Enfield Council will send you a rent statement every three months, or when you ask for one, to help you keep track of your account.
You can pay your rent to Enfield Council in the following ways:-
At any post office
By standing order – from a bank or building society account
By debit card – 24 hours a day, by calling 020 8379 4935
At the civic centre, silver street, Enfield or at one of the District Housing offices which are located at:-
South Mall, Edmonton Green Edmonton
Pit field Way Office, Hertford Road, Enfield
The opening hours of your local cash office may very please check before attending.
If you have any difficulty paying your rent, you should contact your estate manager immediately for advice and information. If you are on a low income, please ask for information on Housing Benefit.
To report a repair, please telephone your district housing office.
Redlingtons (Southgate and Town) : 020 8379 4526 or 020 8379 4527
Pit field Way (Highway and ponders End) : 020 8379 5700 or 020 8379 5732
Edmonton Centre (Angel and Latymer) : 020 8379 2361 or 020 8379 2362
Report a repair online @ (www.enfield.gov.uk)
When an order for repair is issued Enfield council will send you a satisfaction survey form which you should complete and return when the job has been done.
This will help the council to monitor their repairs service and consider any improvements that may be needed.
The communal services team keeps Enfield Council’s housing estates clean and tidy they remove dumped rubbish and also monitor the grass and planted areas on estates.
Caretakers keep our estates clean and tidy they also respond to emergency call-outs
For details of the caretaking service for your block, estate, or road please contact: the
communal services
Civic Centre
Silver Street
Enfield
Middlesex
EN1 3XY
(020) 8379 4461
You can obtain information about housing from the:-
Housing Information Team
Enfield Housing Services
FREEPOST
PO Box 60
Civic Centre
ENFIELD
EN1 3BR
Whenever you contact one of Enfield Council’s officers, please make a note of their name and any information they give you this could help you, ant the council, if you need to contact them again with further questions.
Enfield Council’s aim is to give you a quality housing service, but sometimes things do go wrong. If you write to the following address, you won’t need a stamp.
Your local team name i.e. (Highway and ponders End District Housing Office)
Enfield Housing Services
FREEPOST
PO Box 60, Civic Centre
Enfield, Middlesex
EN1 3BR
The Council should respond to any complaint within 15 working days.
The conditions of your tenancy sets out the way you should behave.
It explains you are responsible for the behavior of anyone, including your children, living in or visiting your home.
For example, you should keep noise to a minimum.
If you do have problems with your neighbors, try to talk to them about it.
If you can’t do this or you have tried without success, speak to your estate manager.
Enfield Council will do all they can to deal with people who are causing problems for their neighbors. In some cases, this can even mean eviction.
Please remember, however, that to be most effective they need your help.
GARAGES
Enfield has garages available for rent on estates throughout the borough.
Please contact your housing office for more details. GAS SAFETY INSPECTIONS
Once a year, all the gas appliances in your property will be serviced by one of Enfield Council’s contractors, this is done for your safety, so please co-operate when access to your home is required.
If you have queries about your gas servicing, please contact your estate manager.
SMOKE ALARMS
If your property is fitted with a smoke alarm remember it is your responsibility to test the alarm remembers it is your responsibility to test the alarm regularly, and the battery as required.
BOGUS CALLERS
All Enfield Council’s staff and contractors carry identification cards, and they should show them to you when they visit your home. Please make sure you ask to see an identity card, and do not let anyone into your home that you do not know.
You can help the environment by recycling paper, bottles, cans, textiles and household waste. Enfield Council has a number of recycling sites on housing estates throughout the borough.
This tells you what Enfield Council does, and what you can do, to keep your gas appliances safe.
If you have a gas supply to your property, Enfield Housing Services – as your landlord – has a duty to inspect your gas appliances once a year to ensure they are safe.
They do this because:
It keeps you safe
It means your appliances are less likely to break down
Gas safety regulations state that Enfield Council must inspect their properties once a year. If they do not inspect a property, they would be breaking the law.
The Government expects them to do this for your health and safety. Every year, 30 people die after breathing fumes from their gas supply or appliances. These deaths could have been prevented by regular maintenance.
Regular maintenance should ensure that your appliances work safely and keep you warm during the winter.
To further ensure your safety, all council engineers are CORGI registered. This means they are fully trained and registered with the body that oversees gas installers.
An engineer will inspect all your appliances to ensure they are safe. When the engineer has completed this inspection, he or she will give you a certificate (called a CP12), telling you that your supply and appliances have been inspected and listing any problems found.
The council also receives a copy of this and ensures that any problems are put right.
The engineer will also service all appliances that are Enfield Housing Service’s responsibility (for example, boilers and gas fires).
This service ensures the appliance is less likely to break down in the future.
If an appliance is unsafe, the engineer will shut it down and the council will arrange to fix it, if it is their responsibility.
They will let you know if it is your responsibility – for instance, a gas cooker you fitted would be your responsibility to repair or replace.
What happens if I don’t have any appliances?
Even if you don’t have any appliances, but you do have a gas supply to your property, Enfield council still have to make sure the supply is safe.
To minimize the risk of any problems, the Health and safety Executive advise people:
Never to use appliance if they do not think they are working properly
Never to cover an appliance or block the air vents, ventilation grilles or air bricks
Never to block or cover outside flues
If you have any concerns about your gas supply or you wish to report a repair, then please contact your district office in the “Contact the Council” section.
How do I apply for Housing?
You will need to download and fill in a Housing Assessment Form. You can get a hardcopy from Housing Needs and district housing offices.
