Hyde Life October 2012.indd - Hyde Housing Association

Residents Round up
Carol’s catch up
Big changes are happening to welfare benefits as a asking us about, is something
result of Government spending cuts. Some have already known as ‘under occupancy’ or
started – such as increased deductions from Housing ‘bedroom tax’. Those who are
Benefit for adult sons and daughters living at home – under retirement age who have a
but most of the changes will come along from next year. spare bedroom (under new rules
Our expert benefits and money advice teams are already where children up to a certain age are expected to share) and
talking to some of our residents about what the changes who claim Housing Benefit will see their benefit reduced on
might mean for them and helping them to plan and
average by £14 per week per ‘spare’ room. You can find out
prepare for these. Amongst other information available, more about this on page 13.
they can explain to you about how Credit Unions can help
you manage your bills without leading to large interest
repayments building up.
Carol Carter
One part of the benefit changes that residents have been Group Director of Housing
If you claim benefits and aren’t sure about how all the changes might affect you, please contact us now on
0800 389 3576 or email customerservices@hyde-housing,co.uk for free and confidential advice on what the Welfare
Reforms might mean for you.
Homely or Hazardous?
Many of the properties that we own and
manage have areas that are used by all
residents who live in them: Areas such as
entrances, hallways, landings, stairways,
and gardens. These areas are known as
communal areas and as your landlord we
have a legal duty to make sure that they
are kept safe and secure for the sake of
residents, employees, contractors and
other visitors alike.
With the help of some of our involved
residents’ committee known as Hydewide
Residents’ Voice, we have recently updated
our Communal Areas’ Policy. The resident
input was really helpful. They raised the point
that some items that residents put there are
to improve the look and homeliness of a
communal area. This led to a decision by Hyde
that it would allow some personal items such
as framed pictures and door mats in communal
areas, rather than placing a total ban on all
personal items in communal areas, as some
housing associations do.
However, we do have to balance a person’s
rights or wishes to personalise communal areas
with making sure that all residents, contractors,
staff and visitors are kept safe at all times and
that we’re meeting our responsibilities under
various acts of the law. So for example, it’s
vital that communal corridors and fire escapes
remain free from items that would increase the
chances of a fire starting, make a fire worse or
make escape from the building more difficult
in the event of a fire.
Please make the time to read the full policy
and find out more either by visiting our
website or contacting Resident Engagement to
ask for a copy. You can contact them either by
calling 0203 207 2767 or by emailing them
at residentengagement@hyde-housing.
co.uk
Captain Green is always on the
lookout for ways in which Hyde looks
after the environment. Here’s one of
the ways in which it plays its part...
HydeLife is available as
both a paper copy and on
the Hyde Internet. If you
already view it online, or
would like to start doing
this and would prefer not
to receive a paper copy,
please let us know, either
by calling 0203 207
2767 or by emailing
residentengagement@
hyde-housing.co.uk
If you have any queries, call our Customer Services Centre on freephone 0800 389 3576 or email customerservices@hyde-housing.co.uk 3
For text relay from a text phone add 18001 before the number you want to call or to use Text phone dial 0208 297 7501