Quids In! 5 Benefits 12

Keeping you connected Spring 2013

Quids In! 5 Benefits 12 Eco friendly 14

How the ‘Sound as a Pound’ All the latest information on We’re working on ‘The Green
scheme is helping young the Welfare Reform Act and Deal’ to make properties more
tenants with their finances. how it could affect you. energy efficient.

Celebrating
40 years!

Happy birthday NCHA Page 10

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[email protected] for our various projects to help Have a great Christmas and

fpuertrhfoerrmaadnvcicee.areas improving. rMedyumcespseaogpele: ’tsryeneortgtoy bpiallsnibc.y a Happy New Year.

Link magazine. NCHA, 12/14 Pelham Road, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham NG5 1AP.
Tel: 0115 8443005. Email: [email protected] or see our website www.ncha.org.uk. Edited
by Nicki Kirkup. Please send all contributions or letters to The Editor or email the above address.

Nottingham Community Housing Association Limited is a charity incorporated as an Industrial and
Provident Society Registered Number 20614R.

By request we will do what is reasonable to provide copies of the wording of any document in
another language or format. Please telephone 0800 0138555 or email [email protected].

Maintenance and Repairs Freephone 0800 317 861 3

income team

Getting the Benefit

The benefit system is changing. Make sure you know
everything you need to know.

With changes to the benefits
system happening all the
time, it’s more important
than ever to keep in touch
with us. Let us know if
your circumstances have
changed, or if you’re
struggling to make sense
of your benefit claim. Two
tenants tell us how making
that call changed their lives.
(Please note, names have
been changed.)

Are your details It is really lovely waking up in Housing Benefit I was getting,
up to date? the morning knowing that I am and then contacted the
not behind with the rent!” Housing Benefit department
Mrs Turner from Derbyshire and asked that my claim was
called the Income Team to If you are struggling to re-assessed. It transpired
help clear her long-standing make your payments, that my income had been
rent arrears: “I had been speak to us! calculated wrongly, and I
in rent arrears since 2009, wasn’t receiving enough help.
and my circumstances had Mrs Peters in Nottingham
changed, so I contacted my contacted the Income Team as My claim has now
Income Officer. She helped she couldn’t afford to keep up been rectified, and
me process a new claim for with her rent: “After ill health I can now afford
housing benefit, which led stopped me from working, my share of the
to me receiving a backdated I struggled for over a year rent and stay out
payment which reduced my to keep up to date with my of arrears. It is a
arrears, but didn’t clear them. rent. I was only receiving part huge relief.
housing benefit, and I was
After looking into my always in and out of arrears.
circumstances, my Income The council’s Housing Benefit
Officer noticed that a mistake department told me that I had
had been made by the been overpaid on previous
Housing Benefit department claims, so I was also trying to
when they processed my pay that back.
claim, and she queried the
error. To my amazement, I I contacted the Income team To contact your Income Team
received a further backdated at NCHA to see if they could
payment which cleared my help me. They talked to me with any of your rent queries,
arrears in full. at length about my income
in relation to the amount of call 0800 013 8555, or email
[email protected].

4 Housing issues only Freephone 0800 013 8555

GENERAL NEWS

NCHA in Derbyshire Dales

NCHA launched its new development of 39 affordable homes
in Darley Dale with a drop-in event in March.

Members of NCHA’s Some of NCHA’s other properties
allocations and property in Derbyshire Dales
sales team were on hand
to discuss the properties,
showcase the plans, and
advise people of how best to
register their interest.

The development comprises 33
affordable rent homes, plus six
shared ownership houses. The
site is located just off the A6,
with easy access to Matlock
and surrounding areas. Priority
will be given to families with a
local connection to the area.

For more information, contact
the Nottingham Allocations
team on 0800 0138555, or for
shared ownership enquiries,
contact the Property Sales
Team on 0845 650 1204 or
[email protected]

Solid insulation

Community Energy Savings Programme rolls out solid wall insulation

NCHA has been involved in a Solid walls are made up of solid
project in Aspley, Nottingham brick, and so don’t have a gap to
providing external solid wall fill with insulation, unlike cavity
insulation to Association walls. Insulating these solid walls
properties in that area. can cut heating costs, because
solid walls let through twice as
It was completed as part of the much heat as cavity walls.
‘Community Energy Savings
Programme’ which targets For more information on how
households across Great to cut your fuel bills or to
Britain to improve energy arrange a free home energy
efficiency standards and advice visit, contact the Design
reduce fuel bills. Team on 0800 0138555.