You must be 18 years of age or over
There must not be any restrictions on your right to live in this country
You must be living in the UK when you apply
Enfield Council will make an initial assessment of your housing need, based on your current living arrangements, and let you know if they can help you or not. If they tell you they cannot help you, they will take your details off the housing list after 1 year unless, during that time:
You tell them your circumstances have changed, or
You tell them you want to stay on the list
If Council tell’s you that they will not put you on the list and you think you have a right to be on it, you may ask for a review of their decision.
You should not fill in an assessment from if you are homeless or about to become homeless, or you are living in temporary accommodation they provide. Instead, you should speak to their Housing Advice Team, Homeless Persons Team or Temporary Accommodation Team.
Enfield Council will look at your housing assessment form and give you points for things like:
Being overcrowded
Sharing a bathroom or kitchen
Please see The Points Scheme!
Enfield will give a high number of points to homeless households whom they place in temporary accommodation, for example bed and breakfast.
They will give very high points if you have a serious disability or illness that is made worse by your accommodation.
They may take away points if they think you can afford to rent or buy privately. They will give preference to people who live in Enfield.
If you are over 60 years old and in need of sheltered housing, they will ask their sheltered housing team to assess your needs.
Each year Enfield can house only a very small number of people in council or housing association homes. They have over 11,000 households on our housing list but can house fewer than 1,000 each year. They are more likely to house you if you are classed as homeless under the strict rules set out in homelessness law, or you have a very serious disability that is greatly affected by your accommodation.
They are not likely to house you if you are only slightly overcrowded or do not live in Enfield.
How we allocate homes:
50% go to homeless households
20% go to council tenants who need to be re housed
30% go to people who have very high priority for other reasons, for example, young people leaving care and key workers
They level of points needed can vary with the type and size of accommodation available. If your points total reaches the necessary level, Enfield Council will place you on the priority register and send you an explanatory letter.
If Enfield Council has told you that you have enough points to be housed, you may choose where you would like to live. They cannot always meet your choices. If you want to move to another place outside Enfield, you can apply there direct. If you have enough points, Enfield Council can put your name forward to registered social landlords (also called housing associations). In most cases this is the only way to get a registered social landlord’s home in Enfield – you cannot apply directly to them. Most Council homes available are in Eastern Enfield and Edmonton and many of them are high-rise flats. You will be housed more quickly if you don’t restrict where or in which type of home you will live.
Equal opportunities
Enfield Council re house people according to their needs. They keep records to show that they treat everyone fairly, monitoring the following:
* Ethnicity * Gender * Disability * Age
Enfield Council will make only one offer to the following:
Homeless households
All agreed quotas, for example adult children living in council accommodation in Enfield with their parents
All agreed “panel cases”, for example retiring council caretakers
Victims or witnesses of crime who may need to be relocated
People whose homes need major repairs
Agreed housing for urgent reasons (see points scheme)
There is no limit for everyone else although your name may be taken off the housing list for 6 months if you refuse an offer of a home without good reason.
What kind of tenancy will I get?
If you do not have an existing secure tenancy, for example a council tenancy, or an assured tenancy with a registered social landlord, then we will give you an introductory tenancy. This means that if you break any tenancy conditions, for example because of anti-social behavior or rent arrears, it will be easier for us to evict you.
These points apply to everyone who wants Enfield Council to house them:
50 points if you have a local connection (you live in Enfield have close family living here for a long time)
50 points if you have lived in Enfield for at least 12 months before you apply for housing
50 points if you have live with family or friends and have no tenancy rights with them
25 points for every bedroom short of what you need
20 points for sharing kitchen, bathroom and s on with family or friends
40 points for sharing kitchen, bathroom and so on with strangers
10 points each year you are on the housing list, up to a maximum of 50 points (these points are not given to homeless households in temporary accommodation)
30 points each if you do not have use of or access to a cooker, washing facilities or your only toilet is outside. If you don't have any of these, we will give you 100 points
10 points for each child under 10 years if your home is on the 2nd floor or above without a lift, or your home is on the 6th floor or above with a lift
50 points if you are awarded "Bl" medical priority. 100 points if you are awarded "B2" medical priority 150 points if you are awarded "B3" medical priority plus 20 points every 3 months up to a maximum of 300 points. 500 points if you are awarded "B4" medical priority. 500 points may be given by the medical assessment officer for a very serious disability or life-threatening illness that is affected by your accommodation
500 points may be given by a senior investigating officer if you are a council tenant and you are A suffering from or have experienced one or more of the following:
• Harassment
• Violence
• Child abuse from within the home or immediate neighbourhood
• Rape or assault or both
• Unnatural death within the home
• Complete breakdown in relationship with neighbours
500 points may be awarded by a senior officer if you need to be decanted from your home because of extensive repairs, demolition or other reason
500 points may be awarded if Environmental Health tell Council that your home is unfit for people to live in
300 points will be awarded to all special applications known as quotas or panel cases
300 points may be awarded by a senior officer if hardship (not financial) is being experienced or for other exceptional reasons. This would include key workers without accommodation
If you or a member of your household has a serious disability or illness , Enfield Council will take this into account when assessing you for housing.
There are 3 different levels of medical priority, and an urgent category for the most severe cases
When they assess your household, Council look at the medical conditions and the type of housing you have. If your current home is adequate for your medical needs, you will not be given any medical priority
Conditions that will not normally attract any medical priority are:
• In your household - pregnancy or minor illnesses such as colds
• In your home - disrepair or overcrowding
Enfield Council have special panels to assess housing needs for people with extra needs, for example learning difficulties, mental health problems, physical disabilities and so on
Allocations policy
A copy of the full allocations policy is available on request
What is sheltered housing and who can apply for it?
