New housing system launches next month

The council's housing services team switches to a new computer system for the management of your homes on Monday 7 November.

Our new system has a host of features which benefit both you and our team, including a Tenant Portal where you can manage your accounts online and apply for rehousing.

We plan to launch the Tenant Portal once the new system has been up and running for a while. We'll update you on launch of the portal in the next edition of the newsletter.

The switch to the new system has no impact on your payments. We'll process your Direct Debits and standing orders as usual, and you can still pay your rent online, over the phone or at your nearest Payzone.

We appreciate your patience and understanding while we make the switch to the new system and a new way of working.

We want your feedback

If you want to speak to us about your housing, please get in touch with us.

Your feedback allows us to address your concerns directly and gives us valuable information about how we deliver our services.

Whether it's a comment, compliment or complaint, we want to hear from you. You can call us on (01788) 533533 or simply complete an online form on our website.

Report a repair or issues with anti-social behaviour

If you want to contact us to report a repair required at your property or issues with anti-social behaviour from council tenants, please use the online forms on our website to ensure we can deal with your request efficiently and effectively.

Report a repair

Report anti-social behaviour

If you have an issue with your rent, please call us immediately (01788) 533533 so we can try to help. You can find more information about your rent on our website.

View more information about your rent

Housing Ombudsman

The council has signed up to the Housing Ombudsman Complaint Handling Code, which aims to enable landlords to resolve complaints raised by tenants quickly.

Under the code, we have published a self-assessment which details how we deal with complaints.

If you make a complaint to us and do not agree with our response, you have the right to appeal. If you remain unhappy with how we have handled your complaint, you can contact the Housing Ombudsman.

The Housing Ombudsman website contains a range of information which you might find useful.

Visit the Housing Ombudsman website

 

 

£400 off your energy bills

EBSS The Government's Energy Bills Support Scheme rolls out from this month, providing a £400 discount to eligible households to help with the rising cost of energy bills through winter.

You receive the discount automatically, so if you receive text messages, phone calls or emails claiming to be connected with the scheme and requesting your bank details, please be aware it could be a scam.

You can report suspected scam or 'phishing' messages. Visit the Government website for information on how to report suspicious messages.

Your energy supplier automatically applies the following discounts to your bills over the next six months:

  • £66 in October and November
  • £67 in December, January, February and March

If you have not received the first instalment of your discount by the end of October, contact your energy supplier.

 

Brownsover Winter Family Project

The Brownsover Winter Family Project launches later this month, offering families in Brownsover with school-age children the opportunity to enjoy a free hot meal in a warm, friendly environment.

The project has been launched by Brownsover Community Association, Boughton Leigh Infant School and Christ Church to support the community through winter and the rising cost of living.

Hosted at Boughton Leigh Infant School, the project runs from 24 October to the end of March, running seven days a week from 4.30pm to 6pm.

To help with catering and to avoid food waste, families have been asked to register with the project before attending. To cater for dietary requirements, please give at least 24 hours' notice of which day or days your family wants to attend.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

To register with the project, email brownsoverfwp@gmail.com or text co-ordinator Lynne Bone on 07821 515896.

Volunteers needed

The project has started recruiting a team of volunteers to helo with food collection, preparation, serving, washing up and welcoming guests.

All volunteers involved with food preparation need to be qualified in Level Two Food Hygiene. The project can support you with training.

If you're interested in becoming a volunteer, email brownsoverfwp@gmail.com

 

Making the switch to cleaner, cheaper energy

The council has installed air source heat pumps for tenants in Dunchurch after securing funding from the Government's Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery (LAD) scheme.

Air source pumps offer an environmentally-friendly, cost-effective solution to heating homes - especially when a pump replaces electric storage heaters.

After securing the funding, the council identified a number of properties in Ferriers Close suitable for a heating system powered by an air source pump.

Energy company E.ON worked with the council to install the pumps, helping a number of residents to make the switch to cleaner, cheaper energy.

A recent report by consumer champion Which?, based on fuel prices of March 2022, revealed a professionally-installed, standard air source heat pump could save householders up to £720 a year when replacing new electric storage heaters and up to £1,330 a year when replacing old electric storage heaters.

The council has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and set a target of 2050 for the whole borough to become 'net zero'. Making our council homes more energy-efficient forms part of our plans to reach our climate emergency goals.

Visit the Rugby Net Zero website for more information

 

 

Engage with support for young people

The Engage programme at Hill Street Community Centre supports young people struggling to make the transition into adulthood.

Funded by the Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner, the free programme helps 17 to 25-year-olds to live independently, find employment or complete education.

Engage includes classroom-based sessions and hands-on, practical activities, addressing issues such as:

  • relationships
  • education
  • employment
  • personal development
  • communication
  • independent living 
  • health and wellbeing

Sessions run twice a week. Participants need to meet with the Engage team before attending the programme. Call (01788) 576041 to arrange a meeting.

Visit the Hill Street Community Centre website for more information 

Rugby Bareboards Trust returns

Rugby Bareboards Trust has reopened following summer stock-take in August.

The trust collects good quality, unwanted furniture to help furnish the homes of residents on low-incomes or in receipt of benefits.

The charity distributes furniture, soft furnishings, kitchenware, electrical appliances, gardening equipment and household items.

The trust's shop in Warren Road opens from 11am to 3pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

For more information, visit the Rugby Bareboards Trust website.

Support for the community

You can visit the council's website to find out information about a wide range of public sector, community, voluntary and charitable organisations which offer advice and support to help residents deal with the cost of living.

Vist the council's website to find out about the community support on offer