News From Refugee FuturesPage 7

Asset Management NewsA call for action from BarringtonPage 8

Housing Registration Surgeries 2019Page 5

Season’s Greetingsfrom Tuntum Housing

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A: Have you heard of homeswapper? Homeswapper is the UK’s leading mutual exchange service for Council and Housing Association Tenants, with over 500,000 tenants registered and looking to swap homes for many reasons, such as needing more or less space, relocating due to work, or to be closer to family. Homeswapper is a great option for social housing tenants.

To register log on to www.homeswapper.co.uk. Once registered the system will generate a list of properties that meet the criteria you are looking for. It gives you more control and means you can choose a home in an area you want to live.

Other options available: Quite often-social housing tenants post properties for a swap on facebook. Also, speaking with family and friends who may know of somebody in a similar situation to you. You can also contact your Local Authority and see if you can re-register with them.

Q: My circumstances have changed; my children have grown up and no longer live in the family home. How  can I get a smaller property?

AskDebbie...

Join today at www.homeswapper.co.uk

The UK’s largest community for mutual exchange

14,000new members

each month

95%of tenants useHomeSwapper

for free

43,000multiswapscreated

Over540partnerlandlords

200,000live adverts

HomeSwapper allows you to: • See how close a match your home is with a % match• View who’s liked your home• Avoid timewasters with helpful profile badges• Message with real-time chat• See if another swapper is online.

3

Rent paymentsmadeEASY

choose your way to pay...

On a date thatsuits you

Call or speak to your housing association

Over the phone,online or by text

0844 557 8321allpayments.net

allpayments.net/textpay

Through the allpayPayment App

allpay.net/allpay-payment-app

With cash overthe counter

At any PayPoint or Post Office

using your PaymentReference Card

More New Homes on the HorizonWe thought you’d like to know about our new developments which will provide another 92 new homes for our communities.

The new schemes are:

Cox’s Lane, Mansfield Woodhouse will have a total of 31 new homes: 18 affordable rent, 9 shared-ownership, and 4 rent to buy. The forecast handover dates are currently to be completed and finished between January - March 2020.

Beauvale Drive, Cotmanhay will have 23 new homes at affordable rent. Completion date not yet available.

West Terrace, Ilkeston will have 10 new homes at affordable rent to be completed by June 2020.

Off Woodborough Road/Lupin Close, Nottingham. We have submitted a planning application for 28 new homes at affordable rent just. We are still waiting for results of the planning permission to be released.

Look out for more updates on when these are going to be completed and images on our next issue of engage.

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TUNTUM ENGAGE | WINTER 2019

End your tenancy the right way!We have noticed an increase in the number of properties that are returned to us in a poor condition. Unfortunately, when this happens we have to spend additional money on cleaning and clearing the property.We want to remind all tenants of their responsibilities and steps that you need to follow when ending your tenancy.

At the beginning of your tenancy with us, you agreed to the following terms and conditions:

• To give us at least four weeks’ notice in writing (expiring at Midnight on a Sunday) when you want to end the Agreement.

• To remove all furniture, personal possessions and rubbish and leave your home and our fixtures and fittings in a clean and lettable condition.

If you do not clear the premises completely, or if we clear it because you fail to do so, you will be responsible for paying the costs of removing and if necessary, disposing of your belongings.

Below is some advice on how you can avoid charges at the end of your tenancy:

1. Give the association four weeks’ notice to end your tenancy in writing to end your tenancy. Ensure that this notice begins on a Monday and ends on a Sunday.

2. Report any outstanding repairs that are required to the property before the tenancy ends.

3. Arrange for all unwanted bulky items to be removed from the property before the tenancy ends.

4. Take any unwanted clothing to charity shops before the tenancy ends.

5. Do a final cut/weed in the garden before you leave.

6. Ensure that you place the correct items in your wheelie bins to avoid contamination.

7. Ensure that all carpets and flooring are removed.

8. Check that all personal belongings have been removed on the date that your tenancy ends.

9. Do a one off clean prior to handing in your keys.

10. Ensure that you return the keys by 12 noon on the Monday following your end of tenancy date.

Your local council may be able to assist with collecting unwanted items. Some local authorities offer this service free of charge. They can be contacted using the following numbers:

Nottingham City Bulky Waste – 0115 9152000

Hinckley & Bosworth – 01455238141

Rushcliffe – 0115 9819911

Charnwood – 01509634563

Erewash – 0115 9072244

Derby – 03332006981

Leicester – 0116 4541002

Mansfield – 01623463463

Ashfield – 08001838484

The British Red Cross can also assist with the collection of specialist equipment. They can be contacted directly on 0845 127 2911.

