Category: Latest News

 

RENT CONSULTATION

Our rent consultation for 2021/22 is now live.  This is an opportunity for tenants to influence both their rent for the year ahead and the services we offer.

Packs have been posted to all tenants to read at home but you can also read the pack here.

You can give us your views by phoning the office on 01290 421130, emailing info@shirehousing.com or by completing the survey at https://tinyurl.com/y3vjtjwj

All tenants who include their contact details will be entered into a draw to win a £50 shopping voucher.

Rent Consultation Booklet 2021

From 6pm this evening, East Ayrshire Council area will be in Level 4 Coronavirus Restrictions.

Details of the Scottish Government guidance can be found here (opens link in new tab)

Our office remains closed to the public, but staff can be contacted during normal office hours either by phone 01290 421130 or email – info@shirehousing.com
During the level 4 restrictions, only emergency or essential repairs will be carried out on occupied properties. Please continue to report non-emergency repairs and these will be recorded and completed when it is safe to do so.

External works will continue, but internal kitchen and window replacements will be suspended during this time.
We will continue to make empty properties ready for new tenants and will be able to allocate properties during this time.
Please continue to pay your rent as normal. If your circumstances have changed and you need assistance, including advice on benefits, please telephone the office and discuss with a member of staff.

Further updates will be provided via our website and social media.

Our telecoms provider will be carrying out essential works on Tuesday 18th August that will impact our out-of-hours service for a short period.

The work will only last a few minutes and will occur at some time between 5pm and 6pm Thursday evening.

If you call the out of hours service during this time and the system is not working then please call the appropriate contractors own emergency number directly as follows –

Emergency Gas / Heating Repairs :  Saltire 0330 202 0444

All Other Emergency Repairs :  Turner Property Services 0333 320 2322

 

Office Closure

Our office will close at 4.45pm on Thursday 16 July and will reopen at 8.45am on Tuesday 21 July 2020.

If you have an emergency repair during this time please use one of the following numbers as appropriate.

For emergency gas heating repairs: Saltire 0330 202 0444

For all other emergency repairs: Turner Property Services 0333 320 2322

Rent Payment can be made via the AllPay website www.allpayments.net or by using the Allpay mobile app. You can also continue to make payments directly into our bank account, or using the Post Office or PayPoint outlets.

The following numbers may also be of use:

For gas escapes: Transco 0800 111 999

For electrical supply faults: Scottish Power 0800 092 9290

For burst water mains: Scottish Water 0800 731 084

For information

Scottish Government Letter to Social Housing Tenants

7 July 2020 Letter to social housing tenants from Minister for Local Government Housing and Planning (002)

The video below contains information detailing how we can work together in order to allow essential services to continue to be delivered safely

New Repair & Maintenance Contractor – Turner Property Services
From 1 July 2020

Unfortunately, as a result of the COVID pandemic our repair & maintenance contractor, MPS Housing Ltd, is unable to continue with our contract from 30 June 2020. We are very sad to see a good reliable contractor no longer being able to trade.

The Shire Team have worked tirelessly over the last 2 months to secure short-term
arrangements with local multi- trade contractors to protect reactive repair services. We are delighted to announce Turner Property Services will take over as primary contractor from 1 July 2020. They will be supported by A-Catch Environmental & Property Services and DM Homeshield to ensure reactive repair services are responsive when COVID restrictions begin to ease.

The appointments ensure that you continue to receive a reliable and responsive repair service until we can tender for a new long-term Repair & Maintenance partner. They also offer an opportunity of employment for the local tradesmen that were at risk of losing their jobs when MPS Housing Ltd cease to trade.

There will be no change to the standard of service you have come to expect. An emergency only, out-of-hours service, is still available by calling the office on 01290 421130 and following the instructions. Please remember, this emergency service is in place to respond to situations that pose a threat to life, security or your ability to remain in your home.

As you may be aware Shire Housing were awarded a grant from the Scottish Government which will allow us to provide essential financial aid to the various groups who are working in our communities and are delivering much-needed support to the people of East Ayrshire.

 

It is fantastic that we find ourselves in this position where we can enable these groups, often of volunteers, to continue to do the amazing work that they have been doing tirelessly thus far. The grant underlines our work as a community anchor organisation, helping support our Business Vison of Great Homes, Great People, Vibrant Communities.

 

The first round of donations were made yesterday to 8 different groups across East Ayrshire who are working tirelessly to get support to those who are needing it most, and we may be able to assist more. So if you are working for, or volunteering with, a resilience group providing essential support, or if you know of a group who are supporting your local community in any of these locations: Auchinleck, Catrine, Cumnock, Craigens, Dalmellington, Galston, Hurlford, Kilmaurs, Logan, Mauchline, Netherthird, New Cumnock, Newmilns, Patna or Rankiston then we may be able to offer support. Get in touch and we shall see if we can help. Contact Alan Thomas on 01290 428015 or email him, athomas@shirehousing.com

 

Shire Housing Association has been awarded £50,000 of funding from the Scottish Government’s ‘Supporting Communities” fund. We shall be allocating this money across local groups and organisations who are providing COVID-19 resilience services, so that they can keep supporting their communities throughout these difficult times.

The funds shall be used for:

The provision of food

Equipment and expenses

Emergency fuel top ups

We are extremely grateful to the Scottish Government for this funding which will allow us to provide essential financial aid to the various groups who are working in our communities and are delivering much needed support to the people of East Ayrshire.

Many local groups have been working non-stop to provide an essential lifeline to people throughout this crisis and we cannot express enough how thankful we are to these people. It is fantastic that we find ourselves in this position where we can enable these groups, often of volunteers, to continue to do the amazing work that they have been doing tirelessly thus far. The grant underlines our work as a community anchor organisation, helping support our Business Vison of Great Homes, Great People, Vibrant Communities.

Please click here for an update from Shire Housing