JOB OF THE WEEK: HAVE YOUR TOP JOB HERE!
01 March 2010

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ARE YOU LOOKING FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS?
01 March 2010

Are you looking for new board members? If your association is looking for new board members why not advertise in Housing News. Our free daily news bulletin is the best-read housing publication in your region and we offer our advertisers real value for money. Don’t take our word for it – look what Jenny George, marketing & communication assistant at Two Rivers Housing Association has to say: “We recently used the Housing News to advertise for a vacancy on our Board, I’m pleased to say we had the highest number of responses for this position than any other advertisement we placed, it was excellent value for money. “As a marketing professional I look forward to receiving the bulletin, it helps keep me up-to-date with local, regional and national news. And the best part is it’s free!” To advertise, contact Hucksters at 01892 784804 or email housingnews@hucksters.co.uk.

FIRST CRAWLEY COUNCIL HOMES IN MORE THAN A DECADE
01 March 2010

The first new-build council homes in more than a decade are set to get underway within the next couple of months. The news comes following Crawley Borough Council’s successful bid to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for funding through Social Housing Grant. Moat has been appointed as the development agent as one of the council’s preferred RSL partners, and has worked closely with the council to secure the grant and its new partnership status with the HCA. The HCA has granted the council ‘Investor Partner’s status and awarded the local authority £976,000 to build 16 council properties in Rushetts Place, Langley Green – this makes Crawley Council the first ever local authority to be granted money from a pot usually reserved for housing associations. Councillor Jennifer Millar-Smith, portfolio holder for housing, said: “It’s brilliant news; the council has recently prioritised its goal to increase housing supply in the town and this is a great starting block for us to help push that forward ourselves.” Recent housing revenue changes made it possible for councils to build on the same terms as registered social landlords and the investor partner status meant the council could directly apply for a Social Housing Grant. The next step is to get building; the site, currently unused and previously used as a temporary car park during regeneration work at Langley Green Parade, already has full planning consent for 16 affordable flats made up of eight one-bed and eight two-bed units. The new units will be built to Code for Sustainable Homes level four, the highest eco-standards yet to be achieved in Crawley. The green features will include solar panels, which will directly benefit future tenants by providing a renewable energy source; the homes will also be built to Lifetime Homes standards, accommodating the diverse needs of users over time.

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HARAH STEPS UP AFFORDABLE HOMES COMPLETIONS
01 March 2010

The Hampshire Alliance for Rural Affordable Housing (HARAH) completed 69 new homes for local people in 2009. The homes were built in Hurstbourne Tarrant, Stockbridge, Preston Candover, Charter Alley, Grateley, Monxton, Littleton and Swanmore. Many rural villages have a desperate shortage of affordable homes, which means that often people who were brought up or work in the village cannot afford to live there. This has an impact on the local economy as without their local users and local staff, businesses and services, including shops, schools, post offices, pubs and village halls struggle to survive. The partnership’s affordable housing is either rented or shared ownership/shared equity. The homes are strictly for local people and the local connection criteria are specified in a section 106 agreement, a legal agreement attached to the planning permission. Rural exception site policy enables small sites to be used specifically for affordable housing in small rural communities where there is a need for affordable homes for local people. HARAH works closely with the parish council and local community in identifying local housing need, choosing a suitable site, drawing up the design and throughout the building contract.

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RUSSET HOMES RESIDENTS DO IT FOR THEMSELVES
01 March 2010

Ladies rolled up their sleeves and learnt how to do it for themselves during a free DIY workshop run by Russet Homes at an empty property in Tonbridge. The training was given by Lakehouse – one of Russet’s strategic maintenance partners – which is working with the housing association to install new kitchen and bathrooms for tenants. The all women group tried their hand at painting and decorating and everyday jobs around the kitchen including adjusting kitchen cupboards which had dropped out of line and locating isolation valves and stopcocks in a plumbing emergency. They also learnt lots of health and safety tips including the importance of wearing the correct protective equipment and reading instructions before starting. Jacqueline Wilkinson, Russet Homes operations director – housing services, said: “We are committed to enhancing life chances and one way we can do this is by providing training and education and safe environments. “We asked our residents what type of training they would find most useful and one of the top requests was DIY covering simple day to day maintenance and repairs. “Whilst all our properties are quickly prepared once a tenant leaves for the next occupant, we had one which had just become vacant. “It provided the perfect place to hold the workshop allowing everyone to get really hands on and practise what they had been shown in a real life setting.” She added: “The workshop was open to all our residents but interestingly we received an all ladies response. “Not only does the training give residents the confidence and skills to tackle some DIY jobs themselves but also means they are able to look after their homes better, and to a good standard. That’s good news for their families and for us.”

