Leaseholder News October 2013

Page 6Are you safe?

Page 8Energy wise

How WE can save YOU

moneyCome to any of our

meetings and we will tell you how on

16 & 24 October see page 3

Leaseholders - your voice

matters!

October 2013

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If you require this information in an other language or format, contact uson 01902 556789.

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02 Leaseholder News October 2013

First I’d like to welcome Martin as Chair of the Forum, I’m sure he’s going to be an asset to the group. I’d also like to thank Peter Broome for all his hard work as Chair over the years. Enjoy your rest and I hope we’ll still see you from time to time.

Our most important news this time is the latest Leaseholder drop-ins – we want to hear from you. We’ve got two dates for you to choose from and we’d really like to see you there. This is your chance to tell us what you think of our services and how you’d like us to improve. If you don’t tell us, we won’t know so please come along. You can find out more on page 3.

Thank you.

Lesley RobertsChief Executive of Wolverhampton Homes

My first job as the new Chair of the Leaseholder Forum is to announce the retirement of Peter Broome as Chair. I can honestly say that Peter was tremendous in the role and advanced the Forum as an effective vehicle for leaseholder issues. I’m sure I speak for all leaseholders and members of

the Leasehold Management Team in thanking Peter and wishing him well for the future.

An issue Peter feels passionate about is for more of you to become involved in leasehold issues and it is timely that this issue of Leaseholder News contains details of the next leaseholder drop-in sessions. I hope you will come along to the Merry Hill Housing Office on 16th October or The Poynings, Tettenhall on 24th October. You can find out more on page 3.

Leaseholders are asked to pay a share of charges in your area and it is therefore vital for you to become involved make sure your views are heard, not just at these events but at future meetings as well.

Martin CartwrightChair, Leaseholder Forum

MESSAGEFROM THE CHAIR

MESSAGEFROM LESLEY

October 2013 Leaseholder News 03

MESSAGEFROM LESLEY

YOUR VOICEmattersmatters

Help us to reduce your management fee by using email rather than post. Send us an email to [email protected] to sign up for email newsletters and mailings. SAVEmoney

We need your email addresses.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to meet your fellow leaseholders and the Leasehold Management Team to discuss your worries no matter how big or small they are.

Come and grab a cuppa and a biscuit and then we’ll be talking about:✓ How WE can save

YOU money ✓ Repairs✓ Energy advice

Followed by time for a general discussion on any other issues that are affecting you.• Wednesday 16 October:

Merry Hill Meeting Room, Leasowes Drive, Merry Hill WV4 4PZ from 6.30pm to 8pm

• Thursday 24 October: The Poynings (off Regis Road), Tettenhall WV6 8QN from 7pm to 8.30pm

If you need help with transport just let us know on 01902 556789.

Meet Your New Board Member –

Gary Taylor


Gary Taylor is your new representative on the Wolverhampton Homes Board of Management.

Gary says:

“ I’m proud to represent leaseholders on the board.”

The Board have ultimate responsibility for the whole organisation and are responsible for making the most important strategic decisions. They agree which services will be delivered each year and monitors their delivery. They set the annual budgets and decide the priorities of each year’s housing improvements programme. It is made up of five council members, five tenant/leaseholder members and five independent members.

Essex boy Gary Taylor, lives in Penn and is a leaseholder. He moved to Wolverhampton in 2005 after his wife, who’s originally from the city, wanted to be closer to her parents. He worked for a local authority for 21 years and now works at Accord Housing Association as an Asset Manager. He’s an experienced Tenant Board member but recently became a leaseholder after buying his flat.

Some of you will have received your Leasehold Investment Plan. What did you think?The plan tells you about any planned major repairs and how much they’ll cost.

We’ve got more to send out, so if you’re still waiting for yours, don’t worry.

• If your block has communal areas, you’ll receive yours by the end of July 2014.

• If your block doesn’t have communal areas we’re still working on yours and we’ll get them to you as soon as we can.

Miss Barnett from Wednesfield was pleased with her Investment Plan and said “Good idea – they’re clear, concise and helpful for future works.”

Blue and yellow sweep

Leasehold Investment Plan 2013-23

85–95 Bridgnorth Road, Tettenhall

Leasehold Investment Plan 2013-23 Perks Road 2-12, WednesfieldBlue and yellow sweep

Leasehold Investment Plan 2013-23

85–95 Bridgnorth Road, Tettenhall

Leasehold Investment Plan 2013-23 Ashmore Avenue 46-56, Wednesfield

Your Leasehold Investment Plan


Your FeedbackIn October and November last year we sent out a survey to 1,866 leaseholders to ask you what you think of our services. 625 of you filled in and returned the survey so here are the results.

Our service to you57% of you are satisfied with our service (21% neither and 22% dissatisfied). ✓ We are always striving to

improve our service to you! In order to do this, we need to know your thoughts –good or bad – we want to hear from you.

The Leasehold Management Team 61% of you are satisfied with the service from the Leasehold Management Team (21% neither and 19% dissatisfied).✓ We’ve made a few changes

to the way we deal with your queries – so that we can get back to you more quickly!

