Category: Latest News

Our office will close at 4.45pm on Monday 23 December 2024  and will reopen at 8.45am on Monday 6 January 2025. 

Our normal out of hours emergency repairs service will be in operation via 01290 421130.  

Rent Payments can be made at any time by:

• • calling 0330 041 6497,
  • via the AllPay website www.allpayments.net,
  • 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

Wishing you all a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year.

We want to thank all our tenants who recently gave us feedback on our Rate My Estate survey.  The overall results are in and can be found here.

Your feedback is very important to us and we are really pleased with the results and the amount of useful information that has been provided.

Our next steps are looking at the detail for each of our estates and agreeing what we will do and who needs to be involved in addressing the feedback provided.

Stay tuned for further updates.

In early December 2024, we sent out mailings to all households asking for you to participate in this year’s rent consultation.

The rent consultation pack, available here, includes information on proposed rent charges and our home improvement plans for 2025/26.  Please read the pack fully and respond to the consultation using one of the following methods:

• Complete the free online survey at:  https://forms.office.com/e/iEtKT8W57w
• Post the survey included in the pack to: Shire Housing Association Limited, FREEPOST RTJA-LEEA-KXRX, Netherthird House, Cumnock, KA18 3DB
• E-mail us at: info@shirehousing.com
• Phone us on: 01290 421130

All tenant responses, where contact details are provided, will be entered into a Prize Draw to win a £50 shopping voucher.

As always, if you need help paying your rent, please contact our customer service or financial inclusion team.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Shire Housing Association is a successful progressive housing association based in Cumnock, East Ayrshire.  We currently own just under 1,000 properties and manage more than 900 properties on behalf of owner occupiers.

Our current internal audit arrangement expires on 31 March 2025 and the Association requires a new Internal Audit Service, for an initial 3-year period from 2025/26. This will critically review our functions, supporting our commitment to continuous improvement, reviewing internal controls and meeting the assurance requirements of the Scottish Housing Regulator.

A copy of the invitation to tender can be downloaded here or  by contacting Jade McLelland at the Association’s office on 01290 421130.

For an informal chat about the service please contact Jim Munro, Chief Executive on 01290 428014.

The closing date for return of tenders is 12 noon on Friday 6 December 2024.

Everyone at Shire Housing Association is deeply saddened by the sudden death of Grace Scott, our long serving Housing Officer.

A well-known and highly respected figure at the Association and across Ayrshire, Grace had worked with Shire HA since its formation in 1997, and prior to that Scottish Homes.

Paying tribute to Grace, Chief Executive Jim Munro said: “Grace was one of our most loyal, kind, supportive and dedicated staff who championed communities across East Ayrshire. She will be sadly missed by Staff and Board Members. Our thoughts are with Grace’s family”.

Current chairperson Simon Roberts extended his sympathies and condolences to Grace’s family describing her as someone who “cared passionately about our tenants and communities, making a huge contribution to the Association.”

Simply Diligent have been appointed on behalf of Shire Housing Association Ltd to conduct a legionella risk assessment to a small proportion of our stock. 

Simply Diligent have been issued with a letter of authority from Shire Housing Association Ltd to produce to tenant when conducting door-to-door visits. 

The surveyor will require access to all water sentinel outlets i.e. taps, showers, operational or redundant hot and cold water storage tanks.  

The findings of the risk assessment will determine the risk of Legionella. Please see control leaflet providing more information in relation to Legionella and how to prevent legionnaires disease.  

Shire Housing Association is delighted to report that it has recently retained Investors in People Gold Accreditation and Compliance with Customer Service Excellence.

Gold accreditation in Investors in People means that not only does Shire have the policies in place, but more than that, everyone takes ownership for making them come to life.

It’s no surprise that a highly motivated and happy staff team delivers fantastic customer service to Shire’s tenants. Achievement of Compliance Plus in relation to working with communities mirrors Shire’s Community Award at the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards in October.

Commenting on the awards, Simon Roberts, Chair said, “We are incredibly proud to achieve these two awards.  They are a testament to the hard work of our dedicated team in achieving our Business Vision of Great Homes, Great People, Vibrant Communities”.

Shire Housing Association’s success in these prestigious awards underscores its position as a leading provider of social housing across 15 communities in East Ayrshire.  They operate as a community anchor organisation helping support and sustain communities.

Would you like to help make a difference for the people and communities of East Ayrshire? Are you looking for an opportunity to put your skills to good use? Why not consider becoming a Voluntary Board Member of Shire Housing Association?

We are a Registered Social Landlord and Charity providing services to 961 affordable rented homes across East Ayrshire, with an annual turnover of more than £5.6 million. The Management Board provides strong strategic leadership to our staff team, creating a dynamic and progressive organisation to help us achieve our Business Vision of “Great Homes, Great People, Vibrant Communities.”

We currently have 10 Board Members and are looking to recruit additional Members with a range of skills and personal qualities to further strengthen our strategic leadership. The role presents a fantastic opportunity to support Shire and its staff to ensure we continue to provide high quality housing and the services that our tenants and communities want. The Board meets on the last Wednesday of the month from approximately 6-8pm. Most meetings are conducted online using Microsoft Teams, with approximately two face-to-face meetings each year. Are you interested?

For further details please contact Jim Munro, Chief Executive on 01290 421130, or email info@shirehousing.com or write to us at Shire Housing Association Limited, Netherthird House, Netherthird, Cumnock, KA18 3DB.