Maintenance and Repairs Freephone 0800 317 861 5

Sound as a Pound

Big Lottery Fund programme helping young tenants
with financial suport and advice

NCHA are leading an
exciting new project called
‘Sound as a Pound’, which is
a five year Big Lottery Fund
programme for young social
housing tenants living in
Nottingham City.

Any tenants identified as
needing support will be offered
one to one money advice
sessions with trained financial
inclusion officers. This will give
advice and guidance regarding
managing on a low income,
budget planning and debt
management, understanding
credit and opening bank
accounts. Workshops and
training will also be on offer in
various locations.

The Sound as a Pound project Sound as a Pound’s In addition, there is an online
has a team of dedicated main objective is to resource available to all citizens
Financial Inclusion Officers help young tenants of Nottingham. This resource
who assess and support improve their includes a self-assessed
young people during their financial confidence financial confidence tool as well
first tenancy. These financial and will help people as an array of financial advice
officers carry out a financial to access financial and useful links.
confidence health check services, such as
before giving advice and bank accounts. For more information, call
guidance about any concerns. 0115 8443745 / 07540
Support can be gained 122897, visit the website at
in a variety of areas from www.soundasapound.org.uk
managing a low income to or visit the Facebook page
understanding credit. soundasapoundnottingham.

The scheme offers a free
10 week accredited training
course which covers a
wide variety of financial
topics including benefits,
debt, welfare reform and
Universal Credit.

6 Housing issues only Freephone 0800 013 8555

RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT

Under Scrutiny

The Resident Scrutiny Panel focuses on how NCHA is dealing
with anti-social behaviour.

After some housing organisations who
training in how have been proven to work well
best to examine in this area.
NCHA’s services, the
Resident Scrutiny Panel Kate Newbolt, the Scrutiny
have completed their first Panel independent mentor,
project which focused on said: “Producing this report has
how well NCHA deals been hard work for everyone,
with anti-social but thanks to the support
from NCHA staff, tenants,
behaviour. and board, it’s been really
successful. The investment
The project involved looking from NCHA in training and
at various aspects of NCHA’s supporting the members of the
procedures and outcomes, and panel has really paid off.”
comparing them against other

The investment The conclusions were positive
from NCHA in
training and The main findings were:
supporting the
members of the • T he high number of reported cases reflected how
panel has really easy it is for tenants to report incidents of anti-
paid off. social behaviour. The most popular method was
over the telephone.
The panel welcomes two
new members, Freya and • N CHA have a highly qualified and well trained
Vic, and look forward to team of staff to deal with the most serious cases
starting their new project of anti-social behaviour.
in April.
• S tarter tenancies are being used effectively and
are helping to manage anti-social behaviour.

Some action points were identified, including:

• L ooking at ways of increasing online reporting
of incidents.

• A communication strategy will be completed
during 2013 to make sure NCHA keeps
improving services.

Maintenance and Repairs Freephone 0800 317 861 7

GETTING INVOLVED

Cooking up a storm

Newark Castle Station tenants get the cooking bug
in NCHA’s healthy cooking group

Residents at Newark Castle
Station Estate have started
the new year as they mean
to go on – healthily!

During February half term, our Tenants getting stuck in to cooking
little chefs became healthy
eating champions by mastering
their cooking skills by making
some veggie-filled spring
rolls. Families from the estate
then piled on the fruit for a
halftime snack at their very
own pancake bar, opened just
for the occasion. They enjoyed
it so much that there was not
a single blueberry, apple or
banana left in sight!

The cooking group has been Training good and very positive course
a hit with the kids from the opportunities for that will help us all to become
estate, and we were happy tenants more knowledgeable about
to welcome even more new NCHA and the housing sector.
faces. One mum said of the NCHA are constantly striving to 12 years ago I left education
sessions, “I can’t believe NCHA improve training opportunities to have my three children, so
does activities like this. My son for tenants, and this year is no I am very happy to have this
really enjoyed today, it’s great different. February has seen opportunity now. I hope that
because its healthy too!” a group of ten of tenants from when the course ends it will
across the East Midlands join help me to get back into work.”
together to begin a Chartered
Institute of Housing (CIH) I can’t believe
level 2 Housing course. The NCHA does
group is made up of individuals activities like this.
from a number of our tenant My son really
involvement groups, and we enjoyed today.
hope that it will help them in
working with us to deliver
great services.

Shazia Saleem, from the
Nottingham Customer Advisory
Panel, said, “I think it is a really

8 Housing issues only Freephone 0800 013 8555

SIT

Get
smart!

