September / October 2010 - Hounslow Homes

Change-In-Spaces
Have you ever thought about making a move? Perhaps to the Seaside, or even down sizing your
current property to something more manageable?
A shortage in family sized
accommodation within the
council’s current stock has
resulted in many families living
in overcrowded conditions while
many existing properties are
under-occupied.
Hounslow Homes in
partnership with the London
Borough of Hounslow are
working towards gaining an
improved balance within its
current housing stock through
supporting under-occupiers to
downsize to a smaller home
and in turn releasing larger
properties for those who need
them.
How we can help you
• With the registration
process for schemes that
are available such as Trading
Places, Seaside & Country
Homes, Mutual Exchange
and Sheltered Housing
• You may be eligible for
financial help with removal
costs
• By making your move as
easy as possible
Trading Places
Trading Places encourages
tenants in large properties with
spare rooms to “trade down”
to a smaller home. As well
as a high priority for a move,
generous financial incentives are
also available. For downsizing
to a smaller property, £1000 is
awarded for every bedroom you
give up!
Seaside and Country Homes
Properties are designed
specifically for older people and
are available along the coast
from Cornwall on the south
west to Norfolk and Lincolnshire
in the east and the countryside
of Dorset to Cambridgeshire.
London Borough of Hounslow
may offer tenants that move
to a new home through the
Seaside and Country scheme
a one off payment of £1000
in addition to assistance with
removal costs once they have
moved.
For more information please
visit: www.housingmoves.org
Mutual Exchange
Tenants in a Council or
Housing Association property,
who have no rent arrears
and no history of anti-social
behaviour, are eligible for a
“mutual exchange” - a scheme
that can be quicker than
waiting for a transfer whilst you
are bidding on Locata and can
give you a wider choice of area,
style and size of housing.
To apply applicants need to
complete a transfer application
form available from local
housing offices and register
with ‘HomeSwapper’ - an
online mutual exchange service
available to all tenants in secure
or assured tenancies.
To find out more information
on eligibility, how to apply and
what other housing options
may be available, contact the
Change-In-Spaces team on
changeinspaces@hounslow.gov.
uk or 020 8583 6739/4246 or
visit
www.hounslowhomes.org.uk
Hounslow Homes and
emergency services work
together to repair flood damage
At approximately 6am on the 12 August a burst water main on
London Road Isleworth created chaos in the area
Hounslow Homes staff and emergency services working together
The 30” split to the water main
not only disrupted supplies to
thousands of homes, but also
many families and individuals
lost everything they owned.
Hounslow Homes staff were
on site and were able to alert
neighbours that there was
likely to be more flooding,
making sure that all care and
consideration was taken and
that residents living in our
Sheltered Housing Scheme were
safe and looked after.
As soon as it was deemed
safe by emergency services,
all residents affected were
evacuated and placed in
temporary accommodation.
The work to get things back
up and running continues and
the dedication of Hounslow
Homes staff, who in many
cases have given up their
spare time and weekends to
speed things along, mustn’t be
ignored. We understand that
this was a really distressing
experience that could have
been a lot worse if Thames
Water had not admitted
liability. Thankfully, they have
been excellent in dealing with
claims and will be footing the
bill but it does highlight the
need for tenants to have home
insurance as fire, theft and
flood can happen to anyone
at any time. Call our Customer
Service Centre for advice about
home insurance schemes on
0800 085 6575.
Tricksters and
scams
Before you let anyone into
your property find out
who they are. It has been
brought to our attention
that vulnerable members of
the community throughout
Hounslow are being tricked
into letting people into their
homes and are then being
robbed or assaulted. Always
check who it is before you
open the door. If they say
they are from Hounslow
Homes, remember that we
will not just turn up on your
door step without letting you
know in advance.
It’s important that we
all look out for vulnerable
members of our community.
Go green and
sign up for the
e-version of
Hounslow Homes
News
It’s easy to be green – sign up
to get your copy of Hounslow
Homes News by email. Send
your email address to webteam@hounslowhomes.org.
uk, visit our website at
www.hounslowhomes.org.uk
or contact us on
0800 085 6575
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