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Annual Report SummaryTenants’ Annual Report summary 2011/12What are we doing withthe money we are saving?• We are using it to build much-neededaffordable housing through ourdevelopment programme. 2011/12 wasa busy and challenging year; we built 51new homes, providing a mix of two andthree bedroom properties, housing atotal of 126 residents.The Association provided a number ofdifferent housing options, ranging fromAffordable Rent properties, which offergood quality affordable accommodationat rent levels below the market rate, toour shared ownership initiative, whichhelps first time buyers secure a propertythat they can eventually own.• We have created new services forcustomers such as the caretaker service.Seemingly simple jobs like changinga light bulb may be easy for somepeople, but for others it might as wellbe climbing Everest. Not all retirementhousing tenants have close familyaround that can do these tasks quicklyand they are too small for the repairsteam, therefore there was an obviousneed for additional services.A Group wide review considered theseadditional services and the deliveryof repairs, cleaning and groundsmaintenance to the schemes. It wasconcluded that all of these servicescould be delivered by a caretaker basedat each retirement housing scheme; thiswould improve but also enhance thelevel of service tenants received.On balance, the service should provegood value for money. There will be noneed for the repairs team to be tied upwith jobs such as fixing a door handle;especially if the retirement housingscheme is off the beaten track.• For the second year running we havesupported projects that improve ourneighbourhoods through the tenantcontrolledNeighbourhood Fund. April2011 saw the launch of round two ofthe Neighbourhood Fund. £250,000was available to support communityand neighbourhood projects across allour areas of operation.Finally, by carefully controlling ourcosts we are also making sure that weremain financially sound.Times will remain tough for many yearsto come and we must make sure thatwe have the resources to deliver ourmission as a housing association.inhouse | 5