OurHome 16 July 2014

2
ourhome
ourhome
Experiencing work with Apna Ghar
3
Amarjit joins tenancy services
Apna Ghar is currently providing work experience for two
enthusiastic volunteers, who joined us for six months from March.
Amarjit Gujral, who previously worked as one of our Support
Officers, is now a part-time Tenancy Services Officer.
Amarjit is in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Susan Gustave (pictured left) already has lots of
volunteering experience, but Apna Ghar is helping
her get ready to return to work.
“I used to work in schools and I had a T-shirt stall
in Portobello Market for a while. But I gave up
work to look after my daughter while she was
growing up.
“I got quite involved in the community to keep
active. For 10 years I was on the Management
Committee at an open access playground my
daughter used. After two years I became Chair.
“I still volunteer on Saturdays at
Westminster Drug Project. We run a
social club for service users.
“It has been really great at Apna
Ghar. I’ve learned an incredible
amount. I was nervous to start
with, but I’ve really grown in
confidence and I feel like I
could interview really well now.
“I’m now looking for a job in
admin and reception and I’ve
applied for a couple of jobs in
schools.”
Guler Kaya (pictured right) is finding volunteering
with Apna Ghar really helpful.
“I finished my foundation degree in business last
year. I spent two years at Barnet College and the
final year at Middlesex College. I would like an
admin or reception job and I’ve been looking for
work since then,” she says.
“It is difficult because people are asking for two
years’ experience. I did two months’ work
experience in the university reception, as part of
my course. Before that I worked part-time in a big
supermarket to pay my expenses while I was a
student.
“I’ve been at Apna Ghar for four
months. I deal with tenants
reporting repairs and contact the
contractor for them. I also deal
with emails to contractors.
“It’s good experience here,
because there are different
departments – like finance
and housing – so I am
learning a lot of new
things.”
Do you have contents insurance?
To cover the items you own against fire, theft,
burst pipes, loss or damage, you need your
own contents insurance.
For a little extra, you can insure:
■ items like your mobile phone, watch, jewellery
or laptop computer when you’re not at home
■ your wheelchair, mobility scooter or hearing aid
■ your shed or greenhouse.
You can also pay for accidental damage cover.
If you live in Ealing, Hackney, Haringey, Harrow or Islington, you will
need to contact Amarjit for help with your tenancy.
Because we belong to the National Housing
Federation, you can choose to sign up to
affordable home contents insurance through
their My Home scheme.
My Home offers low premiums and easy payment
methods. For a pack or to find out more, phone
lo-call 0845 337 2463 from your landline.
(However, it may be
cheaper to call 01628
586189 from a mobile.)
Audrey Chambers covers Brent and Newham.
Dishwashers in safety alert
The Indesit company wants to hear from anyone who bought
an Indesit or Hotpoint dishwasher between January 2008
and July 2010.
The company has announced
that 330,000 machines could
potentially be affected by a
fault that has already caused
18 fires. The fires are caused
by a component overheating.
Indesit is currently trying to
contact all registered owners,
but you can also check your
model and serial number on
the Hotpoint website at
www.hotpointservice.co.uk/fdw/
For more information, you
should call their Service Centre
on 0344 822 5201.
HCHA Handy Person Service
See the leaflet sent with this
newsletter for details.
We can help you with that...
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
__
$ ALL JOBS - LARGE OR SMALL
W E A R E I D E A$ L F $O R
$
When you call, an HCHA assessor will talk to you
about your job – or arrange a free home visit. If you
agree to the work, they will charge a flat fee for
labour and charge for the materials at cost price.
As promised, we are organising
a day trip for residents.
A r e you loo
oo k i ng for the
Id eal Han
n dyman?
If you live in north-west London and need small
adaptions to your home, or help with curtains,
furniture assembly or door security – you can call
the HCHA Handy Person Service on 020 8424 2776
or email handyperson@hcha.org.uk
The service is run by Harrow Churches HA.
Fancy a day trip?
• Day-to-day
fixing, maintaining
DAY TO DAY
$ $
and$ assembling
jobs
• Electrical work
$
$ $
ELECTRICAL
•$ $ Decorating
• Plumbing
• Gardening
$
$ $
DECORATING
• Safety & security.