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BRACKNELL FOREST BENEFITS ADVISORS OFFER A HELPING HAND
01 March 2010

Bracknell Forest Homes has helped its residents get their hands on more than £100,000 in benefits. Between July and September, the housing association’s tenant benefits advisors helped 361 customers recover a total of £107,056.47 in benefits. This figure includes weekly payments and lump sums. Bracknell Forest Homes offers a free tenant benefits advice service. The service aims to advise tenants and leaseholders of the exact benefits they may be eligible for and how to claim them. The advisor will visit residents at their home or at the housing association’s office.

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FREE INSULATION SCHEME FOR ADUR HOMES
01 March 2010

A ‘Warm Homes Project’ being offered by Adur District Council in partnership with leading insulation installer eaga Insulation will give free cavity wall and loft insulation to homes in the district. It is being funded by the West Sussex Partnership. To be eligible for this scheme, applicants must have a net household income of less than £18,000, and have at least one dependant child under 16 years old. Or they must be over 60 years old, pregnant, or disabled. If the criteria above are not met but the applicant gets a means-tested benefit, they could also qualify for 100 per cent grant-funded home insulation. Those who are not entitled to free insulation can still take advantage of subsidised prices of just £149 for cavity wall insulation, and from £149 for loft insulation. Up to £265 a year can be saved on heating bills by getting this insulation, and CO2 emissions can also be reduced. Keith Dollemore, Adur District Council cabinet member for clean and green environment, said: “The funding from this scheme is on a first come first serve basis, so make sure you do not miss out on making your home warmer as well as more environmentally friendly."

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
01 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. Keelman Homes is seeking Two Ordinary Trustees to join its Board. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 5. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. TENDERS Craigdale Housing Association is inviting tenders for a Tenant Satisfaction Survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 8. To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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JOB OF THE WEEK: POLICY/SERVICE IMPROVEMENT MANAGER
02 March 2010

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THUMBS-UP FOR OXFORD CITIZENS HOMES PLAN IN THAME
02 March 2010

Oxford Citizens Housing Association, part of the GreenSquare housing group, has been granted planning permission to build six new affordable homes. The six two-bedroom properties for affordable rent at Corporation Yard in Thame, will be developed in partnership with South Oxfordshire District Council. Marita Ford, GreenSquare development projects manager, said: “We are really pleased that this scheme in Thame has been given the go-ahead. Building these high-quality new homes, on a brownfield site in the town currently owned by South Oxfordshire District Council, will help meet the high demand for affordable housing in this area. “Our consultation with local residents, including the local residents' association, has helped ensure that this industrial site is developed to the maximum benefit of both new and existing residents.” Parts of the site are currently used by local people for car parking and an important feature of the plans is the inclusion of nine parking spaces for existing residents, in addition to the parking to be provided for residents of the new properties. Marita Ford added: “The new development has been designed to blend with the existing terrace of Victorian houses in Park Terrace and we believe it will enhance the area. “A start on site date has yet to be confirmed, and we understand that the District Council will be in contact with residents affected by the changes to parking provision in due course.”

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SOUTHAMPTON HEATING NETWORK LINKED TO HOMES
02 March 2010