The Services Inspection Team
spread the word on SmartWater

The Services Inspection SmartWater is a clear forensic
Team are a group of tenants solution that is easily and
from Nottingham Community quickly applied to valued
Housing Association (NCHA) possessions. Similar to
and Newark and Sherwood DNA, it provides evidence
Homes (NSH). They volunteer to prove ownership of lost or
their time to inspect the stolen items. Criminals avoid
services both landlords it because it significantly
provide to their tenants. increases the chances of them
being caught.
The Services Inspection Team NCHA (quietly and behind
really does do exactly what the scenes) and makes The SmartWater programme
it says on the tin - it inspects recommendations to improve will continue and the aim is to
the services provided by the services you receive. offer it to all of our tenants.
Alongside that, for the past
year, the team have been If you would be interested in
working with Geoff Pittham, joining the Team or would like
NCHA’s Senior Anti-Social more information on the work
Behaviour Officer, and carried out, please contact
SmartWater Technology Tracey Adams, Service
Limited to undertake a Improvement Manager,
programme of providing on 0115 8443091 or email
SmartWater to our elderly [email protected].
tenants or victims of burglary.

Maintenance and Repairs Freephone 0800 317 861 9

Worried about paying your rent?

Helping you to pay your rent.

Most of those NCHA tenants who are affected by the Bedroom Tax will have to pay
rent to NCHA, possibly for the first time.

Some tenants have said that they worry about budgeting and make sure that rent
payments are a priority. Help is at hand: Nottingham Credit Union offers a Rent
Payment Account. This is how it works: We help you to transfer enough benefit
or income into the account, the Credit Union pays NCHA the rent due, any extra is
transferred to either a pre-payment card, your own bank account or a savings account.

Sorted.

10 Housing issues only Freephone 0800 013 8555

40 Years of NCHA Maintenance
introduce
This year, NCHA will have been purchase and improvement in-house

providing homes in the East of 100 more homes over the repairs team

Midlands for 40 years. following three years. 90s

Former Chief Executive, From these humble beginnings, Growing into the
Andrew Malone, formed the the organisation has grown to be continued to buil
organisation with a £12,000 one of the biggest providers of new homes, inclu
grant from Shelter and a affordable housing in the region, in Hyson Green.
commitment from Nottingham and a leader in the housing with
city Council to fund the care and support field. Ho
wit
70s and S
It all began SEVENTIES with depa
one man’s visionary idea. Started lau
working with
NCHA’s first more local
property, 14 authorities
Burns Street,
bought at
auction for
£4,600

First new 80s Offices open
build scheme in Newark,
‘John Carroll NCHA helped revitalise ex-coal Ollerton and
board communities by rescuing Forest Fields
Court’ homes up for sale and securing
completed them for 895 families in North
Nottinghamshire.

Launched
care

services

Maintenance and Repairs Freephone 0800 317 861 11

Over 200 40 years 2013 =
apartments of providing nearly
designed and built 9,000
in Nottingham homes homes!
City Centre
10s
e NINETIES NCHA Thriving in the TEENIES we’re
ld and develop going from strength to strength
uding 250 homes with new business ideas and
greater TENANT INVOLVEMENT
ousing than ever before.
th Care
Support The Tenant
artment Scrutiny
unches
Panel
launches

Andrew 00s NCHA becomes
Malone retires. Jumping into the NOUGHTIES CORGI registered
NCHA changed their business and launches its
Meet Mike, approach to compete in a own gas team
our new Chief

Executive

changing environment, but stayed
true to the original values.

First tenant 40 YEARS
conference held 1973 – 2013
at Meadow Lane,

Nottingham

12 Housing issues only Freephone 0800 013 8555

BCEHNAENFGITES

What you need
to know about £
the changes How do
the changes
affect me?

Many of NCHA’s tenants will How is the bedroom tax
be hit hard by the benefit affecting NCHA and its
changes which are being tenants? The facts are…
introduced under the Welfare
Reform Act 2013. NCHA has 6,000 homes.

The Bedroom Tax which will affect 876 working age tenants have one
extra bedroom.
over 1,000 of NCHA’s tenants came into
force in April (see p13 for more information). 147 working age tenants have two
extra bedrooms.
The Benefit CAP
1,023 tenants in total will have to pay
will affect a smaller number of NCHA’s the Bedroom Tax.
tenants and starts in September.
The average amount tenants will have to
Over 2,000 tenants will have to pay between pay who have one extra bedroom is £12.99.
£9 and £20 per month (depending on where
they live) towards their Council Tax for the The average amount tenants will have
first time from April. to pay who have two extra bedrooms
is £23.13.
Tenants with non-dependants living with
them will see these deductions to their The rent NCHA will have to collect from
Housing Benefit increase from April. our tenants to pay for the Bedroom Tax
is £779,500.