There are about 900 sheltered homes of different sizes and in various schemes and locations In Enfield. It is called sheltered housing because:
- During normal working hours, each scheme has a Sheltered Housing Officer who provides support to tenants if they need it
- All the schemes are linked to the Community Alarm Service which provides a 24-hour service to all the tenants.
You may be eligible for sheltered housing if you are:
- An elderly council 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.
Extra-Care Sheltered housing
We have over 50 self-contained flats in schemes that offer 'domiciliary care' (meaning help with personal care and household tasks). To qualify, you must be assessed jointly by Social Services and Housing as needing domiciliary care, in addition to a sheltered housing service.
You might qualify if you are a council or private tenant and you need help to look after yourself.
From Monday to Friday there is a Sheltered Housing Service which provides an officer to visit you if requested and give emergency help. All the flats are linked to a communication system, so you can contact somebody at all times. The Sheltered Housing Officers can liaise with all the other services for you if you can't do this yourself.
Out of hours/weekends, the Community Alarm Service responds to emergencies. Tenants in Extra-Care Sheltered Housing receive the Sheltered Housing Service with the addition of a guaranteed care package from Enfield Social Services. Many of the Extra-Care flats are designed for tenants with disabilities or special needs (or both). The flats may include such features as low-level-access showers, specialist bathrooms and doors with wheelchair access.
These flats are allocated at the Joint Assessment Panel (Enfield Housing Services and Enfield Social Services), which is held monthly and chaired by the Sheltered Housing Manager.
We have licensed a number of sheltered flats to the Hospitalise Order of St John of God, which has refurbished and furnished them. It uses them to re-house younger people with learning difficulties, enabling them to live independently in the community with a back-up support network.
This includes a project worker and the same support that sheltered tenants get namely the Sheltered Housing Service and the Community Alarm Service.
We have licensed a number of sheltered flats to the Hospitable Order of St John of God, which has refurbished and furnished them. It rents them to people of all ages with mental health problems, who cannot live in the community without a support network.
They receive a project worker from the Order and the same support that sheltered tenants get, namely the Sheltered Housing Service and the Community Alarm Service.
To be considered for sheltered housing, you must apply by phoning the Assessments Team on 020 8379 4377, TEXTPHONE 020 8379 5255 (for hearing-impaired callers ONLY), or by writing to:
The Assessments Team, Enfield Housing Services, FREEPOST, PO Box 60, Civic Centre, Enfield EN 1 3BR. You don't need a stamp.
You need to be in one of the following groups: on the Housing Needs Register List, or on the Transfer List, or homeless.
To be considered for the Extra-Care, Learning Difficulties and Mental Health Projects, you need to be in one of the above groups. You will also need to have a comprehensive assessment by a social worker and up-to-date medical reports by a medical professional. Also a Social Worker or Home Care Manager will need to present your case at the Extra-Care Panel, Learning Difficulties Panel or Mental Health Panel as appropriate.
When we will not provide sheltered housing
If you own your own home and it is a suitable place for you to receive a care package.
If your needs are more than we could meet, for example, if you suffer dementia and need care or supervision 24 hours a day, wherever you live.
What are my rights and entitlements if I take sheltered housing?
As a sheltered tenant, you would have all the rights of a secure tenant but not the 'Right to Buy' your home.
You could be entitled to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Income Support or a Disabled Living Allowance.
How the council measure's their performance The Council collect statistics each month which tell them:
- How many tenants received a 'face-to-face' daily call?
- How many tenants requested 'nobody to call?'
- How many empty homes there are?
- How many complaints received and how they responded.
We survey all sheltered tenants for their comments on our service and seek their ideas for improvements.
Rent is the money you pay to the London Borough of Enfield for your home and the other services you receive. It is a weekly charge that you should pay every week or fortnight.
You should pay your rent for 2 main reasons: its part of your agreement with them, and it pays for the services provided to you. The rents collected enable us them:
- Carry out repairs
- Manage your home
- Keep your estate clean and tidy
- Ensure your home is kept safe
- Make minor estate improvements
- Provide an out-of-hours emergency service.
If you keep a clear rent account, you will be able to:
Transfer to another property if you are on the transfer list and have enough points
Swap homes with another council or housing association tenant
Get a good landlord reference from us if you want to buy your own home.
The rent you pay includes:
- The money you pay for the use of your home (this is called the net rent)
- Water and sewerage charges that we collect for Thames Water*
- Heating charges (if you live in a block with communal heating)
- Community alarm charges (if you use the community alarm facility).
*If you live outside the borough of Enfield, you pay this directly to the water company.
You can pay your rent in various ways and at various places:
When you pay your rent you must take your rent book. You can pay with cash or by cheque.
You can pay by debit card, by ringing 020 8379 4935 - this is a 24-hour service.
You can also pay by standing order - please contact your district office to arrange this.
You can pay your rent at the following places: Civic Centre - Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm
Edmonton Centre - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9.00 to 11.00am Pit field Way Housing Office - Monday, 1.00 to 3.00pm at any post office - cash only
Your bank - you can pay your rent at a bank where you have an account (most do not charge for this service but you may wish to check)
At any branch of HSBC (formerly Midland Bank) - you will not be charged for this
At any housing office - cheque only.
The rent Enfield Council charges you is a weekly rent. This means that it should be paid every Monday.
However, you can pay your rent every fortnight. If you do this, you should pay in advance.