Southampton’s nationally renowned geothermal heating network has reached another milestone after it was connected to a major housing development in the city. A groundbreaking event marked the laying of the district heating mains to the City Centre Gantry development, which is being built by Atlantic Housing - a member of the First Wessex Housing Group - with help from Drew Smith Limited and will deliver 115 residential flats, 65% of which will be affordable housing for the city. The scheme, developed in partnership between Southampton City Council and Utilicom, recently helped the city to gain ‘Green Flag’ status from the Audit Commission – one of the few in the country to scoop the accolade for its green credentials. And the move to connect the scheme to this development, providing sustainable energy to the new homes, will be a huge step forward in boosting the city’s growing reputation as one of the most sustainable city’s in the South. The current scheme already saves the city more than 11,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. Expanding the scheme to provide energy to the Gantry development will save a further 190 tonnes of CO2 a year, and will cut the costs of residents’ energy bills by about 10 per cent. Councillor Matthew Dean, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "This is a massive milestone in the city’s goal to grow our District Heating Scheme and provide sustainable energy to more businesses and homes. "Southampton has been a pioneer in this field for a long time now. We set the example and lead for others to follow and I am determined to keep moving this energy scheme forward." Simon Woodward, Utilicom Group chief executive, added: "We are delighted to be working closely with the City Council, the HCA and First Wessex on this exciting project for the benefit of the City’s residents. "The excellent track record of the energy partnership between the City Council and Utilicom in successfully developing these complex schemes over 23 years, was a key factor in the award of these valuable grant monies by the HCA." The council successfully led a joint bid with Utilicom to get £650,000 of funding from the Homes and Communities Agency to allow this expansion to happen. Kevin Bourner, head of area at the HCA, said: "Our support for this groundbreaking scheme will help provide more low carbon energy for Southampton’s new homes. “But as well as saving tonnes of CO2 every year, residents will also see savings in their bills. We are committed to working with our partners in the city to create highly sustainable and affordable places for the community to live and work." At the event were local politicians, as well as representatives from Southampton Geothermal Heating Company, Southampton City Council, Drew Smith Ltd and First Wessex Homes to celebrate the commencement of the £650,000 HCA low carbon infrastructure project. The connection project forms part of the Low Carbon Infrastructure (LCI) Fund announced by Housing Minister John Healey. The fund is aimed at meeting tougher guidelines associated with the building of all new homes, including a move to zero carbon by 2016.

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BUCKSKIN RESIDENTS ATTEND BENEFITS DAY
02 March 2010

Kingfisher HVHS Housing Association held a second successful benefits awareness day for residents in the Buckskin area of Basingstoke this month. The event was the second of its kind for Kingfisher HVHS, and was organised following the success of a similar benefits take-up day held in the town centre last autumn. Kingfisher HVHS staff Natalie Thyer and Lucisha Martindale are on hand to give advice The event provided residents in the borough with a valuable opportunity to find out more about finance, jobs and benefits that may be available to them, or to get further advice on benefits they are already in receipt of. Representatives from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Housing Benefit team, Citizens Advice Bureau, Pensions Service, Age Concern and Basingstoke Credit Union, and Kingfisher HVHS, were all available to help with residents queries. Kingfisher HVHS tenancy support officer Geoff Baker, who is able to offer free, impartial advice and support for tenants, said: “The event, held in the Buckskin community centre, was the second of its kind for Kingfisher HVHS. “The Buckskin event focused on helping people looking for work, as well as offering advice on benefits and pensions.”

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RIVERSIDE DISMISSES SHARED OWNERSHIP REPOSSESSIONS MYTH
02 March 2010

The idea that shared owners are “marginal” buyers or represent high risk lending for banks and building societies is a "myth". Figures released by the National Housing Federation’s Home Ownership Advisory Panel show that shared owners are no more likely to be repossessed than those who own 100 per cent of their property with a mortgage. The figures suggest buy-to-let ownership is more likely to lead to repossession than shared ownership. In 2008/09, just 0.38 per cent of shared owners (432 households) had their homes repossessed compared to 0.42 per cent of mortgaged owners (46,000 households) and 0.46 per cent of buy-to-let owners (5,700 landlords). Carol Lavender, director of Riverside Home Ownership, said: “The fact is that housing associations apply strict affordability tests to ensure applicants can afford to buy and sustain shared ownership. “These tests were often stricter than the measures applied by lenders to other first time buyers and buy-to-let when the housing market was booming and lending competition was fierce. “Shared ownership is sometimes painted as ‘risky’ lending. These figures show that to be a myth. Shared ownership is a great market for lenders with real potential for growth. “Housing associations are interested in sustainable communities. Marginal, high turnover ownership is not good for communities and not good for housing associations as social businesses with a long-term stake in communities. We’re very careful about who buys shared ownership homes. “Housing association shared ownership providers also consider options such as reducing the equity owned and offering access to specialist financial advice if shared owners find themselves in financial difficulty, options frequently not available to owners in the general market. Repossession for housing associations is always a last resort.”

