Shaping the Future of Pennyburn - Riverside

Did you know you can pay your rent online? www.allpay.net
Record Major Investment
This year 2012/13 we will be
spending a staggering £2.6 million
on our capital programme of
major repairs and improvements
to our homes. This will include
ensuring that all properties are
fully compliant with The Scottish
Housing Quality Standard by 2015.
A recent stock condition survey
carried out showed that over 90%
of our homes meet the standard
and our properties are generally
in good condition. The survey has
highlighted where we need to be
investing future expenditure. This
information is being factored into
the planned and cyclical
programme for 2012/13.
New Improved Repairs Policy
Our Repairs Working Group made up of 18 community
representatives has been actively involved in shaping our new
improved repairs service. The group has influenced the decisions
about changes to the current repairs service and has centered the
policy on what’s important to our tenants.
The policy, approved by the Operations Committee in May,
includes the introduction of a repairs appointment system –
a priority for our tenants.
One of the benefits is that tenants will be able to select morning or
afternoon slots resulting in enhanced service delivery. We will pilot
the appointment system for a six month period with one of our
main contractors, with a view to introducing the system across all
our contractors by April 2013.
Also new are the priority timescales for repairs, which have been
adjusted to allow for the introduction of an appointment system.
Priority 0
Emergency repairs completed same day.
Priority 1
Emergency repairs completed next day.
Priority 2
Urgent repairs completed within 5 working days.
Priority 3
Routine repairs completed within 15 working days.
We will be evaluating and re-tendering our Repairs and
Maintenance contracts before our existing contracts end on 31
March 2013. We will be working with Riverside to develop local
contractor frameworks and will use the group’s buying power to
make efficiency savings on buying materials.
New Common Housing
Register Launched in
East Ayrshire
The Single East Ayrshire Register for
Community Housing (SEARCH) was
launched in April. We have been working
in partnership with East Ayrshire
Council, Atrium Homes, Cunninghame
Housing Association and Shire Housing
Association to create a Common
Housing Register and Common
Allocations Policy for East Ayrshire.
This register will make it easier for
people to apply for social housing in
East Ayrshire as you will only need to fill
in one form to apply for housing with us,
the Council and any of the above
housing associations.
Likewise, if you are a tenant and wish to
transfer to another house in East Ayrshire
you will only need to complete one form.
SEARCH Application forms are available
from the Drongan office or any one of
the partner organisations’ offices.
AQ gives a helping hand
to Ayrshire’s vulnerable!
The Anthony O’Brien Quinn Memorial Trust, known
as the AQ Trust was officially launched in March.
The Trust has been established by Janice and Pat
Quinn and staff at Irvine Housing Association in
memory of Senior Housing Officer, Janice’s son,
Anthony, who died suddenly in 2010.
While The Trust was being developed in
2011, there have been a number of
charitable fundraising events carried out
in support of the AQ Trust. These have
successfully raised an outstanding
£10,361.48. Staff at Irvine Housing
Association are fully supporting the
charity and have nominated The Trust as
the Association’s chosen charity for
2012/13.
The charity will be offering crisis support
and practical help to people throughout
Ayrshire. The Trust’s customers will
primarily be individuals facing or
experiencing crisis situations relating to
their housing. The Trust’s services will be
aimed at ensuring customers will be in a
position to sustain a home in the long-term.
The objectives of the AQ Trust are:
• the prevention or relief of poverty
• the advancement of citizenship or
community benefit
• the relief of those in need by reason
of age, ill-health, disability, financial
hardship or another disadvantage
• helping to alleviate housing need and
related financial, socio-economic and
health problems in Scotland, primarily
through the provision of a crisis
response service available to
vulnerable people, to assist them in:
- accessing temporary and
permanent accommodation;
- moving into their accommodation;
- and sustaining their home.
Irvine and Riverside staff held a
sponsored cycle around Arran on 19
May to kick-start fundraising now that
the AQ Trust is up and running.
If you would like further information
about how to access the service or to
make a donation to the AQ Trust, please
contact 0845 112 6600.
4 House & Home Summer 2012 House & Home Summer 2012 5