What do I do if I am a victim of anti-social behaviour?
A:
Examples of anti-social behaviour include:-
Playing music loudly or at unreasonable hours, shouting or other noise, leaving rubbish in communal areas, vandalism and graffiti, allowing dogs to foul communal areas, abusive and or threatening, intimidating or violent behaviour to other residents, letting children damage property or cause nuisance on estates, running a business from home if this causes a nuisance to neighbours such as frequent use of industrial sewing machines or running a car repair business.
If you are having problems with neighbours, wherever possible, try to solve the problem yourself. If you think you can, speak to the person. If things do not improve, get advice from your Estate Manager. You can call in to your housing operations centre, phone, write or email to explain what the problem is. You should collect evidence of the problem; your Estate Manager will give you some incident record forms which you can use to record times, dates and what happened.
For further information see Enfield Homes tackling anti-social behaviour leaflet.
Q:
How do I apply for sheltered housing?
A:
You may be eligible for sheltered housing if you are:
An elderly tenant with a medical priority
An elderly tenant living in private rented accommodation elderly and homeless
Over 18 and under 60, with special needs, and needing supported housing services.
To be considered for sheltered housing you must apply by phoning the:
LBE Assessments Team on 020 8379 4377
Text phone 020 8379 5255 or by writing to:
The Assessment Team,
Enfield Housing Services,
FREEPOST, PO Box 60,
Civic centre
Enfield EN1 3BR.
You will not need a stamp
Q:
How do I make a complaint about the council?
A:
How can I complain?
You may complain by telephone, by personal visit or in writing
You can complete a complaints form online
There can be up to three stages when you make a complaint.
Stage 1
First, you should contact the person dealing with the matter. If your are not sure who your need to speak to, use the contact details below, or consult the council’s A-Z of services or phone the Helpline on (020) 83794052.T
He council wil reply with in 15 working days of receiving your complaint. If your are unhappy with our response, you can ask for your complaint to be investigated at stage 2.
Stage 2
A senior manager will review your complaint and respond to you within 15 working days of receiving your complaint. If your are unhappy with the response, your can ask for your complaint to be investigated at stage 2.
Stage 3
The Chief Executive will arrange for an independent investigation of your complaint by a senior officer in the council who does not work in the service your complaint is about.
The chief executive will write to your with his decision within 30 working days of receiving your complaint.
Q:
How do I report a repair?
A:
Telephone your district Housing Office.
In an out—of—hour’s emergency, call 020 8367 8383
For more information about who is responsible for repairs to your home click here.
Q:
What Is Right To Repair?
A:
Tenants have the right to repair under the Tenants Charter. This right does not apply to leasehold flats temporary accommodation and common areas.
Tenants are entitled to compensation if the council fails to complete some types of repair within set timescales.
(Right to repair only applies if the repair costs less than £250.)
Q:
What is Right to Improve?
A:
If you are a council tenant and0 your tenancy is ending, you may be able to get compensation for improvements you have made to your home since April 1994.
You can apply for compensation when your tenancy ends- which is usually when you move.
You will not get compensation if you are buying your home through the Right to Buy or Rent to Mortgage scheme because improvements are not included in the purchase price.
You should make a claim when you know you will be leaving your home. You have up to 14 days after your tenancy ends to make a claim. Contact your Estate Manager for an application form.
Q:
How do I Contact the LBE District Housing Office?
A:
Contact your District Housing Office information about:
Rent, maintenance and general estate management queries.
Edmonton District – Edmonton Centre, South Mall, Edmonton N90TN
Telephone 020 8379 2341
Text phone (for hearing impaired callers only) 020 8379 2390
Eastern District – Pit field Way, Enfield, EN3 5QX
Telephone 020 8379 2341
Text phone (for hearing impaired callers only) 020 8379 5705
Western District – Redlingtons, Silver Street, Enfield EN1 3EP
Telephone 020 8379 4561
Text phone (for hearing impaired callers only) 020 8379 4525
Q:
How do I Contact the LBE Leaseholders Services Team?
A:
If leaseholders have queries concerning services charge estimates, actual and major work charge notices, how charges are worked out, buying the freehold or loans for major work charges they should contact:
Leaseholder Service Team on (020) 8379 4252 or 4292
Text phone: (020) 8379 4528
You can also write to:
Services Team Name in sales and Leaseholder Services,
Enfield Housing Services,
FREEPOST.PO Box 60, Civic Centre, Enfield EN1 3BR
(You don’t need a stamp)
Text phone 020 8379 4525
Q:
How Can I find Out About Grants to Vacate (GTV)?
A:
Subject to funding tenants can receive payments of between
£15.000 - £25,000
To purchase a property in the private sector for further information contact the LBE GTV Officer on (020) 8379 5032
Q:
Can I give my tenancy to someone else? The right of assignment?
A:
Assignment means the right to give away your tenancy to someone else, or swap your tenancy with another tenant.
Three types of assignment are allowed by the Housing Act 1985:
Giving away your tenancy with another council or housing association tenant this is known as mutual exchange (introductory tenants do not have this right) an assignment ordered by the court under family and child law for further information contact your Estate Manager.
Q:
Can someone take over a tenancy when the tenant dies?
A:
When a sole tenant (a tenant who has the tenancy in their name only) with a secure or introductory tenancy dies, certain people can take over their tenancy this is known as the right of succession
For a joint tenancy (where the tenancy is in the name of more than one person) the remaining tenant or tenants will automatically take over the tenancy.
Q:
What should I do if I have rent arrears?
A:
Rent arrears are what you owe in unpaid rent, through late payments, missed payments or part payments. You need to pay your arrears as quickly as possible; preferably in one payment to clear the whole amount. If you cannot do this, you should contact your estate manager to make an agreement to repay the money you owe. This agreement should be on a level that you can afford. If you know you are going to have difficulty paying your rent or keeping to an agreement made, you should contact your estate manager as soon as possible as they may be able to help.
Don’t ignore your arrears and don’t ignore any letters from the council. Ignoring your arrears may result in you losing your home.
If you are waiting for housing benefit to be paid, you should tell your estate manager.
Claims should be sorted out within four weeks from your application.
Housing Benefit Helpline: 020 8379 3798.