If you require further advice about the process that you should follow when ending your tenancy then please contact the housing team on 01159166066 or via email at housing@tuntum.co.uk.

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TUNTUM ENGAGE | WINTER 2019

Pay rent first!As Christmas nears your expenditure will rise as you will want to purchase gifts and food for friends and relatives to celebrate the festive season.

It is important that you ensure that your rent is paid first!

Don’t risk losing your home…

If you are struggling with payments or debt then please contact us on 01159166066. Our trained staff will be able to offer some advice and support.

The Government has announced that social housing rents will rise by the consumer price index plus 1% from 2020-2025. The 4 year rent cut programme has now ended.

What does that mean for Tuntum tenants?This means a rent increase of 2.7% from the 6th April 2020 (Shared ownership tenants is based on a different calculation).

2020 Rent increase advanced notice

Housing Options Registration SurgeryThis is a drop in surgery and there will be no Interpretation services available, please arrange for a family member or friend to come along to support you. Please bring along proof of your current

address, signature and photographic identification if you wish to register with Nottingham HomeLink

Please be patient if you have to wait when you arrive, as we see everyone in turn. We look forward to seeing you.

2.7%

February 2020 Strelley Road Library, 14 Strelley Road, Nottingham NG8 3BJ 9:30am - 12:30pm Tue 25th FebMarch 2020 (Aimed at 55+ on PIP/DLA or 60+) Winwood Court, Winchester Street,Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 4DX 10:00am - 3:00pm Wed 11th Mar

March 2020St Anns Valley Centre, 2 Livingstone Road Off The Wells Road, Nottingham NG3 3GG

10:00am - 3:00pm Wed 25th Mar

April 2020 Strelley Road Library, 14 Strelley Road Nottingham NG8 3BJ 9:30am - 12:30pm Tue 28th Apr

May 2020St Anns Valley Centre, 2 Livingstone Road Off The Wells Road, Nottingham NG3 3GG

10:00am - 3:00pm Wed 20th May

June 2020 (Aimed at 55+ on PIP/DLA or 60+) Strelley Court, Strelley Road Strelley Nottingham NG8 6LL 10:00am - 3:00pm Wed 10th Jun

June 2020 Strelley Road Library, 14 Strelley Road Nottingham NG8 3BJ 9:30am - 12:30pm Tue 23rd Jun

July 2020St Anns Valley Centre, 2 Livingstone Road Off The Wells Road, Nottingham NG3 3GG

10:00am - 3:00pm Wed 29th Jul

AUGUST 2020 NO SURGERY SCHOOL BREAKSeptember 2020 (Aimed at 55+ on PIP/DLA or 60+)

Simone Gardens, Southchurch Drive Clifton Nottingham NG11 8BG 10:00am - 3:00pm Wed 9th Sep

September 2020St Anns Valley Centre, 2 Livingstone Road Off The Wells Road, Nottingham NG3 3GG

10:00am - 3:00pm Wed 23rd Sep

October 2020 Strelley Road Library, 14 Strelley Road Nottingham NG8 3BJ 9:30am - 12:30pm Tue 27th Oct

November 2020St Anns Valley Centre, 2 Livingstone Road Off The Wells Road, Nottingham NG3 3GG

10:00am - 3:00pm Wed 18th Nov

December 2020 (Aimed at 55+ on PIP/DLA or 60+) Naomi Court, Naomi Crescent, Hucknall Lane, Bulwell Nottingham NG6 8EG 10:00am - 3:00pm Wed 2nd Dec

December 2020 Strelley Road Library, 14 Strelley Road Nottingham NG8 3BJ 9:30am - 12:30pm Tue 8th Dec

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Good Neighbours? Let’s Be Reasonable All Tuntum residents sign up to the Good Neighbour Agreement when they move into their homes, as well as the Tenancy Agreement, which is the legal contract.

The Good Neighbour Agreement asks that all residents should respect each other, and treat others, as they would expect to be treated.

Sometimes, a misunderstanding about different lifestyles can lead to disagreements between neighbours.

