantsso far was that given a choicebetween improvements that kepttheir homes warm and moreaffordable to heat – or having a newkitchen or bathroom suite themajority would choose to havereplacement windows and heatingfirst.

This feedback has influenced theprogramme for the investment workswhich will be completed in the next12 months – and the followingproperties will be worked on;

13/14 Cygnet StreetReplacement Windows

Lady Mill GarthReplacement Windows

Margaret Philipson Court Replacement Windows

Bretgate, Navigation Road andWalmgate New Smoke Alarms

As well as the programme of workabove we are also doing improvementworks to individual properties on DoveStreet and Penleys Grove Street (suchas new windows, bathrooms, roofingworks and electrical upgrades). Wealso need to carry out some firealarm upgrade work to a number ofsupported housing properties.

If we are carrying out works to yourhome then Terry Ashton will be intouch to let you know when the workswill commence, to talk about anythingwe might need to know about yourhousehold circumstances whencarrying out the works and to keepyou updated on how we will minimisethe disruption to you whilst the worksare completed.

For those tenants resident in ourproperties at Knights Way and CherryTree Lane, Beverley, we are justcompleting a series of property surveysand we will be letting you knowseparately when we anticipate beingable to carry out works to your home.

Investing in Your Home

Each year we undertake works to a number of homes to make sure that they remain safe,comfortable, easy to keep warm and to a goodgeneral standard. This type of work includes,new kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems and windows.

Welfare Reform remains at the top of theGovernment’s agenda, so in each newsletterwe’ll keep you informed on the keychanges. Shelim Ali (pictured),our Financial Inclusion Officergives the update that you need.

For me my priorities will always be windows and boilers first, the order is just ‘chicken and egg’

It’s about saving money for tenants

Bathrooms and kitchens are purely cosmetic[if your home has poor heating or windows]

It’s about keeping the house warm and the heat in

In order to prepare for WelfareReform, our staff continue to bebusy behind the scenes keeping up to date with all the changes and we’ve formed a Welfare ReformTask Force to ensure YHA tenantsare well informed and are aware of what changes are coming.

If you are receiving welfare benefitsand think we might not be aware of this, please contact your HousingOfficer so that we can help youprepare for the changes.

If you have any concerns aboutWelfare Reform then don’thesitate to get in touch with meor your Housing Officer 01904636061.

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We are always looking for tenants to be Estate Inspectors(to inspect schemes and estateswith Housing Officers) or to workwith us on individual projects(such as to help us select newcontractors or to review policieswe’d like to introduce). We arecurrently recruiting to ourCustomer Panel which meets fourtimes a year.

So if you are interested in joiningup with other tenants and staff,and being a sounding board forconsultation on a wide range oftopics then please get in touchwith your Housing Officer.

At the most recent meeting (see article on page 2) staff andtenants carried out an exercise todemonstrate how decisions aremade when we planimprovements to your home.

In the last year some tenants havebecome involved with the work ofYHA by becoming new members of a Scrutiny Panel. The Board of YHAare committed to supporting thisgroup to have the skills and capacityto review services we deliver, andthis group will be reporting back tothe Board their findings.

The tenants who put themselvesforward went through a recruitmentprocess to be selected (in order toensure the right balance of skills onthe panel) and all tenants have nowcompleted a lengthy trainingprogramme (supported by the TenantAdvisory Participation Service –TPAS).

In the last few months they’ve beenembarking on their first scrutinyproject (investigating how well animproved way of working for staff outin customer’s homes has beendelivered).

There remain placesavailable on thisgroup – and we arenow activelyrecruitingtenants to joinup to theScrutinyPanel.

The following article has been writtenby the current tenant Scrutiny Panel– and they are keen to let you knowwhat a difference you could make bygetting more involved.

Do you want to:Influence a forward thinkingorganisation?

Improve services by bringing astronger tenant focus?

Act as a representative onbehalf of all tenants and betheir ‘voice?’

Ensure that tenants’ prioritiesare recognised and actedupon?

Hold your landlord accountablefor decisions and performance?

Help improve customersatisfaction and choice?

If so, you might be interested injoining the YHA Scrutiny

Panel. The panel has aninfluential role inmonitoring YHA’sperformance, servicedelivery, plans andpriorities.

This is an important,high profile role,which will requirecommitment fromyou. We are keen toencourage a wide rangeof people to join us andwould welcome interestfrom anyone.

Who can join?As you are already a tenant orcustomer of YHA you will alreadyhave invaluable experience of ourservices. Some knowledge of theservices provided by us would begood but not essential. Additionalqualities that would be useful are:

Ability to identify both positiveand negative aspects of servicedelivery

A willingness to talk aboutsolutions and contribute ideas

A conscientious team workerwho enjoys achieving goals andrespects other team members

Ability to be objective, honestand open

What will I get inreturn?A training package is in placeto ensure you have the skillsyou need

The use of a tablet computerand the cost of your internetservice covered by YHA

Increased skills and confidencethat can help you in yourpersonal and professional life

New friends and thesatisfaction that you can reallymake a difference to theservices that tenant’s receive

We will be holding some sessionsover the next few months for you tocome along to find out more aboutthis exciting opportunity and meetmembers of the Scrutiny Panel. Youwill need to be available for one dayper fortnight during the inductionprocess.