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SLOUGH LAUNCHES ILLEGAL ‘SHEDS WITH BEDS’ CRACKDOWN
02 March 2010

Slough Borough Council’s housing standards team is steaming ahead with inspections on sheds with beds in the borough after receiving funding last year to eradicate the town of the illegal dwellings. In just over three months, the team have inspected 300 suspected sheds being used for housing, with 133 notices being served for matters such as requests for more information and to remove facilities like kitchens and showers. The teams have devised a plan to visit each ward at a time, and so far have visited Chalvey, where 250 sheds were inspected and 50 elsewhere in the borough. Out of the 133 notices, 40 have been served due to category 1 hazard, such as poor electrics and only eight dwellings out of the 300 were found to be paying council tax. Residents in the town have been extremely pleased to see the team walking the streets and have been very helpful in pointing out suspected buildings. As well as the sheds, the council’s teams have been checking out the houses on the same land for houses of multiple occupancy (HMO). Keith Ford, housing standards manager for Slough Borough Council, said: “We’re really committed to eradicating the town of these illegal dwellings and to make sure people renting them are not exploited to living in bad, and often dangerous, conditions. “The team have been walking for miles around the borough checking out places and have been very pleased with the response from the public. Without their help in telling us where they think a rented shed might be, our job would be even more difficult.” Commissioner for neighbourhoods and renewal, councillor James Swindlehurst, added: “The continued enforcement of illegal dwellings in gardens is a step in the right direction. Properties which are not managed properly can quickly become dangerous, not only for those living within, but for neighbouring properties too. “Living in sub-standard accommodation creates all kinds of public health issues, and also puts a strain on infrastructure and services which can cause everyone to suffer. “We are making good progress towards identifying illegal dwellings. We essentially want to help both those living in, and those living near to illegal properties safer, healthier and happier by tackling this issue head-on.” The sheds found to be used for housing will be re-visited by the teams who take photographs to compare any suspected changes made. If found to still be used as a rental property, more notices will be served and prosecution very likely.

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
02 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. Keelman Homes is seeking Two Ordinary Trustees to join its Board. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 5. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. TENDERS Craigdale Housing Association is inviting tenders for a Tenant Satisfaction Survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 8. To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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JOB OF THE WEEK: POLICY/SERVICE IMPROVEMENT MANAGER
03 March 2010

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MHS HOMES PURCHASES CHATHAM HOMES
03 March 2010

Medway’s largest landlord mhs homes has purchased 34 tenanted houses and the land surrounding the properties located at Princes Park, Chatham. The three-bedroom terraced and semi-detached were built in the late 1970’s and were previously owned by Derby-based social housing provider Derwent Living. Charles Brangwin, head of housing at mhs homes, said: “Until the end of last year the houses were owned by Derby based social housing provider Derwent Living. “mhs homes has managed the properties on behalf of Derwent Living since 2007. “mhs homes owns and manages 8000 homes in the Medway area of Kent, so we were able to provide a locally based high quality service to our new customers using existing resources.” Following a formal consultation process with residents, the HCA and TSA, residents approved the sale, which was completed in November 2009. Mr Brangwin added: “Tenants will retain all of their existing rights with mhs homes taking over full responsibility for the future maintenance and improvement of the properties. “In addition we will continue to maintain part of the estate through our grounds maintenance service ‘mhs Direct’.” Residents have their own dedicated housing officer Angela Ewen, who is on hand to provide support and advice to customers. Customers will receive regular newsletters from mhs homes and will be able to join the ‘gold membership’ enjoying many other benefits of the customer loyalty scheme including; a free handyman service; a countdown gold card which brings discounts on goods and services; exclusive competitions; discounted rate at a holiday home; neighbours with Hearts of Gold Awards and lots more.

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THREE IN THE BAG FOR SOCIAL HOUSING REFURBISHMENT SPECIALIST
03 March 2010

PiLON, a specialist in refurbishment and building for the social housing, education and healthcare sectors has started the year with three new contracts won, in total worth around £2 million. The first is for main contractor Enterprise. Based in Fareham on the South Coast, the project involves refurbishing a number of MoD houses. This is the second contract that PiLON have secured for this client, the first being a similar contract at another MoD military base in Bedfordshire, which commenced on site last year and is still ongoing. For new client United House, PiLON is refurbishing kitchens and bathrooms as part of a major decent homes programme to scattered properties in the Medway area of Kent. Finally, on behalf of Lovell, PiLON is building kitchen and bathroom extensions at a number of houses in the Croydon area. The contract start date was the beginning of February and will take around five months to complete.