Some examples of lifestyle differences are as follows:

Children playingNoise caused by

normal living

Cooking SmellsReligious and

cultural practice

Bins and Recycling Lifestyle clashes

DIY activitiesParties, celebrations

& barbeques

Fireworks Smoking

Inconsiderate parkingNeighbour

disagreements

Anti-social behaviour is defined as nuisance, but what is annoying to one person can be acceptable to another. If you are having a problem with one of your neighbours, take some time out, and consider whether the behaviour is anti-social, before deciding how to tackle it. Ask yourself if you are being reasonable?

Your Good Neighbour Agreement can be used as a tool to help you to determine what is unreasonable behaviour. Some examples of what is unreasonable are:

Blocking drivewaysTargeting old and

vulnerable residentsLack of consideration

toward neighbours

Not taking responsibility for children’s behaviour,

or safety

Allowing unruly behaviour from guests and visitors

Leaving bulky waste and household rubbish on the street without making arrangements for it to be collected

One-off celebrations and parties will not be classed as anti-social behaviour, or breach of the tenancy agreement. Neither will children playing and babies crying, or household noise due to everyday living. Tuntum’s Anti-Social Behaviour and Harassment Policy provides a comprehensive guide to what is and is not Anti-Social Behaviour.

Often, the issues can be dealt with before approaching Tuntum for advice.

For example, Mr A works night shifts. He goes to bed at around 9.00 in the morning after finishing his shift at 6.00 a.m. His neighbour, Miss B, works part-time, leaving home at 1.00 p.m. If there is any laundry to be done, Miss B will put the washing machine on at around 10.00 a.m., and have a quick vacuum round.

Miss B is not aware Mr A works night shifts, or that her washing machine can be heard in his property. After being woken up for the third morning in a row, just as he had got off to sleep, Mr A decided he would have to speak with Miss B. She had been totally unaware that there had been a problem and both parties managed to reach an agreement that Miss A would start to use the washing machine on returning home from work and the school run, at around 6.00 p.m.

We understand that all matters cannot be dealt with as simply and reasonably as this.

The majority of Tuntum’s properties are very close to each other, with some being flats. Standard buildings do not allow for soundproofing, and an amount of ordinary household noise can often be heard through adjoining walls.

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TUNTUM ENGAGE | WINTER 2019

News From Refugee Futures

Refugee Futures staff are currently working with the Gem Cash for Kids campaign, to collect donations of toys and gifts for children at Christmas. Dara Ivekich, Refugee Futures Service Manager, said:

Syrian women getting qualified Well done to the cohort of 10 Syrian women from Mansfield and Ashfield who took the Food Safety Foundation course in October and are now qualified. They were supported by Lama Homssi, our Assistant Support Worker at Refugee Futures, who helped to translate throughout the course.

ESOL teacher wins Tutor of the Year Award Imran Khan, our Syrian clients’ ESOL (English for Speakers of other Languages) tutor, won the Tutor of the Year award at the Enable Conference at the end of November. Several people nominated Imran, including Dara Ivekich, our Refugee Futures Service Manager, on behalf of both councils for the dedication and commitment to his work. Dara Ivekich said: “The students really appreciate his efforts, and attendance and achievement levels are very high. Imran and I keep in regular contact to ensure the smooth running of the classes, and are able to maintain a flexible approach according to the ability of the students.”

One of our Syrian students said: “Teacher Imran helps me all the time. If I don’t understand something he will explain it in a different way. We all do our homework, he makes it fun.”

During a recent consultation on ESOL provision in Nottingham city, and county, Enable were praised, along with Tuntum for best practice in their approach to ESOL provision.

In the last year 26 of our residents from Syrian attended Imran ESOL classes.

“We have been lucky enough to take part for the past three years, and it’s amazing to see the excited faces of the children when they receive a gift. And our staff at Pendragon in Mansfield are also donating toys in a similar way for the children in Mansfield area.”

Giving Children a gift at Christmas

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There is a great opportunity for many of Tuntum’s residents to get involved in helping to shape the kind of repairs service residents would like to receive. The ultimate aim being to improve resident satisfaction with the repairs service and to improve our partnership approach with residents to get the repairs successfully completed. In order to get as wide a view as possible from residents, our Scrutiny Group, Magnify, will be organising a one-day workshop for all Tuntum’s residents in February 2020 to look at how the entire repairs process is administered from first point of contact to the completion of the repair. The event will be facilitated by Tpas – England’s leading tenant engagement experts and supported by Tuntum on the day.