This means you should pay the current week's rent and the following week's rent together or you will be in rent arrears.
If you are on a low income or you receive a state benefit (such as Income Support), you may be eligible for Housing Benefit. If you think you may be eligible, you should contact the Housing Benefit section or complete and return a claim form as soon as possible.
You can contact the Housing Benefit section by ringing 020 8379 3798, or visit them at one of the following offices:
The Edmonton Centre
The Civic Centre
Pit field Way Housing Office
If you are having difficulty paying your rent, you should contact your estate manager as soon as possible. Your estate manager may be able to help, or refer you to your district's Welfare Benefit Advisor or another agency. The Welfare Benefit Advisor can advise you on available benefits, and how you can make the most of your income.
You can also get advice from Citizens Advice Bureaux. Their phone numbers are at in the "Contact the Council" section of this presentation.
When you fall into arrears, Enfield Council will let you know by a letter or a visit. If you receive a letter, please read it and contact them.
They will try and help you as much as they can. However, if you repeatedly fail to pay your rent, legal action to collect it will start. This could mean that you lose your home.
For more information about Enfield's rent arrears procedure, please contact your estate manager for advice or a leaflet
What happens if I am a joint tenant and one of us leaves the property?
As joint tenants you are both responsible for the property and the rent. If one of you leaves, the remaining tenant must pay the full rent. If this happens, you should tell your estate manager and the Housing Benefit section (if you receive Housing Benefit).
You need to pay them as quickly as possible; ideally in one payment, to clear the whole amount. However, Enfield Council realise this is not always possible.
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 at a level that you can afford.
If you know you are going to have difficulty paying your rent or keeping to your agreement, you should contact your estate manager immediately as they may be able to help.
If you do have problems, you should keep your estate manager informed. 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 think there has been a mistake, you should contact your estate manager.
He or she will be able to examine your rent account and sort out any problems.
If a payment you made is not showing on your account, you will need to bring (or send) your receipt into the office so Enfield Council can ensure that the correct amount is put onto your account.
If you are waiting for Housing Benefit to be paid, you should tell your estate manager.
Housing Benefit claims should be sorted out within four weeks of the Housing Benefit office receiving your claim form. Your estate manager may be able to calculate whether you will be entitled to Housing Benefit. Enfield will not usually take legal action against you if we know you are waiting for a claim to be sorted out, and you are making payments. Remember that Housing Benefit will not pay for water rates if this is included in your rent - you will still have to pay this yourself.
You can contact the Housing Benefit helpline on:
020 8379 3798 or visit them at one of the following offices:
If you are having difficulty paying your rent, you should contact your estate manager as soon as possible.
Your estate manager may be able to help or refer you to the local Welfare Benefit Advisor (or other agency). The Welfare Benefit Advisor in your district office can advise you on available benefits and how you can make the most of your income.
If you are not already receiving Housing Benefit, you may be entitled to it. To find out if you are entitled, you can contact the Housing Benefit helpline (Contact the Council section of this presentation)
If you do have problems, please contact Enfield Council before they start taking legal action against you. If they don't know there is a problem, they can't help you. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away.
If you do not clear your arrears, Enfield will take legal action to recover your debt. They will do this as the last course of action. Their first step will be to visit you to discuss your arrears, and to make an agreement. If you do not keep to your agreement, or clear your arrears, they will serve a Notice of Seeking Possession on you. This is a legal notice telling you that they intend to take legal action if you do not pay your arrears.
The Notice of Seeking Possession is the first step to you losing your home. Enfield Council will contact you when we serve this notice to discuss your case. If you are not available at home, they will invite you in for an interview.
If they do ask you to come in for an interview, please do so as it is for your benefit. If you cannot attend on the interview date, please contact your estate manager to arrange another time.
As joint tenants, you are both responsible for the property and for the payment of rent. If one of you leaves the property, the remaining tenant must pay the full rent. If this happens you should tell your estate manager and the Housing Benefit section (if you receive Housing Benefit)
Do's and don'ts
- Don't ignore your arrears.
- Don't ignore letters from the council.
- Do what the letters ask you?
- If you have problems - do contact your estate manager.
- Not paying your rent can lead to you losing your home.
- If a joint tenant leaves - the remaining tenant is responsible for all of the rent.
If you are in rent arrears, and you have either:
- Not cleared your arrears, or
- Not kept to an agreement you made to clear your arrears then Enfield Council will take legal action to get payment of your arrears.
The action they take is in line with the law.
Notice of Seeking Possession
This is the first step towards the council taking legal action against you. It is a formal notice that they have to serve, and it tells you that they intend to take legal action against you. This gives you four weeks to either pay your arrears or make an agreement with them to do so. If you do neither, they will apply to court for a possession hearing. If you receive a Notice of Seeking Possession, you should contact your estate manager immediately to make an agreement.
Court action
If Enfield Council is going to apply to court, they will let you know. You will receive a summons from the court that tells you the time and date of the court hearing, and what you should do. They will also send you a reminder shortly after the summons. If you receive a summons you should contact your estate manager immediately - you may be able to stop the legal action. You may also want to get independent advice (see the end of this for the phone number of a Citizens Advice Bureau).
Court hearing
You do not have to attend the court hearing but Enfield council strongly advise you to do so. At the hearing, they will ask the judge to grant a possession order (this may enable them to take back your home). You will be able to tell the judge why you think he or she should not grant a possession order.
You need to pay your arrears as quickly as possible; ideally in one payment, to clear the whole amount. However, Enfield Council realise this is not always possible. 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 at a level that you can afford.