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PLACES FOR PEOPLE GETS GREEN LIGHT IN MILTON KEYNES
03 March 2010

The latest stage of Places for People’s Brooklands development – which will see a new 2,500 home community built in Milton Keynes – has been given the green light. The development will include a range of homes alongside two new schools and health and community services, and the Milton Keynes Partnership Planning Committee this week unanimously approved the creation of a second public park. The 30-acre park will provide a new cricket pitch, four new football pitches and two children's play areas and will, along with Brooklands Meadows, scheduled to be completed in the summer, provide additional open space for the new community. As well as providing space for leisure, the tree edged park will include five large ponds and wetland areas that will create habitat for plants and wildlife to enhance the existing natural landscape of Broughton Brook. The layout of the park has been designed to accommodate the route of the proposed Milton Keynes to Bedford Canal along its southern boundary at some time in the future and its northern boundary will be overlooked by new homes. Simon Elcock, project director for the developer, said: “We are delighted that MKP has granted planning approval as it will enable us to continue our strategy of creating attractive parks, places and facilities at Brooklands ahead of new residents moving into the neighbourhood.”

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MOAT STAFF MAKEOVER FOR COMMUNITY CENTRE
03 March 2010

Moat staff from the corporate development, property services and IT teams performed a much needed makeover on the St Mary’s Island Community Centre in Kent. In just one day, they painted the main hall, secondary smaller hall and entrance hallway. The event was organised as part of Moat’s commitment for staff to become more involved in Moat communities and to increase knowledge of all areas of the organisation. The halls are used every day by the community at St Mary’s Island for clubs and activities. With all this activity, the centre understandably experiences quite a bit of wear and tear and the walls were looking pretty grubby. The makeover team worked hard all day to emulsion the walls and even found time to clean and gloss the woodwork. Moat’s sustainability and projects officer, Katriona Staples, who manages the community centre, said: “With the next phase of housing at St Mary’s Island due to begin any day, the centre will have a new influx of residents making use of the valuable community resource. “We’ve all had a great day and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the makeover will make a huge difference for all of the resident users.”

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OCHA IN ‘ONE COMMUNITY’ PROJECT
03 March 2010

Residents of Corn Bar and Bartlett Close in Witney came out in force to clean up their neighbourhood – and give feedback on changes and improvements they'd like to see in the area. The clean-up and resident consultation day was organised by the 'One Community' project set up by Oxford Citizens Housing Association (OCHA), part of the GreenSquare housing group. OCHA has been running One Community for the last couple of years. The initiative involves the housing association focusing on a particular neighbourhood and investing additional time and resources there. Paula Haslam, OCHA’s community projects coordinator, said: “OCHA regularly organises community clean-up days in some of the other neighbourhoods where we have homes, but this event was different as we were also asking residents about changes they might like to see to where they live, such as improvements to the play area. "The event has generated some really useful feedback from residents as well as a tidier neighbourhood.” OCHA resident involvement officer Michelle O’Donohue, added: “We were really pleased with the turn out. "We usually hold clean-up days in the school holidays, but set this one up for a Saturday morning following feedback at our resident business planning sessions. “It's been a great success as we have managed to fill four skips with rubbish and recycling.”

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
03 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS West Kent Housing Association is seeking a Policy/Service Improvement Manager. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london. Closing Date: March 18. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. Keelman Homes is seeking Two Ordinary Trustees to join its Board. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 5. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. TENDERS Craigdale Housing Association is inviting tenders for a Tenant Satisfaction Survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 8. To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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JOB OF THE WEEK: POLICY/SERVICE IMPROVEMENT MANAGER
04 March 2010

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HCA GRANT FOR NEW HOMES IN EAST GRINSTEAD
04 March 2010

West Sussex is set to benefit from new and affordable homes thanks to a £1.45million grant from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The national housing and regeneration agency has agreed to support the RHNineteen development in Garlands Road, East Grinstead, which is forecast to provide 26 new and affordable homes to meet local demand. Developers Taylor Wimpey will replace a derelict office block with around 87 new homes, with the affordable properties managed by the Raven Housing Trust. The affordable properties will include a one and a two bedroom flat – both fully wheelchair accessible – 12 one bedroom flats and 14 two bedroom flats. All of the new homes will reach Level 3 under the Code for Sustainable Homes. This grant is part of the National Affordable Homes Programme from the HCA to deliver new affordable homes across England. Kevin Bourner, head of area at the HCA, said: "There is a real need for affordable homes in East Grinstead. “I’m delighted that the HCA is able to support the Garland Road development to replace an old derelict office block and create an affordable and sustainable place for people to live." Construction is anticipated to begin in April with the work expected to be complete by September 2011.