Here are some of the issues we’d like to discuss with you:

1. We have to be better at managing expectations about what we can or cannot do and explain why we cannot do it now. We also need to be clear about the level of cooperation and partnership we require.

2. We must continue to work hard at improving our satisfaction levels. Our annual target is to achieve an 85% satisfaction levels but the last survey showed a result of 78% which is unacceptable. We would like to discuss with you how we can improve our performance.

Results from the STAR surveys undertaken by Mel Research also indicated the four main issues where residents were not happy:

DURATION – how long it took to

complete a repair (47%)

QUALITY – standard of the

work done (28%)

THE PROCESS – for reporting and carrying

out a repair (19%)

CODE OF CONDUCT – The behaviour of the

contractor (5%)

These are the issues we’d like to discuss with you. So please attend this workshop led by Magnify.

Give us your views on our repairs services

9

TUNTUM ENGAGE | WINTER 2019

10

Planned Programme Updates

We are pleased to announce that the kitchen replacement programme has been awarded to T&S Heating Ltd (Joinery Division). T&S currently undertake kitchen replacement programmes for other Housing Associations and we are pleased with the quality of their work.

You should expect contact and a visit from the Resident Liaison Officer of T&S in due course to discuss the work in more detail. Please make sure that you are in for this appointment to help the programme run smoothly. If you’d like to find out if your property is due for kitchen or bathroom replacement please contact our repairs department on repairs@tuntum.co.uk

We are pleased to announce that the bathroom replacement programme has been awarded to Blackwood Building Services Ltd. Blackwood Building Services Ltd are a local company, who have been undertaking day-to-day repairs and other building works for Tuntum Housing Association for many years. Customers living at properties on this financial years programme will have already been contacted by Blackwood Building Services Ltd, or will be shortly. The details of the work will be explained and the customers will be given a choice of wall paint and floor covering colour. Please make sure that you are in for this appointment to help the programme run smoothly.

Stock Condition SurveysWe undertake a full property survey of 20% of their housing stock each financial year. These are undertaken by either an internally or externally employed Building Surveyor.

Appointments for these Stock Condition Surveys are made in advance, yet we find that it is a regular occurrence for customers not to be in. It is important that these surveys are undertaken, because they tell us the condition and age of the main elements of the building, from which we plan when their replacement is due. The survey also identifies any potential health & safety hazards and structural defects. It is therefore beneficial to our customers that they allow access, because without the surveys being completed you

might miss out on planned replacement programmes, such as a kitchen and bathroom or new windows and doors replacement programmes.

Depending on the size of the property, a Stock Condition Survey will usually take between 45 minutes and 1 hour. The Building Surveyor requires access to all rooms, the loft space and garden areas, but will generally not need anything else form the customer, bar allowing access. The inconvenience is therefore small, but with large gains. We would therefore like to stress the importance of being in for any pre-arranged Stock Condition Survey appointments, which also have a cost incurred for when appointments are missed.

GuttersIt is common place for our Building Surveyors to find gutters that are leaking, due to them being blocked, having loose joints, or having fallen down. You must make sure that you report such issues immediately, directly via our website or email us at repairs@tuntum.co.uk, because if left unattended, particularly during the wetter and colder months, leaking gutters can lead to damage of the external brickwork and damp issues inside the property.

Since the autumn edition of Engage, Tuntum has awarded the contracts for this year’s kitchen replacement programme and bathroom replacement programme.

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11

Fire Safety

Other servicesAlso this year we have engaged the Nottinghamshire fire safety services to perform our other mandatory testing schedules across our buildings and schemes, for emergency light testing, fire alarm panels, fire detection systems, automated fire smoke vents and wet and dry risers fire hydrants in our high rises and multi storey schemes.

Our in-house maintenance staff and management perform weekly tests and checks to all systems and apparatus ensuring that our buildings are clear of obstructions and hazards in corridors stairwells and fire exit routes. This ensures your systems are healthy and maintained frequently this should reassure our residents that we do care for their safety and wellbeing.

We will continue to invest over the next year on replacement and upgrading systems and services in all areas, and commit to investing on further passive safety measure such as fire compartmentation and fire door inspection and remedial works.