If you know you are going to have difficulty paying your rent or keeping to your agreement, you should contact your estate manager immediately as they may be able to help.
If you do have problems, you should keep your estate manager informed. Don't ignore your arrears and don't ignore any letters from the Council. Ignoring your arrears may result in you losing your home.
What should I do if I think there is a mistake on my rent account?
If you think a mistake has been made, you should contact your estate manager.
Your estate manager will be able to examine your rent account and sort out any problems.
If a payment you made is not showing on your account, then you will
Need to bring (or send) your receipt into the office so wither Council can ensure that
The correct amount is put onto your account.
What should I do if I am waiting for Housing Benefit to be paid? ^
If you are waiting for Housing Benefit to be paid, you should tell your estate manager. Housing Benefit claims should be sorted out within four weeks of the Housing Benefit office receiving your claim form. Your estate manager may be able to calculate whether you will be entitled to Housing Benefit.
Enfield Council will not usually take action if they know you are waiting for a claim to be sorted out, and you are making payments.
Remember that Housing Benefit will not pay for water rates if this is included in your rent - you will still have to pay this yourself.
If you have any Housing Benefit queries you should contact the Housing Benefit helpline on
020 8379 3798
If you do have problems, please contact Enfield council before they start taking legal action against you. If we don't know there is a problem, we can't help you. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away.
What happens if I am a joint tenant and one of us leaves the property?
As joint tenants, you are both responsible for the property and for the payment
Of rent.
If one of you leaves the property, the remaining tenant must pay the
Full rent. If this happens you should tell your estate manager and the Housing
Benefit section (if you receive Housing Benefit)
Do's and don'ts don’t ignore your arrears. Don't ignore letters from the council. Do what the letters ask you?
If you have problems - do contact your estate manager.
Not paying your rent can lead to you losing your home.
If a joint tenant leaves - the remaining tenant is responsible for all of the rent.
Private Sector Leasing or PSL for short is a scheme where the council buys a lease on a privately owned property.
The council then uses the property as temporary accommodation for homeless households.
You can offer your privately owned property for leasing as long as it meets the conditions in this section.
Rent levels - After inspecting the property, Enfield Councils lease negotiator will offer you a rental figure, subject to the property being suitable for the scheme Property condition - The property has to be of an acceptable standard. The Council lease negotiator will inform you of any work needed to achieve these Types of property - The council will consider most types of properties: flats, maisonettes, bungalows or houses with two or three bedrooms. Larger properties will sometimes be considered
Vacant possession - Only vacant properties will be accepted into the scheme. While you have tenants in your property, the council cannot begin negotiations
Heating - The property must have an independent gas central heating system. Electric heating systems such as Economy 7 are only acceptable to them in certain types of property. If your heating system is electric, please contact them for further information
Security - You must supply two full sets of keys to the property. Any lockable outside door must have a key, and the front door must be fitted with both a cylinder and mort ice lock. Certain types of door, such as PVCU, have special security locks. The Council lease negotiator will tell you if your locks are acceptable. Keys and locks are not needed on internal doors
Lounge: a three-piece suite, a coffee table Dining room: a dining table and chairs
Kitchen: a cooker which includes an oven and hob, all in good condition, a fridge freezer suitable for the size of the property, wall and base units suitable for the size of kitchen, a sink unit.
Bedroom: beds as specified by the lease negotiator, a wardrobe, suitable for the size of the room, a chest of drawers, suitable for the size of the room. All mattresses and fabric bed bases must be new at the start of the lease, and left i their original plastic wrapping
Bathroom and toilet: a bath, wash-hand basin and toilet, a bathroom cabinet
General items: nets and heavy curtains for each window, suitable floor covering in each room, a vacuum cleaner
If the property has a garden a lawnmower with a suitable electric extension lead and safety adapter a selection of garden tools
All the items listed must be in a good enough condition to last the time of the lease
All the equipment must be in good condition and well maintained
All the furnishing must be clean, unstained and free from rips
All the soft furnishings including fabric bed bases, three-piece suites and
Dining chairs with fabric seats or backs must comply with furniture and furnishings
Fire safety regulations.
Building society or bank's written consent to lease the property if there is a mortgage or charge held against it
A copy of the title deeds if there is no mortgage or charge held against the property
Your freeholder's agreement if the property is leasehold or a copy of the lease if there are no sub-letting restrictions
Confirmation from your insurance company or broker that you’re insurance for the building is adequate and paid up to date. The council now runs an "in house" buildings insurance scheme. If you have difficulty insuring the property, contact them for information
A copy of your legal Power of Attorney certificate if you intend being resident outside the United Kingdom
A copy of your last water rates or meter invoice
A CP 12 Gas Safety Certificate. This can be obtained from a Corgi-registered engineer or British Gas
A central heating maintenance contract. A Corgi registered engineer can provide this or you can get a 3 Star contract from British Gas. If your system is electric, you must get a maintenance contract from your electricity company
A current NIC/EIC electrical safety certificate. This can be obtained from an NIC/EIC electrician or from your electricity company
The owner of the property is responsible for the repairs specified by section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, as follows: The exterior . roofs, gutters, walls, fencing and so on
The structure . foundations, damp-proof course, plaster, floorboards and so on
The installations . gas, water and electrical Draining the heating and water systems
During cold periods, the council may require you to completely drain down the heating and water systems.You will be informed of this before the lease begins. Enfield Council employees
If you are employed by Enfield Council, you must write to the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources and your Director. Say that you intend to lease your property under PSL. Copies of these letters will be kept on file. The council's Audit Team will be invited to review the proposed agreement before a lease is signed
Taxation
The council has to provide information to the Inland Revenue in accordance with Inland Revenue regulations. It is important that you tell the Inland Revenue of your plans and ask their advice
Owners living abroad
If you intend to live outside the United Kingdom, then in consultation with your solicitor you will need to appoint a Power of Attorney to look after your affairs.The Power of Attorney will look after all your obligations and responsibilities while you are away.These will include: repairs
rent collection ? the quarterly cheque will be sent to the Power of Attorney to avoid deduction of tax under the Income and Corporation Tax Act 1988
Advantages of leasing to the council
Leasing to the council offers two significant advantages
The council guarantees to pay the rent, quarterly in advance on four payment days throughout the year.The council does not deduct management fees or insurance premiums to guarantee the rent ? as some letting agents might do The council will ensure that the property is handed back at the end of the lease. If the occupants refuse to leave, the council will take action in court to get vacant possession.The council will pay all court costs In addition, the council pays water rates
When all the documents are ready the Council will visit your property again to complete a full inventory. The inventory will list each item of furniture, its condition, I and the fixtures and fittings in each room, "hey will also take photographs of each room.