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NATIONAL AWARD FOR WESTERN CHALLENGE HOUSING OFFICER
04 March 2010

Annette Heather, neighbourhood housing officer for Western Challenge Housing Association, part of Spectrum Housing Group, has won the National Neighbourhood Justice BTEC Student of the Year Award 2009. Annette Heather Annette is one of three people to have won this award. In addition to the prestigious title of National Neighbourhood Justice BTEC Student of the year the winners will participate in a five-day, all expenses paid, study visit to New York, USA in February 2010. The purpose of the visit is to research and compare neighbourhood justice approaches, in the UK and NYC under the stewardship of the New York Mayors Office. The winners will be based at the internationally renowned John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NY and have full access as a student to the extensive Lloyd Sealy Library. The student will also have pre-arranged access to staff from all community partners working in anti social behaviour and restorative justice in the Bronx district. The research project findings will be presented to the Home Secretary for consideration and published in Safety Net Associates’ Student Learning Zone online research library. Annette said: ”I am delighted to have been chosen for this award and prestigious prize. I look forward to seeing for myself first hand and comparing how anti social behaviour is approached and managed in New York.” Although the original intention was that there would be only one winner, the sheer volume and quality of applications meant that the judging panel has selected three winners. The applicants were asked to evidence how their qualifications have been applied to their communities and organisations. The winners were Annette Heather of Western Challenge Housing Association, Lucie Venables of Mid Sussex District Council and Kelly Vincent of the British Transport Police. Safety Net Associates are the providers of the first and only National Programme of BTEC Qualifications in ASB Case working and Approaches to Restorative Justice. Bob Kennett, academic director of Safety Net Associates, said: “Because of the wide range of organisations our student body represents it was difficult to condense the applicants to only one winner. The judging panel therefore decided to award three winners. “These winners should be very proud of what they have achieved not only in this competition but also in their communities. It is very encouraging to see that these qualifications are further empowering practitioners from a range of backgrounds to tackle anti social behaviour in the communities they serve.”

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HOMESINHANTS TO HOST BASINGSTOKE HOMEBUY SHOW
04 March 2010

HomesinHants, the government appointed HomeBuy Agent for Hampshire & the Isle of Wight, is launching the latest series of HomeBuy Shows, where potential buyers can find out all they need under one roof. With the number of first-time buyers getting on the property ladder hitting a two-year high during December, a big turn-out is expected for the HomeBuy Show at the Apollo Hotel in Basingstoke on Thursday 11th March. The free shows allow prospective buyers the opportunity to discover which affordable houses are currently available in the local area. Visitors can also discover which government-backed financial schemes they qualify for and can also apply for them at the show, as well as taking advantage of a host of legal and housing experts and independent financial advisors that are available to offer free advice and clarify any concerns with the house buying process. After the Apollo Hotel on 11th March, the next show will be at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton on 18th March, then at Fratton Park in Portsmouth on the 25th March, ensuring as many people as possible can benefit from registering with HomesinHants. Mark Smitham from Waterlooville registered with HomesinHants, after discovering New Build HomeBuy. Mark, a council worker, was living at home with his parents, while trying to save a 20% deposit for a home of his own. He said: “The government-backed New Build HomeBuy scheme was ideal for me as it meant buying a share in a home and therefore only having to raise a deposit based on the share value, rather than the full market value.” Mark purchased a 40 per cent share in his one bedroom apartment at Drum Housing’s development at The Old Pilots Office in Old Portsmouth, with the combined mortgage and rent (payable on the remaining un-purchased share) costing £700 per month. He added: “I never would have been able to buy in this area, and to rent costs anywhere between £750 and £900 each month. Everyone has been so supportive and helpful through the whole process.

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SUTTON RETROFIT ECO-HOMES TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HOUSING
04 March 2010

Surrey-based environmental charity BioRegional and its partners have been given the go-ahead for an eco-retrofit project that will inform government policy for the rest of the UK. As part of the Government's Retrofit for the Future competition, three homes in the London Borough of Sutton will get the green treatment. One will be transformed into a super eco-home and see energy use slashed by 80%, one gets improved to the national decent homes standard, while all three will have expert advice on adopting eco-behaviours from a 'green coach'. The households will be monitored over two years and the results will inform local and national housing policy. The Sutton project is part of a national programme from the Government's Technology Strategy Board, which is funding 87 low-carbon social housing projects around the country that have a wide scope for replication. Sutton's project partnership is made up of BioRegional, Sutton Council, the borough's social housing delivery organisation, Sutton Housing Partnership and eco-construction experts, Parity Projects. Andrew Taylor, chief executive of Sutton Housing Partnership, said: "We are excited to be part of a project that links the improvement of Sutton's social housing stock with the wider environmental challenges within the borough. "We look forward to learning the lessons from the pilot so they can inform the future refurbishment of the rest of the housing stock." Sue Riddlestone, director of BioRegional, added: "Behaviour change is an essential part of the eco-puzzle. This innovative project will add a useful contribution to the field by looking at people and technology in tandem.” The households were chosen from an open competition along selected streets in the St Helier area of Sutton. The streets selected are made up of terraced social housing properties with cavity walls, this widespread building type makes the results transferable to at least 8,000 properties around the local area and to thousands more across the UK. Renovations will be completed this year and then monitoring will be carried out up until 2013. The results will be captured into a toolkit for Sutton Housing Partnership to use in the future. The project forms part of One Planet Sutton, a major council-led initiative to promote more sustainable lifestyles, council services and local businesses within the London Borough. By 2025, the initiative aims for residents to be able to live within their fair share of the earth's resources while enjoying a higher quality of living.

