Stock Transfer Fact Sheet
Western Challenge Housing Association
Q. How will this transfer achieve the
objective of creating more efficiency within the Spectrum Housing
Group?
A. Signpost and Western
Challenge Housing Associations both have housing
stock situated within each others geographic
areas of operation and in some cases this stock is quite remote
from their main offices. By consolidating the stock through
transfers such as this each Association will manage stock closer to
where they are based. This will also benefit customers through
their landlords being more local to their homes and therefore more
accessible.
Q. Will I need to sign a new tenancy
agreement?
A. No, your tenancy agreement
will remain the same. At the moment if changes to your tenancy
agreement are being considered this would only happen following
further consultation with you. This will continue to apply should
any future changes be considered.
Q. I am a Sheltered Housing
Resident. How will this transfer affect the support I get
through the Tunstall warden call system
A . Western challenge's
contract with Supporting People will be assigned to Signpost Care
Partnerships. As part of that, the monitoring will no
longer be carried out by Deane Helpline but instead will be
transferred to Sovereign's Helpline. The support level will
remain the same and will still be available 24 hours a day.
Q. How will this transfer affect
the support I get from Yarlington Housing's community support
scheme?
A. Yarlington contract
directly with Supporting People, they do not contract with Western
challenge hence your support from Yarlington will not be affected
by this transfer.
Q. What will happen with my rent and
how will I pay this?
A. Your rent will remain the
same and the annual increase will continue to happen in October.
Payments will need to be made to Signpost Housing Association and
we will send you full details before the transfer. There are a
number of payment methods that you will be able to use including
direct debit and giro swipecard.
Q. My rent is paid by Housing
Benefit. Is there anything I need to do?
A. No, Western Challenge will
advise your Housing Benefit department of the change of landlord
and ask that all payments after the handover are made to Signpost
Housing Association.
Q. Who will undertake repairs to my
home, how will I report repairs, and can I expect the same standard
of repair?
A. Repairs will continue to
be carried out by Signpost Services Limited to the same standard
that you currently receive. The low cost repairs phone number
and an appointment system will remain available so that you can
continue to arrange convenient times for repairs to be
undertaken.
Q. What will happen with the major
repairs that have already been planned for my home?
A. Any commitment that has
been given to do major repairs to your home will still be
undertaken.
Q. Who will manage my property and how
will I know who to contact?
A. Your property will be
managed from the Signpost office located in Blandford Forum.
Contact numbers and details for your housing officer and how to
report repairs will be provided to you by early December.
Q. Are there opportunities for me to
become involved in how the services provided by Signpost Housing
Association are managed and delivered?
A. Signpost is very keen to involve
residents in how services are provided, managed and delivered and
already have active residents helping them to achieve this. There
is a menu of choice in how to become involved from reading new
policies and procedures at home to being involved with the
Residents Forum, attending meetings etc. Signpost wants to
encourage residents of all ages from the young upwards to become
involved to help shape the way they do things and the way in which
customers want them done.