TrainingAll our staff whom have Responsibilities for fire management are currently undertaking refresher training presented and delivered by Nottinghamshire Fire safety ltd. The fire management course is delivered by former fire fighters, thus giving complete assurance that it’s being delivered with a passion for preserving life and educating us all on fire related topics.

We are replacing all our fire fighting apparatus with the new firexo extinguishers. This came about after we were invited by the local fire service to see the product being demonstrated. The main benefit of these extinguishers is that in the event of a fire the user cannot select the wrong type of fire extinguisher as this covers all types of fire in one application therefore reducing risk to the users and reducing the risk of fires spreading.

Playing your part - TOP TIPS!• If you note any damage

to fire equipment and systems or anyone interfering with it please make us aware as soon as possible

• If you have any concerns about fire safety please contact us for assistance and guidance

• Test your smoke alarms regularly to ensure that they operate and replace the batteries periodically, they may save your life

• Remove and dispose of unwanted combustible materials from your property

• Remove your waste from communal walk ways corridors and stairwells and don’t leave prams or bicycles in corridors which may restrict or hamper safe escape from the building in the event of a fire

• Store kitchen towels and combustible materials away from cookers and hobs

• Turn appliances off after use and allow them to cool before storing or leaving them unattended

• Nether leave scented candles or incense burners or naked flames and fires burning unattended or on or close to combustible surfaces and products

• Never leave cigarettes or tobacco products unattended to burnout in an ash tray

• If you know or have concerns about a friend or neighbour that is a Tuntum tenant that may be at risk from hoarding or issue highlighted below contacts us

TUNTUM ENGAGE | WINTER 2019

Head Office90 Beech Avenue, New Basford, Nottingham NG7 7LW

0115 916 6066 admin@tuntum.co.uk www.tuntum.co.uk

If you would like this newsletter in another language or any other format, please contact us. /TuntumHA

/TuntumHA

What is a loan shark?With the festive season fast approaching, the cost and pressure may tempt people to borrow from a loan shark. A loan shark is someone who lends money without the correct authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It is a criminal offence to lend money without authorisation and can lead to a 2-year prison sentence and/or £5,000 fine.

How do I know if I’ve borrowed from a loan shark?

Loan sharks typically start off friendly and are often heard of through word of mouth. It could be a friend, colleague, neighbor or someone who is well known in the community for helping others out financially.

If you have had a cash loan and can answer yes to one or more of these questions, you might have borrowed from a loan shark:

Did they give you any paperwork? Did you know the interest rate? Have you been threatened or scared about people finding out?

Have they taken your bank card, benefit card, passport, watch or other valuables from you?

Call the 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 2222 Text a report to 078600 22116 Visit the website www.stoploansharks.co.uk E-mail reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk Private message us on www.facebook.com/stoploansharksproject

There is a national team that investigate and

prosecute loan sharks – they work closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), local trading standards and the police to crackdown on illegal money lending. They are here to help victims who have fallen into debt with a loan shark at any time but especially during the festive season, you can report this anonymously and be confident that your report will be taken seriously.

Did you know by borrowing a small loan from a loan shark could lead to massive repayments in the New Year? Before you act THINK.

You can contact the credit union for advice or go onto the government website The Money Advice service?

Both offer free and impartial help with Debts, budgeting advice, universal credit help, payday loans and pension guidance. They have online calculators including letter templates.

If you have an emergency repair please call 0115 915 22 22. This number should only be used where there is a danger to personal safety or risk of serious damage to your property.

You can also report non-urgent repairs using our online report a

repair form at any time, including when our office is closed.

CHRISTMAS OFFICE OPENING HOURS Tuesday 24 December Open 9am to 1pm

Wednesday 25 December Closed

Thursday 26 December Closed

Friday 27 December Closed

Monday 30 December Open 9am to 5pm

Tuesday 31 December Open 9am to 5pm

Wednesday 1 January Closed

Credit Union ContactsNOTTINGHAM: 0115 8293121 on Maid Marian Way.

LEICESTER: Clockwise credit union 0116 2423900 & The Leicester Caribbean Credit union 0116 2512224

DERBY: Derbyshire Community Bank 01332 348144 and Derby United Credit Union 01332 369641

See the web for other areas for help and advice.

Contact UsGive us a call for free and impartial money advice.

0800 138 7777Typetalk: 18001 0800 915 4622Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Saturday, Sunday and bank Holidays, closedOur general email address is enquiries@maps.org.uk