To express your interest inbecoming a member of theScrutiny Panel (or to join us inattending a session to see if it’ssomething you’d be interested in)then please contact PaulaFreeman at YHA on 01904636061 or email: info@yorkha.org.uk.

Other ways ofgetting involved

Your Scrutiny Panel needs YOU!At YHA we are always keen to see tenants get involved with our work because we know thattenants of YHA are best placed to give us feedback on how good we are as a landlord.

If the Scrutiny Panel is not for you,then there are other ways you canget involved with the work of YHA.

DIARY DATES 2014 YHA in Bloom

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The text of this Newsletter can be made available in other languages, in Braille or in large print upon request.

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REMEMBER ....For out-of-hours emergency repairs: 0845 6015676

Since the last newsletter was publishedwe’ve had no new staff but leaving usis Housing Manager, Charles Pasfieldand Older Person Support Manager,Mo Healy.

Staff

York Housing Association 2 Alpha Court, Monks Cross Drive, Huntington, York Y032 9WN

Tel: 01904 636061Fax: 01904 612623Email: info@yorkha.org.ukWebsite: www.yorkha.org.uk

Office Open Weekdays 9.00am - 5.00pm

Repairs Hotline:(office hours) 0845 605 4050(out-of-hours) 0845 601 5676

Buses to Monks Cross Drive: First Stop York Buses No. 16, No. 17The Monks Cross Park & Ride No. 9Circle Line 128

For timetable information ring 01904883000 or the travel information line on01904 551400.

Parking: Nearest long stay car park is atthe Park and Ride site. We have someparking available for tenants visiting theoffice, please check with your HousingOfficer in advance if you wish to use ourcar park.

HOW TO CONTACT US

Housing Officer Surgeries

Pasture View Rd surgeries will take place in the Community Centre between10am and 12 noon on 8 May, 19 June and 31 July.

Bretgate surgeries will take place in the Community Centre between 2.30 and 3.30 pm on the followingTuesdays 6 May, 17 June and 29 July.

50th Anniversary EventsMay – Managing Communal Outside AreasHints and tips for positive managementand improvement of communal outsidespaces. We’ll advertise these events at schemes and estates which haveextensive communal gardens and bin areas.

23 June – Garden PartyDetails enclosed on how you can attendthis event! We’ll be in touch but pleasekeep the date free!

July – YHA in BloomOur annual garden competition will haveextra categories to mark our 50th year –your competition entry form is enclosed.Every entry gets a £5 garden voucher!

August – Neighbour DaysDuring this month we’ll be running localevents in your community, givingopportunities to bring neighbours together.Watch out for more information aboutthese events closer to the dates.

As this is YHA’s 50th anniversary year,we couldn’t let the occasion passwithout having a celebration categoryfor YHA in Bloom. We know that many of you are keen gardeners so we arehoping for another huge response this year. You don’t need to

have a garden to get involved because as well as the bestsmall and large garden categories we will be judging

hanging baskets, containers, herbs andvegetables and a sunflower category forchildren or grandchildren of tenants.

The 50th anniversary category isbest entry with a golden themeso you can really let yourimagination run wild.

Each entry judged willautomatically

receive a £5 Argosvoucher and there will be the

usual commemorative prizes and giftvouchers for winners and runners up.

Enclosed with this newsletteris an entry form with moredetail about the categories.Please return your form by Friday 6 June. The judgingdate will be Thursday 3 Julyand prize givingWednesday 9 July.

Bronze AwardWe have been accreditedwith the Rainbow Tickwhich shows ourcommitment to supporting the Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual and Transgendercommunities who want to access ourhousing and services. We are currentlyworking with the York LGBT forum todevelop our practices and to ensurethat we are as inclusive and accessibleas we can be in everything that we do.

For further information on this or tobecome involved with the work weare doing to achieve the silveraward of the Rainbow Tick, pleasecontact April Jones Support ServiceManager on 01904 636061

York Housing Associationis placed in UK’s top 50Social LandlordsIt’s another reason to celebrate in our50th year – as we’ve been rankedamong the best of the best after beingplaced in the top 50 social landlords inthe UK.

Judges were impressed by us and wewere ranked higher than many othermuch larger housing associations. Thetop 50 was compiled by housingmagazine 24Housing.

YHA was placed 37 in the UK rankingsand Alistair McIntosh, Chief Executiveof Housing Quality Network, said, alongwith the rest of the elite group, YorkHousing Association had demonstrated“calm, fortitude and enthusiasm” intackling probably the most difficultenvironment the housing sector hasever seen.

Chief Executive Julia Histon said: “Thisis fantastic news and is recognition ofthe dedication of our team and ourdetermination to continue to make areal difference to the quality of ourcustomers lives.

“To be ranked 37 in the UK is quite anachievement considering our relativelysmall size and the judges have seenthat our values, commitment andpassion are a match for the largerhousing associations.”

BRONZE