Maintenance and Repairs Freephone 0800 317 861 13

How
does the
‘Bedroom
Tax’ work?

How
much
could I
lose?

How are we supporting you? NCHA will offer as much help and support
as possible, but any rent due must be paid.
We have strengthened our Income Team so NCHA will have no option but to take action
that Income Officers will have more time to against tenants who do not pay their rent.
offer advice on benefits, payment methods, We will only take action after we have done
debts and budgeting to affected tenants. our best to advise and assist those tenants
who are affected to organise their finances.
Information about the benefit changes is
on our website, www.ncha.org.uk, and Remember: these changes apply to
supporting information has been sent to working age tenants only. Those who
those tenants we know will be affected. get a state pension are not affected.

Tenants wanting to move because of the Call Housing Services
Bedroom Tax are being offered help and on 0800 013 8555 or
support to move. For more information 0115 844 3150 or email
about this service please contact Debra [email protected]
Hindle, 0115 8443299 or debra.hindle@
ncha.org.uk.

We are working with Credit Unions to
make sure that their services meet our
tenants’ needs.

14 Housing issues only Freephone 0800 013 8555

environment

Going Green

‘The Green Deal’ aims to make properties more energy efficient

The Green Deal which to sign up to the Green Deal. able to help in other ways,
launched earlier this year is a If this happens to you, please such as:
government-backed scheme contact NCHA immediately.
aimed at making properties As a tenant, you are unable • We can carry out a free
more energy efficient. to authorise any changes energy assessment on your
The scheme works by an to your property without the property identifying areas for
approved supplier making correct permissions. improvement.
energy saving improvements
to your property, and re- NCHA are not accepting • W e have a rolling programme
claiming the costs of the Green Deal offers from private for installing energy saving
work from your utility bill. companies, but are committed measures which may be
to reducing your fuel bills suitable for your property.
You may see some publicity and harmful emissions. If this
about the Green Deal or be scheme is something you are
contacted by private companies interested in, NCHA may be

For more information on
issues surrounding Green
Deal, or to arrange for a
FREE energy assessment,
please contact NCHA’s
Design Team on
0800 0138555, or email
[email protected].

Maintenance and Repairs Freephone 0800 317 861 15

CANnABIS WARNING

Growing more than just drugs

Cannabis farms grow violence and organised crime FFAILCET

Cannabis isn’t the harmless drug people often Of the 16 incidents:
think it is. Organised crime gangs that grow
it can bring crime, violence and intimidation 5 tenants evicted
into a neighbourhood. Cannabis farms are not 3 s uspended eviction
good for anyone. Is there one near you?
orders
Gangs don’t want to draw attention to the houses
or flats they use as farms. They’re often quiet and 4 injunctions served
unassuming. They look just like your home at first 4 t enants terminated
glance, but there are a number of signs that there
is a cannabis farm in your area. their tenancies.

If you’re concerned there may be a cannabis
farm in your neighbourhood, call Crimestoppers
anonymously on 0800 555 111.

What we’re doing

In the past three years, NCHA have dealt with 16
cases of cannabis farms within our properties. Of
these, all except one ended in both criminal and civil
prosecutions. All were taken to court, and a range
of civil punishments were implemented, including
injunctions, eviction from the property, community
service, and in four cases, imprisonment.

How can you tell if there’s a cannabis farm near you?

• S trong, sickly smell given off by cannabis plants.

• C annabis growing equipment being taken into a house.
For example, lighting and ventilation equipment.

• Constantly covered or blocked-off windows.

• Unsociable coming and going at all hours. Lots of
different people visiting the property might be a clue too.

• Strong and constant lighting day and night.

• High levels of heat and condensation.

• Constant buzz of ventilation. Listen out for a whirring
sound as the growers try to create an ideal climate for
the plants to grow.

• Lots of power cables.

16 Housing issues only Freephone 0800 013 8555

ESTATES TEAM

Estate inspections - join us!

Our Estate Officers are looking for new Estate Contacts,
could it be you?

Every three months, our
Estate Officers visit every
NCHA estate that has ten or
more properties.

During these visits, we will
check that any shared areas
are being well looked after,
identify areas for improvement,
and deal with any issues that
tenants may raise.

