Rural Housing Association were delighted to welcome Hastoe Housing Association representatives to its scheme at Millvale Close, Annaclone.
Rural Housing Association were delighted to welcome Hastoe Housing Association representatives to its scheme at Millvale Close, Annaclone this week. Hastoe, formed in 1962, works mainly in rural settings in partnership with 62 local authorities across the south, east and west of England. Many of its aims and objectives are very similar to Rural Housing Association aspirations and it was inspiring for our team to get such valued input from such a highly influential and rural orientated Housing Association.
Winter Action Plan for Tenants
With cold weather forecast for the weekend and continuing into next week RHA is reminding its tenants of the Winter Action Plan:
Welfare Reform - All the important details from the DSD website - Please check the link out
This link provides tenants with important detailed information about the upcoming changes to the benefits system. If you need further information please contact our office directly.
Rural Housing Association Tenants' Autumn 2012 Newsletter now available for download
Please click on the link below to download our very latest tenants' newsletter
WELFARE REFORM - HOW IT AFFECTS OUR TENANTS
Welfare Reform –Proposed changes to the Benefits System
These changes are in proposed new legislation that will soon be discussed in the Northern Ireland Assembly (similar legislation has already passed in Great Britain). It is therefore, essential that you are aware of the following information.
Who will be affected?
If the proposals go ahead, from the 1st April 2013 size criteria based on the number of bedrooms in each home would be introduced for new and existing working-age Housing Benefit claimants - that's anyone aged up to 61 years at April 2013 - living in a Housing Executive or Housing Association Home.
Tenants who are pensioners will not be affected by this change. Tenants who do not receive Housing Benefit would not be affected.
Rural completes new housing scheme in Kircubbin, Co Down
New study on rural social housing published
The NIHE has just published a new study which looks at whether the cost of building new social/affordable housing in rural areas is higher for locational reasons: Full details here: http://www.facebook.com/ruralhousing
Congratulations to our Receptionist, Leanne Mullan
Leanne took advantage of the Association's internal Training and Development Policy w...hich encourages and helps all our staff to take Professional Qualifications.
Rural Housing Association's Latest Annual Report
We are pleased to announce our latest Annual Report 2011-2012 is now available for download directly from our web site. Please click here
Sneak Preview of Our New Scheme in Kircubbin, Co Down
Near completion, our new scheme in Kircubbin shows innovative and challenging design in a rural area. A sneak preview on our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ruralhousing
Dont forget to give us a LIKE on our Facebook page
Bank Holiday Closing - June 2012
Rural Housing offices will be closed on Monday 4th June and Tuesday 5th June 2012. All emergency repairs from tenants can be made to the Telecare Service at 02890421010.
The office will be open as normal from Wednesday.
RHA 2012-2013 Business Plan now available online
The Rural Housing Association Business Plan for 2012-2013 can now be downloaded from our web site at http://www.ruralhousing.co.uk/publications
Easter Closing
Rural Housing offices will be closed on Monday 9th April and Tuesday 10th April. All emergency repairs from tenants can be made to the Telecare Service at 02890421010.
The office will be open as normal from Wednesday.
RHA Offices closed Monday 19th March 2012
Happy St Patricks Day to all our Tenants.
Rural Housing Association offices are closed on Monday 19th March 2012. All Emergency repair requests from tenants during these and other out of hours times can be made to the Telecare Service @ 02890421010
Rural Housing Association Design Guide - Invitation to be considered for Select List
Applications are invited from Consultants who wish to be considered for the inclusion on a select list of consultants to be invited to tender for the following project:
Project:
Production of Rural Design Guide
Details of Work
The production of this document is expected to be commissioned in May 2012 for completion in Sept 2012.
Please see http://www.nifha.org/tender-opportunities/ for full details
Rural Housing Association Launch Competition For a New Rural Design Guide
Rural Housing Association has always aimed to build appropriate rural houses for rural people in rural settings. How these houses ‘look and work’ is an important part of what they are and what they do. The Association is therefore about to launch a competition for the preparation of a Rural Technical Design Guide for new build rural social housing schemes in Northern Ireland.
