E-Form
An online e-form is available for Housing Enquiries
Tenant Services Authority - Consultation with tenants on "local offers"
In December 2008 the Tenant Services Authority was set up by the Government.
One of the aims was to encourage tenants to become more involved in the regulation of their landlord services; this was described as "co regulation".
The Government recently announced a review of the work of the Tenant Services Authority and its possible replacement by the Homes and Communities Agency.
We have been informed that landlords in social housing still have to continue the work programme announced by the Tenant Services Authority. This includes consulting with tenants on the National Standards on performance and also on the "Local Offers" it will make to tenants on how the landlord runs its services and reports back to tenants.
The areas of service delivery where the Council is expected to develop these local offers are:
1. Tenant involvement and empowerment
2. The home standard which covers the quality of accommodation including the repairs and maintenance service
3. The tenancy standard which covers
i) allocations and lettings (via Herts Homes Choice Based Lettings)
ii) tenancy matters
4. The neighbourhood and community standard which covers
i) neighbourhood and estate management
ii) management of nuisance and anti social behaviour
5. The value for money standard which covers the cost effectiveness of services
As part of this consultation an initial list of possible local offers has been drafted for you to consider and let us know whether you think they are useful and relevant to you as a tenant. You may also have ideas of your own about what local offers you think should be available or just let us know what information or services you think the housing department should provide.
We hope that you will take the time to read through the initial list of local offers (attached below) and let us know what you think. We will also be holding consultation events and focus groups later this year and we may have further surveys for you to complete.
If you would like to be further involved in this please do let us know and we will be in touch with you again shortly.
You can either return the questionnaire in the post (a survey and s.a.e. has been sent with your quarterly rent statement) or open it on line, save it as a Word document and then e mail it to us at housingmanagement@stalbans.gov.uk.
All replies will be treated as anonymous but the address slips will be entered in a prize draw and 4 winners will receive a £50 voucher.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and we look forward to hearing from you.
Correspondence
All letters should be addressed to:
The Housing Department
Civic Centre
St Peter's Street
St Albans
Herts
AL1 3JE
All letters that require a response should be replied to within 10 working days of receipt and in practice most will be responded to in less than that. Most housing staff are located in the Civic Centre but even those who work elsewhere have arrangements for receiving mail addressed to them at that office.
Office visits
The Customer Services Centre in the Civic Centre is available to deal with routine housing enquiries. On arrival at the centre you should take a ticket from the machine and wait until your number is called. The Customer Services Centre is open Monday to Thursday 8.45 am to 5 pm and Fridays 8.45 am - 4.30 pm. This service will deal with all housing matters including tenancy matters, rents, repairs and Housing Options. If your enquiry requires a detailed discussion private interview facilities are available. Unless you make a specific appointment in advance it may not be possible to see any particular member of staff but there will be someone available to see you.
Telephone
You can contact the Housing Department on the normal Council number (01727) 866100. However, this will put you through to the Council switchboard and you may experience a slight delay while the switchboard operator puts you through to the correct extension. The following direct dial numbers will enable you to get straight through to the office you need with the minimum of delay.
Direct Dial to the Housing Department
The area code for St Albans is 01727 but you only need to use this if you are ringing from outside the St Albans telephone area.
Reporting Repairs - daytime -
01727 819256
Reporting Non Emergency Repairs - out of hours -
01727 819493
Emergency Repairs - out of hours -
01727 811155
Improvements
01727 819489
Transfers
01727 819480 or 01727 819412
Housing Register
01727 819480
Housing Options
01727 819408
Lettings
01727 819412
Rent Accounts
01727 819414/5/7/8
Rent Arrears
01727 819414/5/7/8
Tenancy Problems
01727 819414/5/7/8
Garages
01727 819256
Mutual Exchanges
819414/5/7/8
Elderly Services
01727 836093
Ethnic Minority Issues
01727 819463
Fax
01727 819377
Email
If you want to report a NON-EMERGENCY repair please e-mail h.repairs@stalbans.gov.uk
For Housing Management please e-mail housingmanagement@stalbans.gov.uk
Direct Debit
Print and complete a mandate to pay Rent by Direct Debit.
Return the completed form to:
Finance Rents
St Albans City and District Council
Civic Centre
St Peter's Street
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 3JE
or email the form:
financerents@stalbans.gov.uk
Date of last review: 07 July 2010