Quality of your home 81% of you are satisfied with the overall quality of your home (12% neither and 8% dissatisfied).✓ Our own workforce are

carrying out major works to various blocks throughout the city.

Your Neighbourhood 75% of you are satisfied with your neighbourhood as a place to live (12% neither and 14% dissatisfied).✓ We have set up a city-wide

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) team to reduce asb and

support victims. They can be contacted on 01902 551188.

✓ Our Estate Managers have Estate Inspections to ensure your area is looked after and find ways to improve it. Come and join them, visit www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/estate-inspections

Service Charges 47% of you are satisfied that your service charge provides value for money (15% neither and 37% dissatisfied).✓ We have reduced our

management fee for the third year in a row, we’re also looking to secure more cost-effective works contracts, to reduce costs.

✓ We want to reduce costs by moving away from posting letters and moving to email. Help us to do this by letting us know your email address.

Repairs and Maintenance 45% of you are satisfied with the way we deal with repairs and maintenance (23% neither and 32% dissatisfied).✓ You said repairs took too

long or weren’t completed to a high standard – we’re changing so that repairs are carried out quicker or at your convenience.

Listening to your views 41% of you are satisfied that we listen to your views and act on them (29% neither and 30% dissatisfied).✓ We want to involve you in

our decision making – there are loads of ways you can get involved. We hold open meetings twice a year and a Leasehold Forum that meets every 6-8 weeks. Or you can get in touch with us using any of the ways listed on page 8.

Keeping you informed 69% of you are satisfied with this newsletter – thank you! (23% neither and 9% dissatisfied). ✓ We want more of you to be

satisfied with it so please keep sending back the feedback slips or email us and tell us your ideas for articles.

Only 33% of you are satisfied with our website information (59% neither and 8% dissatisfied). ✓ We have completely

redesigned the website since then and updated the leaseholder section. Please let us know what you think of it now: www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/leaseholders. We also have a Facebook page just for you.

City Homes

Poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. Don’t put yourself at risk – stay safe with three simple checks. 1 Get your gas appliances – boiler, cooker, gas

fire - safety checked and serviced every year.

2 Check your engineer is Gas Safe registered.

3 Check your engineer’s Gas Safe Register ID card.

Find a registered engineer at www.gassaferegister.co.uk (0800 408 5500) - or take out a maintenance contract with us.


Do you let out your flat?Let us help:

We can let and manage your flat and offer:• Guaranteedtenants• Guaranteedrent• Fulltenancyandpropertymanagement• £500worthofrepairsperleaseyear–freeofcharge

Find out more and apply at www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/gas-maintenance-plan or phone the leasehold team on 01902 556789.

• Threeplanoptionsfrombasicto full service

• Nocalloutfeeformaintenance and repairs (except basic service)

• Noexcess

• Partsandlabourincludedaspartofthe cost

• 24hourcustomerhelpline,365daysper year

• Annualserviceandsafetyinspections

Find out more at www.whomes.org.uk/city-homes or phone AndyHugheson 01902 553253

ARE YOU SAFE?

OUR GAS MAInTEnAnCE PLAn

• Visitwww.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/energy-management• FollowusonFacebook(scantheQRcode)• FollowusonTwitter@WH_EnergyWise• ContacttheClimateChangeTeamon01902556789


Step one: Understanding your home’s energy needs. We can help you to do this by providing an energy survey of your home - Just call 01902 556789 to arrange a home visit.

Step Two: A trained home energy expert will call at your home to complete a whole house energy survey.

Step Three: We can advise and support you to get the information and measures

you need to help reduce your energy consumption and save you money in the process.

We can help with: • Loft insulation

• Cavity wall insulation

• Pipe Lagging

• Draught proofing

• Energy saving tips

• Water saving kit

• Energy company / Tariff switching

• Debt advice

• Accessing ‘Social Tariff ‘schemes

• How to use heating systems and appliances

• Reducing condensation and damp

Over 350 residents have benefitted from Home Energy visits and are enjoying warmer homes, lower bills, better health and reduced carbon (CO2) emissions.

IS YOUR HOME energy wise?

Want to reduce your fuel bills? Our Climate Change Team offers free Home Energy Health Checks to help you save energy and money in three easy steps?

Check existing levels of loft and cavity wall insulation

For more information:

Check your doors, windows and letterbox for draughts Provideenergysavingtips

Review and explain heating and hot water settings

Analyseandexplain your energy bills

Explain the benefits of water saving devices

!

Contact Us Visit www.wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk/leaseholders

Email: [email protected]

Call 01902556789 or for out of hours emergencies 01902 552999

Join the conversation on our Facebook page by visiting www.facebook.com/wolverhamptonleaseholders Follow @wolveshomesonTwitter

For face-to-face enquiries visit one of our One Stop Shops: City Centre, Bilston, Low Hill, MerryHill,Wednesfield,HeathTown.

Write to: LeaseholdManagementTeam,WolverhamptonHomes,LeasowesDrive, MerryHill,Wolverhampton,WV44PZ.

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Documents

Leaseholder News October 2013