Winter Action Plan for Tenants
WINTER ACTION PLAN:
1. Prevent your pipes/boiler from freezing:
Leave your heating on. One of the main causes of frozen pipes/boilers is switching the heating off. At night turn the heating down low rather that turning it off, this helps to heat pipes and maintain a balanced temperature throughout the property. It is especially important to do this, if you are going away or leaving your home unattended for a long period of time, the last thing you want is to come home and find your home has been flooded.
You can achieve this by turning both your room thermostat down or by turning your radiators thermostatic valves down.
You can also use the “frost” setting (usually marked with a snowflake symbol) on your room thermostats to keep the house above freezing.
RHA Annual Report for 2010-2011 now available to download
Rural Housing have now made their 2010-2011 Annual Report available for download. Please click on the link below
Rural now on Flickr
See all our up to date photos on Flickr
Rural Housing 2011-12 Business Plan now available to download
Rural Housing have now made their 2011-12 Business Plan available for download. Please click on the link below
RHA Corporate Plan for 2011-2014 now available to download
Rural Housing have now published their comprehensive 3 year Corporate Plan which charts the course of the Association into its 20th year and beyond to 2014. Follow the link to download your copy
Rural Housing Association takes “Steps to Work”
Through local contact with “Steps to Work” (the Department for Employment and Learning’s main adult return to work programme) Rural Housing Association are providing a 13 week placement in its Head office in Omagh. Stephen Fisher, Acting Chief Executive of Rural Housing Association highlighted the move as “an opportunity to give something back to the local community. Rural Housing Association has been an employer in the Omagh area for nearly 20 years and in these times of high unemployment it is right and proper that we should try and help those who are finding it difficult to get back to work, provide them with some training and hopefully provide the skills and confidence they need for a permanent return to work”
Reminder of Emergency Repair Telephone Number
Rural Housing Association would like to remind tenants that a Telecare service for reporting out of hours emergency repairs is in operation. Tenants can report an emergency out of hours emergency repair by calling the following number and a member of Telecare staff will deal with your query.
In an emergency or outside office hours, you can contact Telecare 24 hour response centre on:
028 9042 1010
Please give as much information as possible regarding the repair, including: what the problem is and where it is; when it started and any other information which may be useful.
Please note any previous emergency out of hours call numbers have now been replaced and should not be used to report an emergency repair.
Easter Closing Times
Rural Housing Association offices are closed on the following dates over Easter: Monday 25 April, Tuesday 26 April, Friday 29 April, Monday 2 May. All Emergency repair requests from tenants during these and other out of hours times can be made to the Telecare Service @ 02890421010
Be Prepared for the Winter Weather
Check out this advice at http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/about-us-home/media_centre/news.htm?newsid=17357
or
contact our Technical Officer, Chris Walsh
Frozen and Burst Pipes - Advice to Tenants
Frozen and Burst Pipes – Advice to Tenants
We are receiving a lot of telephone calls in relation to frozen or burst pipes. We have in place a new Call Centre Number and are working closely with our contractors to deal with the problems as quickly as possible.
New Response Maintenance Contracts
As part of its ongoing improvements to services to tenants, Rural Housing has just awarded two new Maintenance contracts. With new monitoring processes in place, tenants should see an improvement in the repairs service while the Association will be able to avail of further efficiencies, ensuring that public money goes further.
Rural welcomes new member of staff
Rural Housing Association would like to welcome Emma Gormley who recently joined us as a Housing Administrator. Emma completed a BSc (Hons) Degree in Housing Management and previously worked for Oaklee Housing Association. Emma is a vital member of our Housing Management Team and will in turn help the Association to provide an even higher level of service to all our new and existing tenants.
Board Membership
RHA are currently recruiting Board Members. We're keen to hear from Rural Housing Association tenants who might be interested in joining. Contact our Head Office for more details.
Are You up for Rural? We're looking for new Board Members.
We're looking for new Board Members. Are you willing to Help? If so, please make contact with us at Tollgate House.
Rural Housing now on Facebook
Rural Housing Association now has a Facebook page. Click on the link and join us.
New Rural Housing Association website
July 2010 sees the launch of the new Rural Housing Association website which has been redesigned and developed by web developer Robert Fyffe.
The website has been re-launched with a vibrant new look, new content, significant layout updates and features an easy to use property map which utilises Google Maps.