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MOAT LAUNCHES ‘TRY BEFORE YOU BUY’ IN DARTFORD
04 March 2010

Now there are even more ways to get a foot on the property ladder thanks to Moat’s ‘try before you buy’ initiative. Moat is offering the opportunity to rent a home at Waterstone Park in Dartford at approximately 20 per cent lower rents than on the private market. At a later stage, buyers can own their home on a ‘part buy / part rent’ basis. The offer is ideal for people who are in a good position to purchase a home on a ‘part buy / part rent’ basis now but wish to wait in order to save towards a larger mortgage deposit. Applicants must meet Moat’s existing eligibility criteria for these homes, which include ensuring that the income used to rent a home can be used to acquire a mortgage at a later stage. The homes have been designed and built by Countryside Properties and are available to buy from as little as 25% through Moat’s ‘part buy / part rent’ scheme. This means would-be buyers can purchase a home from just £33,125.

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
04 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS West Kent Housing Association is seeking a Policy/Service Improvement Manager. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london. Closing Date: March 18. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. Keelman Homes is seeking Two Ordinary Trustees to join its Board. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 5. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Property Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 15. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Housing Assistant (Temporary). For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. TENDERS Craigdale Housing Association is inviting tenders for a Tenant Satisfaction Survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 8. To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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JOB OF THE WEEK: POLICY/SERVICE IMPROVEMENT MANAGER
05 March 2010

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MP OPENS NEW PARADIGM HOMES IN SLOUGH
05 March 2010

A new Paradigm Housing development in Slough has been officially opened by Fiona Mactaggart MP in the presence of the Mayor councillor Joginder Singh Bal and the leader of the council Rob Anderson. Kittiwake House, on Slough High Street, offers 78 affordable homes. A total of 57 apartments will be offered to people on Slough’s housing list and another 21 will be offered for sale via shared-ownership. The development was built in partnership with Slough Borough Council with funding from the Homes and Communities Agency. Emma Garraway and Sydney Morris, the first two residents of Kittiwake House were welcomed to their new home with a bouquet of flowers. In her opening speech, Ms Mactaggart said: "I want to say well done for building this development – I'm glad Paradigm will be managing it. “Slough has a vibrant economy, people want to live here because there are jobs here, but because of that, we have a shortage of affordable housing.” David Ashworth, area director at the HCA, added: "I'm delighted that we've been able to support Paradigm Housing Group's excellent development with £3.7m in funding. “We want to help create places people want to and can afford to live, and this funding will give people the opportunity to have an affordable new home in Slough."

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MORRISON AWARDED ROSEBERY HOUSING CONTRACT
05 March 2010

Morrison has won seven new contracts worth over £53 million, taking the total value of the repairs and maintenance provider’s new contracts since April 2009 to over £397million, with a potential worth in excess of £464 million subject to contract extensions. The new wins include a new contract with Rosebery Housing Association Limited in Surrey. The 10-year contract worth over £13million is for the provision of repairs, maintenance and voids to Rosebery’s 2,415 properties, of which the majority are in Epsom and Ewell. Guy Wakeley, Morrison chief executive, said: “The current economic climate has created new opportunity for Morrison to use its innovative outsourcing model and leverage its national footprint to drive real value and best in class service in the social housing sector. “This approach and our decision to concentrate on our core repairs and maintenance business has allowed us to continue winning tenders and strengthen our position in the market. “We are now well on target to deliver a record performance this year with 21 new contracts and five extensions secured since April 2009. Our bid pipeline remains very strong and I hope to be able to announce further wins before the end of this financial year.”