We are looking for tenants to the planned dates for estate Angela inspecting
become Estate Contacts, and inspections, and any actions
join us on these visits. This is taken as a result of prior FFAILCET
a great opportunity to have a inspections will be displayed.
say in how we can improve Estate inspection dates are 498
the area in which you live. also advertised on http://
You will receive a reminder housing.ncha.org.uk Inspections were carried
before each inspection date out in 2011/12 resulting
to make sure you can join us, Together we in over...
and kept up to date with any can maintain
improvements made as and improve the 600
a result of the visit. neighbourhoods
we live and actions to improve the
Everyone from the estate work in. Estate and Environment.
is welcome during the
inspection. If you are unable 121
to attend a visit but would still
like to have your say, contact A resident accompanied
us on 0800 0138555, or the Estate Officer on 121
email [email protected]. of those visits.

Keeping you
informed

We are installing notice boards
at all inspected schemes
where there is a suitable
site. These notice boards
will contain the name and
contact details of the Scheme
Managers and Estate Officers,

Maintenance and Repairs Freephone 0800 317 861 17

Time for a change?

Estate Improvement Services are on the look out for ways to
improve your community

Through your ideas and
local knowledge, you and
your neighbours are best
placed to let us know how
we can improve the areas in
which you live.

NCHA have set aside a pot of
money to help put your ideas
into practice. In 2012/13, we
have spent nearly £70,000 on
58 estate improvements, which
cost anything from a couple of
pounds to a few thousand.

If you have an idea on how
to improve the environment
where you live and want to
see it happen, then it would be
great to hear from you. Simply
contact your local Estate
Officer on 0800 0138555 or
email [email protected] and
tell them your idea. If we can
make it happen, we will provide
the finance and arrange for the
work to be carried out.

Money is available for improvements such as:

In 2012/13, • Improving the • Installing or
we have spent physical layout, improving NCHA
nearly £70,000 security or design of estate signs
on 58 estate a communal area
improvements. • Dealing with rubbish
• Practical measures and fly tipping
to reduce anti-social
behaviour • Minor pruning to
trees on NCHA
• R enewing shrubs communal land/
and hedges located gardens
on NCHA land

18 Housing issues only Freephone 0800 013 8555

maintenance

Help around the house

All the latest advice from NCHA’s maintenance team

Stop taps

Do you know where your which is a device that quickly
stop tap is? If you experience and easily stops the water
problems with your water supply to your home. These
supply or pipes, you may well should also be regularly tested.
be advised to turn off your
water at the stop tap while an Remember!
engineer can get out to you.
If your possessions are
It is important that you know damaged due to a water
where your stop tap is located leak, NCHA will not cover
(normally under your kitchen you for your loss. It is your
sink), and that you test it responsibility to take out
from time to time as they can home contents insurance.
become stiff. Details of available schemes
are published on www.ncha.
Some homes have been org.uk or talk to your Estate
installed with a ‘Sure Stop’, Officer for more information.

Maintenance and Repairs Freephone 0800 317 861 19

Smoke alarms

Don’t rely on burning your toast the alarm still doesn’t sound,
to test your smoke alarms! contact NCHA on 0800 317861
and we will either inspect the
It is essential that your smoke alarm if it is connected to the
alarms are working correctly. mains electricity supply, or
To check yours, press the test provide a replacement.
button every few weeks. If it’s
working correctly, you should Remember!
hear a high pitched sound. If
this doesn’t happen, it might If you have gas appliances
be that you need to replace in your home, your smoke
the battery which is located alarms will be checked as part
inside the case. If you know of your annual gas service.
that the battery is working and

Loft spaces

If your home has a loft or suitable for storing items. The
cellar, you may be tempted to increased insulation creates
use these places for storage, condensation which may
but be warned, your items may damage your belongings.
get damaged as a result.
Also, the items being stored
In recent years, loft spaces may well squash the insulation
have become highly insulated material and your heating bills
and have improved levels could increase as a result.
of air tightness, resulting in
energy saving costs for the As a general rule, do not
bill payer. Because of this, enter your loft or store any of
these spaces are no longer your possessions in it.

Cellars

Some older NCHA properties cellar could be damaged. It is
have cellars which may have recommended that perishable
originally stored coal. goods are not stored there,
and any items made of metal
In most cases, cellars are may also rust.
below ground, and as a result,
will probably be damp. (Your Remember!
home will not be affected by
this as there will be a damp You are responsible for any
proof course preventing damage that occurs to items
penetration into the house.) that occur as a result of
being stored in either your
Any items that you store in the cellar or loft.