Anti-social behaviour	Homebuy	Tenant participation
Applying for housing	Leaseholder services	Ways to pay your rent
Direct Debit payment dates	Sheltered Housing	Your new home
Home contents insurance

Question: If I am an owner occupier, will the Anti-social Behaviour Team still help me ? Answer: We give advice and assistance to all tenures in the district. Question: I am worried my neighbours know I have complained ? Answer: We never reveal who has complained unless we have permission from you. Question: Do I still need to contact the Police if the Anti-social Behaviour Team are managing my case ? Answer: If an incident occurs that requires the Police you should contact them immediately, advise them of the incident and when possible request an incident number. Then notify your Anti-social Behaviour Officer who will upon your request liaise with the Police on your behalf. Find out more, see Anti-social behaviour

Question: How do I apply for housing? Answer: Although St Georges Community Housing Ltd is responsible for managing all Council owned housing in the Basildon District, applications for Council Housing must still be made to Basildon District Council. To request a housing application pack please contact: Basildon Council's Housing Applications Section: Phone: 01268 294099 Email: housingapplications@basildon.gov.uk Online: Request a Housing Application Pack You can also pick up a housing application pack from any of our St Georges area offices.

Question: How many dates do we offer for direct debit payments? Answer: We currently offer two dates, the 1st and 16th of each month. Find out more, see How to pay us

Question: Can I apply to St Georges for home contents insurance? Answer: Yes, you can join the St Georges Insurance Scheme St Georges and Basildon Council have made it easy for you to insure your belongings with Norwich Union, a major insurance company. To find out more about the scheme contact Basildon Council's Insurance Team:- Phone: 01268 294632 Email: riskmgmt@basildon.gov.uk Download: Contents Insurance Application Form which you can complete and return to any Basildon District Council office. Find out more, see Home contents insurance.

Question: What is New Build Homebuy? (formally shared ownership)? Answer: New Build Homebuy can offer a way of moving to alternative accommodation for those who are interested in owning their own home. It makes home ownership possible by allowing you to buy a 'stake' in a new home - you take out a mortgage for just part of the full cost, for example 25%. You then pay rent on the remaining amount. This makes it possible to buy types of property that you might not otherwise be able to afford, or in areas that would otherwise be too expensive. Question: What is Open Market Homebuy? Answer: Open market homebuy is a Government backed scheme that enables people to buy a home on the open market by giving access to additional money in the form of equity loans to supplement a mortgage. Question: What help is there for Key Workers? Answer: The above schemes are also available to key workers like teachers, nurses and people who work in the emergency services who are given priority over other applicants. Question: What is Ownhome? Answer: Ownhome gives key workers, first-time buyers and people in other priority groups an interest free equity loan for between 20-40% of the purchase price of any property on the open market with the rest paid for by a conventional mortgage from the Co-Operative Bank. Question: What is MyChoiceHomeBuy? Answer: MyChoiceHomeBuy is similar to Ownhome but the main differences are that the mortgage can be provided by any lender regulated by the Financial Services Authority and eary year you must pay a charge of 1.75% of the loan. For further information please contact: Moat Homes Limited Phone: 07002 662846 Website: www.moat.co.uk Find out more, see Information for shared owners of Basildon Council properties.

Question: How long is there left on the lease? Answer: All new leases are for 125 years. At present none of our leases have less than 100 years remaining. To find out the number of lease years remaining on a particular property you will need to submit a request in writing to: Legal and Estates Department Basildon District Council The Basildon Centre St Martins Square Basildon, Essex SS14 1DL. Question: As a leaseholder what repairs are St Georges Community Housing responsible for? Answer: St Georges Community Housing is responsible for keeping the ‘common parts’ of your block in good repair. This means we will look after the structure of the building, the landings and hallways (including lighting, controlled door-entry systems on). On the outside of your home, St Georges Community Housing is responsible for repairs to: roofs, drains gutters and pipes outside entrance doors (but not the front doors of individual flats) window frames and sills (not including ex-CNT (Commission for New Towns) properties and glass) Outside paint work Paths and steps (back and front) Boundary fences (except some where you or a neighbouring owner are responsible) Chimneys and chimney stacks Communal stairs and landings Garages and outbuildings, including drying areas. Shared water pipes, water tanks, gas pipes and electrical wiring Light fittings in shared areas Controlled door-entry systems Decorations in shared areas. Question: As a leaseholder what repairs am I responsible for? Answer: You are responsible for repairs to the inside of your flat, including your front door and window frames for ex-CNT properties and the glass in your windows. You should make your own arrangements to get someone to do the repairs for you. Repairs you are responsible for include: All repairs to the inside of your flat, including your front door, glass in your windows and all fixtures and fittings Water pipes, water tanks within your property Gas pipes that are within your property Gas boilers – including servicing Any damage to the common parts and services caused by you, members of your household, or your visitors. Question: As a leaseholder can I make improvements to my home? Answer: As a leaseholder you have the right to improve your home, but for some improvements you will need written permission from St Georges Community Housing. This is because, as landlord, we have an investment in the block and a responsibility to the other tenants. We will not refuse permission unless we have a good reason. You may also need to get planning permission and building consent before starting work. Question: How do I apply for permission to make improvements to my home? Answer: Write to us at: Leasehold Services Team St Georges Community Housing Ltd 5-8 Dunton Court Aston Road Laindon, Essex SS15 6NX You will need to say exactly what you want to do and include a drawing or plan. A building surveyor may need to visit your home to see what you intend to do, before we can make a decision. We will give you an answer within seven days of receiving your request or one month if we need more information. If we refuse permission we will tell you why. The permission we give you to go ahead is not the same as planning permission. You are responsible for getting any necessary planning permission or building regulations approval from Basildon Council. Find out more, see Leaseholder Information.