The inventory is used to check the occupants in and out. It is also used as a I checklist when handing the property back to you. When an inventory is being compiled, it is essential that the property is ready o let. All the furniture should be in the correct place and all repairs completed. Before the visit, you will need to have removed all items that are not to be listed on the inventory.
When the inventory has been completed, a date for the lease to be signed will be I arranged.
Before the property is handed back to you, the council makes a full inspection and takes details of any damage which is more than fair wear and tear. The council will calculate the cost of any work and make you a cash offer as compensation.
A quick checklist of how PSL works
1 The property is inspected by a lease negotiator. If the property is acceptable, the negotiator will explain the PSL scheme, make a rent offer and inform the owner of any necessary repairs.
2 The owner will obtain the necessary paperwork on this leaflet and send it in to the PSL Team.
3 The PSL Team will check that the paperwork is correct and inform the owner any problems.
4 The owner will also carry out all the necessary repairs and furnish the property to the required standard.
5 When the property is ready, the owner will notify the PSL Team who will arrange an appointment to make a final inspection and draw up the inventory.
6 A member of the PSL Team will visit the property for the final inspection. If
the property meets the required standard, Council will take an inventory and arrange a lease signing date.
7 A member of the PSL Team will visit the property on the lease signing date to check the property, sign the lease and inventory, collect the keys, and take photographs.
Over 3,000 privately owned homes are empty in Enfield. Many need renovation before anyone can live in them. The Grants and Nominations Scheme can really help.
Enfield Council can help with virtually anything except decorating and furnishings.
So we can help with things like replacing windows, installing central heating, plumbing, roofing and electrical works.
During the 5-year period, a full management service will be provided by Frays Charitable Housing Association.
They have many years experience of managing this sort of property and aim to give you peace of mind by dealing with the property's day-to-day management and maintenance.
Enfield Council prefer 2, 3 or 4 bedroom properties, but will consider anything.
As long as the property is empty and within the London Borough of Enfield, they will be interested please phone them to discuss things further.
The most Enfield Council can pay you is 80°/o of the repair cost. But might be able to pay you an advance to cover your contribution.
You would repay this by receiving a reduced rental income over the 5-year lease period.
By combining the grant and the advance, you could get your empty property renovated without laying out any money yourself.
The Grant Is not paid back!
As long as you keep to the conditions explained above, then at the end of
the S-year period you can extend the lease, occupy the property yourself or even
sell it.
The choice Is entirely yours.
A fully restored and renovated property Guaranteed rents
A full management service provided by Frays Charitable Housing Association Vacant possession at the end of the lease
Occupation of the property improves both security and appearances in the local area
Tenants will pay Council Tax, fuel and water bills
Did you know it costs over 12,000 a year to keep a home empty?
Rent loss 10,000
Dilapidation 500
Insurance 500
Council Tax (50°/o) 600
Maintenance 400
Total loss 12,000 Call now to discuss how you can avoid this loss
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 succeeding to the tenancy.
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. There are strict rules over who can and cannot succeed to a tenancy.
The rules were made by Parliament and are in the Housing Act 1985./
Two groups of people can succeed to the tenancy:-
The tenant's husband or wife, or a family member. (A family member includes a non-married partner or a close relative by blood or marriage)
The person who succeeds is known as the successor.
A husband or wife can succeed, as long as they were living there at the time of the tenant's death.
If the tenant was not married, or the tenant's husband or wife was not living at the property, then a family member can succeed, as long they have been living in the property as their main home for at least 12 months before the tenant died. (Enfield Council will need proof of this).
re [than one ramny memoer is involved, tne ramuy must decide wno succeeds.
fc mily cannot decide, Enfield Council will make the decision.
ni st happen as quickly as possible, so that the tenancy details can be sorted
A secure or introductory tenancy cannot be succeeded to if the tenant:
- Had already succeeded to the tenancy themselves after 1981, or
- Had the tenancy assigned to them or lived alone.
- Or was a joint tenant (the remaining tenant automatically takes over the through the 'right of survivorship').
- Was a sole tenant after a joint tenant had died.
This depends on how they are related to the tenant and the size of the property.
If the successor was the tenant's husband or wife, they have the right to stay in the same property.
Family members do not have the same right to stay in the property as married partners. In this case, Council may ask the successor to move if they feel the property is bigger than they need. This is because Enfield Council needs family-sized properties.