$
Call freephone
0800 848 8148
PLUMBING
Email fixit@idealhandyman.co.uk
$
Go to www.idealhandyman.co.uk
GARDENING
$
$
$
$
ourhome
Out-of-hours emergency repair
numbers for the properties we manage
Contact us
Office hours: Monday to
Friday, 9am to 5pm
Phone: 020 8795 5405
Fax: 020 8795 5755
Email:
agha@apnaghar.org.uk
Website: www.agha.org.uk
Write to: 1 Olympic Way,
Wembley, Middlesex
HA9 0NP
Emergency repairs when our offices are shut are
handled by the landlord that owns your home.
Our offices are shut on weekdays from 5pm to
9am, at weekends and on Bank holidays.
A2 Dominion: 0800 432 0077
Apna Ghar: 033 3000 3000 (from
6pm to 8am and all weekend)
Asra Housing Group:
0116 257 6716
Circle 33: 0800 073 0417 or
020 7447 3100
Family Mosaic: 0300 123 3456
Metropolitan Housing Trust:
020 3535 3535
Network Stadium Housing
Association: 0300 373 3001
North London Muslim Housing
Association: 020 8815 4200
Octavia Housing & Care:
0800 479 0011 (Homeserve)
Genesis: 033 3000 3000
One Housing Group:
0300 123 9966
Guinness Partnership:
03000 111 321 (6pm to 8am)
Peabody Trust: 0800 022 4040
Genesis: 033 3000 3000
Sanctuary Housing Association:
0800 781 4823
Islington & Shoreditch Housing
Association:
020 7704 7300
If you live at Damask Court, your
out-of-hours emergency number is
0300 456 3748 (from 5pm to 8am).
London & Quadrant Housing
Trust: 0800 015 6536
Property
swap event
Looking for a home swap
in the Brent area?
Ten local social landlords
are putting on a property
swap event for residents who
want a move in west London
and Apna Ghar residents
are invited.
The event will take place on
Wednesday 30 July from 27pm at The Welford Centre,
113 Chalkhill Road, London
HA9 9FX.
To register your interest,
email the organisers at
mex@lqgroup.org.uk, by
23 July at the latest.
Swapping homes with
HomeSwapper
As an Apna Ghar tenant, you can sign up to the national
online HomeSwapper scheme for free, because we’re a
partner member.
Swapping homes with another
social rented tenant is by far
the best way for you
to find a new
property.
You are allowed to look
for a swap if you’re
an assured tenant
or if you have one of the new
fixed-term assured shorthold
tenancies.
To use HomeSwapper, you
need to register the details of
your home, online at
www.homeswapper.co.uk
You can then start
searching for a
swap partner.
Don’t forget you
need written
permission from both
landlords before you swap.
If you need help to use
HomeSwapper, call the Apna
Ghar office.
July 2014
Our new Tenants’ Handbook
We will soon be sending out copies of our brand-new Tenants’
Handbook, with lots of useful information for tenants.
The handbook covers the key things you
need to know – from the day you move
in to your Apna Ghar home till the
day you move out.
You will find information about
your rights and responsibilities as
our tenant and lots of tips for living
in your home.
2
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Y
We also explain what to do if you need
to complain or to tell us about anti-social
behaviour.
We hope you will find the handbook helpful,
whether you have been an Apna Ghar tenant
for long time or have moved in recently.
Have your say in our
satisfaction survey
Our latest major survey to
find out what you feel about
your homes, our services and
the neighbourhoods you live
in will be sent out to tenants
in mid-August.
14
Ending
your te
naW
ncy
This year, the survey is being
run for us by Acuity – an
independent company that
specialises in consultancy work
for social housing.
By completing
the survey,
you can give
us important
feedback about
our work.
They will treat your answers
confidentially and report back to
us with the overall results.
We will use this feedback to
help us plan and improve the
services we provide.
Contents
Experiencing work
with Apna Ghar
2
Do you have contents
insurance?
2
Amarjit joins tenancy
services
3
Fancy a day trip?
3
Dishwashers in safety
alert
3
Handy person services
3
Property swap event
4
HomeSwapper
4