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RESIDENTS BEHIND THE SCENES AT RUSSET HOMES
05 March 2010

Residents at St Mary’s Court, a sheltered housing scheme in West Malling, visited Invicta Telecare’s busy monitoring centre to take a peek behind the scenes to see first hand how the lifesaving service responds to alarm calls. The visit was the idea of a resident attending a Russet Homes Sheltered Scheme Forum who was curious to know what happened after an alarm cord is pulled or a lifeline pendant pressed. Each of the 11 sheltered schemes owned by Russet Homes offer residents a range of pull cord alarms, alarm sensors – such as smoke detectors, flood detectors and a lifeline pendant – which are monitored by Invicta Telecare. Following an interesting presentation the residents sat alongside trained telecare operators to watch them in action. It gave them the opportunity to ask questions and see how the 24-hour service works, what type of calls they receive and how the alarm calls are handled. Most of the group had pressed their own pendant at home in the past when they needed help and were interested to meet the friendly ‘voices’ who helped them. On the day of the visit Invicta Telecare operators answered 3,773 calls. In the last year they have responded to over 1,252,000 calls and an impressive 99 per cent were answered within 60 seconds. Many calls are from people who have fallen or feel unwell, others can be triggered by smoke alarm detectors which have gone off providing an early warning of a fire and some are from people who simply need friendly re-assurance. Melanie McAdam, Russet Homes resident involvement officer, who runs the forum which meets every two months and organised the visit, said: “The group just couldn’t believe how many calls the operators received and how busy they were. “They were impressed by how they responded quickly to the wide range of calls keeping calm and a sense of humour in what is often very stressful situations.” She added: “We always welcome any suggestions from our residents particularly if it helps them to become involved and find out more about our services. “We plan to help the forum to set up a dedicated team who will put forward ideas for future trips and help organise them on behalf of all residents living in our sheltered housing schemes.”

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MOAT TO HOST HOMEBUY EVENT IN HAYWARDS HEATH
05 March 2010

Moat, the government appointed HomeBuy Agent for Sussex, is inviting first time buyers to a HomeBuy Direct event on Saturday 6 March between. The event at Haywards Heath in Sussex to give first time buyers a helping hand onto the property ladder Staff from Moat will be on hand to explain the advantages of the government backed scheme and offer help and advice to homebuyers. Visitors will have the chance to talk to house builders about available new homes and there will be financial advisors present to advise first time buyers about their options. HomeBuy Direct is available in Essex, Kent and Sussex through Moat and participating house builders. It aims to make more new affordable homes available to eligible buyers priced out of the housing market. The scheme is offered at specific new build developments where a contract exists between the Homes and Communities Agency and the developer. Purchasers buy a minimum of 70 per cent of the market value of a property. Buyers are then offered an equity loan of up to 30 per cent of the purchase price; co funded by the government and the developer. Buyers will need to raise a mortgage to purchase their percentage of the property through this scheme and can also use any savings to contribute as a deposit towards their share. The event will take place between 11am and 3pm at The Birch Hotel, Lewes Road, Haywards Heath.

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GO-AHEAD FOR SOUTHAMPTON ESTATE REGENERATION
05 March 2010

The first phase of a £15 million regeneration of a Southampton council estate has been granted approval. Builders Barratt Homes and First Wessex housing association have been appointed by Southampton City Council to carry out the project at Hinkler Parade in Thornhill. The 1960s buildings will be replaced with 106 new homes, five new shops and a community centre. The homes will be available for sale, rent and shared ownership.

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
05 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS West Kent Housing Association is seeking a Policy/Service Improvement Manager. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london. Closing Date: March 18. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. Keelman Homes is seeking Two Ordinary Trustees to join its Board. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 5. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Property Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 15. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Housing Assistant (Temporary). For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. TENDERS Craigdale Housing Association is inviting tenders for a Tenant Satisfaction Survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 8. To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
05 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. Keelman Homes is seeking Two Ordinary Trustees to join its Board. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 5. West Kent Housing Association is seeking a Policy/Service Improvement Manager. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london. Closing Date: March 18. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Property Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 15. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Housing Assistant (Temporary). For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. TENDERS Craigdale Housing Association is inviting tenders for a Tenant Satisfaction Survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 8. To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
05 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. Keelman Homes is seeking Two Ordinary Trustees to join its Board. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 5. West Kent Housing Association is seeking a Policy/Service Improvement Manager. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london. Closing Date: March 18. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Property Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 15. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Housing Assistant (Temporary). For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. TENDERS Craigdale Housing Association is inviting tenders for a Tenant Satisfaction Survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 8. To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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