Enfield Council can only ask the successor to move if there is a suitable property available for them.
If they cannot find somewhere else within 12 months of knowing about the death of the tenant, they cannot ask the successor to move.
f the successor does not like the property offered to them, Enfield Council can applyv o the county court to ask them to make the successor move.
n court, Enfield Council would have to prove that the new accommodation is suitable and that it is reasonable for them to ask the successor to move.
Enfield Council will contact the successor and serve a legal notice to explain what action they are going to take.
Enfield Council will not take any action until at least six months after knowing about he tenant's death.
If someone is living with the tenant who cannot succeed to the tenancy, Enfield Council may be able offer them a new tenancy.
They should contact their District Housing Office as soon as possible after the tenant has died, a panel of senior council officers will make the decision.
If the Council do not offer this person a new tenancy, they will ask them to leave the property. If they do not, Enfield Council will serve a legal notice telling them to move out. Failing that, they will refer the case to court for an eviction order.
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 to someone who would succeed to the property on your death.
Swapping your tenancy with another council or housing association tenant, (introductory tenants do not have this right)
An assignment ordered by the court under family and child law.
You can assign your tenancy if you are a sole tenant (this means the tenancy is in your name only), and you have a secure or introductory tenancy.
However, you cannot assign your tenancy if you:-
Succeeded to the tenancy after 1981 Had the tenancy assigned to you Live alone
Are a joint tenant - a joint tenancy cannot be assigned Are a sole tenant after a joint tenant has died
Are not a secure or introductory tenant (eg. you have breached a possession order) Are an introductory tenant and your case has been referred to court for a possession hearing
You can only assign your tenancy to a person who would be entitled to succeed to/\ your tenancy on your death. This must be either:- Your husband or wife who is currently living in the property; or a family member who has lived with you for at least 12 months.
Enfield Council will need to see proof that this was their main home.
The above groups are listed in the Housing Act 1985, which does not allow for same-sex couples. If you are in a same-sex relationship, you should seek advice from your district office.
The person to whom you give away your tenancy will take over all your rights as a tenant. If you are a secure tenant, then that person will become a secure tenant if you are an introductory tenant, then that person will take over the remaining part of your introductory tenancy.
If you wish to assign your tenancy, you should contact your estate manager. He ^ or she will send you the necessary forms.
Once you have these forms, Enfiled Council strongly advise you to seek independent legal advice (eg. from a solicitor) about the implications of assigning a tenancy.
When you have completed these forms you should send them to your district office.
Any assignment will not take effect until you have done this.
When you assign your tenancy you will no longer be the tenant of the property.
All the rights you have as a secure or introductory tenant will pass to the new tenant.
If you owed any rent arrears at the time of the assignment, you will still be responsible for repaying this money Enfield Council will ask you to sign an agreement to repay any arrears.
When you assign your tenancy you will no longer be the tenant of the property.
All the rights you have as a secure or introductory tenant will pass to the new tenant.
If you owed any rent arrears at the time of the assignment, you will still be responsible for repaying this money Enfield Council will ask you to sign an agreement to repay any arrears.
If you leave your home after assigning your tenancy, Enfield Council may regard you as being intentionally homeless (this means that you caused your homelessness).
If this is the case, then the Council will not have to find you somewhere else to live.
If you have a secure tenancy you can "swap" your home with another tenant
You will need to find someone to "swap" with and you will need Enfield Council's permission before you go ahead and move. You can "swap" homes with someone living in Enfield or any part of the country.
The Council can help you find someone to "swap" with by putting your name and details on the Home swap computer scheme.
You will need to fill in the Home swap form and they will send you lists of people who you can contact to see if they would like to "swap" homes with you.
Once you have found someone who would like to "swap" homes with you, both of you will need to ask Enfield Council's permission by filling in a mutual exchange form
If you want to "swap" with someone living in another part of the country you will also (need permission from the housing authority in that area.
Enfield Council will not let a mutual exchange go ahead if you have a court order against you for rent arrears. They will also say no to an exchange if the home you wish to move into is too big for your needs or if your home is too large for the family who want to move into it.
For further information please telephone 020 8379 4377 Text phone: 020 8379 4357
or write to:-
The Assessments Team,
Enfield Housing Services,
FREEPOST,
PO Box 60,
Civic Centre,
Enfield
EN1 3BR.
YOU DON'T NEED A STAMP
It is behaviour that interferes with other people's rights to the use and enjoyment of their home or community. The tenancy agreement says that:-
"You must not act in any way which causes or is likely to cause, a nuisance or annoyance or is anti-social."
Examples of this sort of behaviour include:-
Playing music loudly or at unreasonable hours, leaving rubbish in communal areas, vandalism and graffiti, allowing dogs to foul communal areas, abusive, 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 an industrial sewing machine or running a car repair business.
Your tenancy or lease conditions prohibit all this behaviour. They also say that the tenant or leaseholder is responsible for the behaviour of the members of their household and any visitors to their home.
Parents are responsible for the behaviour of their children, and Enfield Council will take action against them which could result in the family losing their home.
If you are having problems with neighbours:-
Wherever possible, try to solve the problem yourself. If you think you can, speak to the person.
Often the best way to sort out a problem is by talking to each other. Try to see each other's point of view. It may be that the person doesn't realise they are causing a problem. Simply pointing out that their behaviour is upsetting you may be enough.
How?
Remember to stay calm
Explain why the behaviour is annoying you be tactful
Think through what you want to say
Listen to what they have to say and think about it: they may have a point!