Question: How do I qualify for sheltered housing? Answer: If you are aged 60+ and your partner is 55+ and you live in a Council House or Housing Association Property within the Basildon District then you are likely to qualify. In special circumstances, you may qualify if you are under 60 years old. Question: How do I apply for sheltered housing? Answer: see Applying for housing Question: What charges would I have to pay in Sheltered Housing? Answer: There is a basic rent you have to pay, plus some service charges to cover items such as: a lift communal cleaning and heating ground maintenance communal facilities such as laundry equipment. You will also have to pay Support Charges for the Scheme Manager and Helpline Services. If you are on Housing Benefit, you are eligible for a Supporting People Grant subsidy for these costs. Question: Apart from sheltered housing is any other help available for older people from St Georges Community Housing? Answer: We do offer other services for older people. St Georges provides the Handyperson Scheme for our sheltered housing tenants through our partner Repairs Service Contractor, Inspace. The Handyperson Scheme is aimed at ensuring that any odd jobs and small repairs which are the responsibility of St Georges are properly dealt with Question: Can I bring my pet with me? Answer: We recognise the value that pets can bring to our tenants and do permit most pets in our schemes. However there are considerations regarding the size, location and general suitability of the property which may prevent you from keeping a pet. We also need to be sure you have made satisfactory arrangements for someone to care for your pet should you be admitted to hospital. Permission must be sought from the sheltered housing office before you purchase your pet. Question: Will I be entitled to occupy a Sheltered Property if I still own another property? Answer: Yes you can be considered for sheltered housing provided by us if you own your own property. Find out more, see Sheltered Housing.

Question: What is Tenant Participation? Answer: Tenant Participation provides a valuable opportunity for tenants and leaseholders to participate in decision making processes which affect local council housing policy and management. Tenants and leaseholders can have real influence on the policies that affect their communities through a tenant representative structure Find out more, see Committed to consulting and involving you. Question: How can I become involved? Answer: As a representative, a member of a focus group, completing a questionnaire/ survey, area meetings, community panel meetings or face to face. Question: What is a representative? Answer: Anyone who has an interest in the area in which you live and want to actively represent the views of that community in the Council’s and St Georges Community Housing consultation process and you want to contribute to making a difference. Question: How can I become involved as a representative? Answer: By completing a nomination form and sending it to the Tenant Participation Team and a member of the Team will contact you. Question: Where is the Tenant Participation Team based? Answer: St Georges Community Housing employs a team of six dedicated tenant participation staff, who are based at Dunton Court, Laindon. The Tenant Participation Team work with tenants, leaseholders and the wider community in Basildon. Their role is to provide advice and support to tenant representatives provide advice and support to elected councillors and council officers provide training to tenants and leaseholders on matters relating to consultation and engagement and tenant participation. Tenant Participation Team is responsible for working with tenants and leaseholders and elected councillors to devise tenant and leaseholder participation policies and to ensure that Basildon Council and St Georges Community Housing each deliver their promised service. Question: What and where is the Tenants Resource Centre? Answer: See Tenant Resource Centre Question: What are Community Panels? Answer: Community Panels are consultation forums set up in ward areas and issues in the area and neighbourhood you live. Community Panel representatives have the opportunity to join other groups who consult on district wide issues. Community Panels give residents the opportunity to influence the decisions on the area where they live. Question: How can I become a Community Panel Representative? Answer: Complete nomination form and obtain four sponsors from the area you live, then return the form to the Tenant Participation Team in the enclosed pre-paid envelope. Find out more, see Committed to consulting and involving you.

Question: What are the payment methods we accept Answer: You can pay us using any of the following methods: Cash hall at the Basildon Centre Direct Debit Debit and credit card payments 24 hour phone line service Paypoint and Payzone On-line by Post Collection for disabled or housebound tenants. Find out more, see How to pay us.

Question: When moving into a home managed by St Georges Community Housing, will I be told about any major improvements that are planned for the property? Answer: Major improvements include items like a new kitchen or bathroom. You will be given information about current and future programmes that include these works when you are given the keys to your new home. Find out more, see Decent homes programme.