Don't lose your temper: this will only make things harder to resolve.
If none of this works and your neighbour continues to be unreasonable - walk away.
If things don't improve, get advice from your Estate Manager. Call in to your District Housing Office, phone, write or email to explain what the problem is.
If you have a resident caretaker, sheltered housing officer or neighbourhood warden, please make sure that they are also aware of the situation.
You should also start to collect evidence of the problem. You will need this whether you decide to take action yourself, or if you want Enfield Council or any other organisation to act on your behalf.
Your Estate Manager will give you an Incident Record Form which you can use to record times, dates and what happened if other neighbours are being affected, ask them to keep records as well or ask them to contact the council.
You can also approach a solicitor who could write to the person causing the nuisance or advise you about applying for an injunction (court order).
Depending on what the problem is, you may be able to get help from the Citizens Advice Bureau, the council's Environmental Services, your local community association, the Federation of Enfield Community Associations or the police.
Enfield Council will prioritise your complaint.
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Your Estate Manager will discuss the complaint with you and agree a plan of action on how best to deal with the problem. This could involve such things as us interviewing the alleged perpetrator and any witnesses, obtaining evidence through photographs or surveillance, joint visits with the police or legal services
In certain cases evidence could be gathered by housing officers observing problems themselves and acting as "professional witnesses". If we visit the perpetrators, the Council will send them a warning letter.
Throughout the investigation, Enfield Council will keep you informed about what is happening. It is also very Important that you keep in contact with your Estate Manager to let them know what is going on. You should use diary sheets to record any incidents, as these can be used as evidence in court.
When you record the nuisance you must only write down incidents that are unreasonable. This is what the judge will take into account when Enfield Council goes to court. Don't record things that could be considered as normal, everyday disturbance and noise. Remember, in flats you would expect some noise to travel.
You should consider whether the noise or disturbance is reasonable. If the nuisance continues, Enfield Council will speak to the perpetrator again, and try to do all they can to sol it. But ill tins doesn't work, they will Like k'g<il futiun.
If you’re neighbour is a tenant
The Housing Department has two legal options:-
It can apply to court: for an injunction
It can apply to court for a possession order
An injunction is an order designed to stop your neighbour doing something or to make them do something.
A possession order is an order to evict your neighbour from their home.
Injunctions and possession orders are awarded at the discretion of the judge. The case must be proved on the 'balance of probabilities' an order will not be given unless there is good supporting evidence. 'Balance of probabilities' means that the judge has to decide whether something is more likely than not to have happened. In other words, he or she has to be only 51% sure.
If you’re neighbour is a leaseholder
Enfield council can take action similar to the above; however in this case an 'eviction' would mean that the leaseholder would suffer forfeiture of the property.
If your neighbour is a freeholder
If they bought their property from the Council, they may be able to take some action for you. Action of this type is not possible very often. It is more likely that you yourself would need to take the neighbour to court.
In all the above cases it may also be possible for Enfield Council to apply to the court for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order this is like an injunction in that it prohibits somebody from carrying out actions that are causing a nuisance.
Another measure Enfield Council use to tackle anti-social behaviour - particularly among young people, is Agreed Behaviour Contracts; these are voluntary agreements between parents, the police, the housing department and the person themselves. They set down a list of behaviours that it is agreed will not happen again. A breach of the agreement can lead to possession proceedings being taken or to an Anti-Social Behaviour Order being made.
In many cases the Housing Department cannot solve the problem by themselves. In these circumstances the Council get help from other departments, the police or other agencies to find the best solution.
Mediation
In certain cases of neighbour nuisance, it may be better for Enfield Council to refer you to an independent mediation service.
The service aims to resolve conflicts by talking about the problems with independent people.
It could stop a dispute from becoming more serious.
Your Estate Manager will discuss this option with you.
The common sort of complaints that Environmental Services can deal with include
Noise:-
Regular playing of loud music, noisy parties and other unreasonable noise. Rubbish:-
People dumping household refuse in their gardens instead of in the bin and other dumping of rubbish on private land or on communal areas.
Animals:-
Constantly barking dogs or dogs fouling properties, gardens or communal areas. Stray dogs, any dog that is 'dangerously out of control in a public place' - this can be dealt with under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
Smoke:-
Bonfires causing a nuisance to neighbours, barbecues causing smoke nuisance. Pest infestation:-
Action can be taken to deal with rats and mice directly or to force owners to do so During the daytime, telephone 020 8379 1000
You can now report noise nuisance complaints out of hours on 020 8379 1000
The police can take action in various cases, for example:
Criminal damage
Damage to property, privately or council owned. Harassment
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 created new offences of racially aggravated assault, public order offences, harassment and criminal damage. The Public Order Act 1986 can also be used to deal with all forms of harassment including racial and sexual, physical attacks, threats of violence and verbal abuse. All incidents of racial harassment and attacks are investigated.
If you are not involved but witness the harassment, you can ask for it to be investigated.
Extra powers to protect people from harassment and similar conduct also exist under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
Writers of graffiti can be prosecuted under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Anyone (including Housing Officers) can act as the complainant.
Malicious phone calls
These can be traced by British Telecom, or any telephone operator.
Under the Communications Act 2003, the police can take action and may ask
For a tracing device to be put on a particular phone.
The police can also take action against dog-owners under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
The police can also apply for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. Contacting the police
If you notice or suffer from any of the above or witness any other anti-social behaviour, such as groups of youths hanging around drinking or taking drugs and causing a disturbance, you should contact the police on the numbers provided.
