Thinking of downsizing? Our under occupation scheme

Thinking of downsizing? Our under occupation scheme

We welcome your views At North Hertfordshire Homes we like to take your views into account when making decisions. We aim to provide a responsive, efficient and effective service that is valued by all our tenants and customers and we are always looking for ways to improve. To do this we need your help. Talk to us when things go wrong, but also tell us when we have done things right and let us know how we can do things better. If you are not pleased with the service you receive from us we would ask that, in the first instance, you speak directly to our frontline staff. However if you are still not satisfied you may wish to use our formal complaints procedure. All the relevant contact details can be found on the back pages. Kevin Thompson NHH Chief Executive

Thinking of downsizing? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DOWNSIZING? You will pay less rent. You will have lower bills, such as council tax, gas and electricity. A smaller home will mean less housework. A more manageable garden will be easier to maintain. You may be able to move to a property which is purpose built or adapted for your medical needs. WHAT IS THE UNDER OCCUPATION SCHEME? If you are now living in a property that is bigger than you need, we call this under occupying. Our scheme aims to help those tenants who are under-occupying move into a smaller property better suited for their needs. Our dedicated Under Occupation Officer can guide and assist you through finding a property to the moving process. WHO IS ELIGIBLE? North Hertfordshire Homes tenants living in a three-bedroom or larger property, with one or more bedrooms to spare.

WHAT SIZE PROPERTY CAN I MOVE TO? Tenants living in a four-bedroom property would be able to move into a two-bedroom property. Tenants living in a three-bedroom property would be able to move into a one-bedroom property. WHAT WILL OUR SCHEME OFFER? If you qualify as an under-occupier you will receive the following: A high priority on the housing register to move Advice and assistance where required Financial support to help with the costs involved in moving home such as removals, connections and disconnection of appliances such as telephone, cooker etc. Redirection of mail arranged for up to three months Meter readings taken for you

Thinking of downsizing?

ARE YOU AGED OVER 65? We can offer further support to some tenants and the level of support needed will be assessed by our Under Occupation Officer. They will contact you, or may arrange a convenient time to visit you in your home to answer any questions you may have and explain the scheme in more detail. They will work with you to ensure that your move goes smoothly, from the time that you express an interest in moving, to finally settling you into your new home, assisting you to make all the necessary arrangements. We also offer a Handyman Service which could be available to you to help with minor jobs and repairs that may need doing around your new home. FOR MORE INFORMATION Under Occupation Officer The Manor House 21 High Street Baldock Hertfordshire SG7 6AZ 01462 633324 downsize@nhh.org.uk You can also contact your local Neighbourhood Officer for more advice.

Baldock The Manor House, 21 High Street, Baldock Hertfordshire SG7 6AZ FOR MORE INFORMATION01462 633393 baldock@nhh.org.uk Hitchin Under Occupation Officer 66 Bancroft, Hitchin The Manor House Hertfordshire SG5 1LL 01462 704111 hitchin@nhh.org.uk 21High Street Baldock Letchworth 28 Broadway, Letchworth Garden City Hertfordshire Hertfordshire SG6 3AA SG7 6AZ 01462 704101 letchworth@nhh.org.uk 01462 633324 downsize@nhh.org.uk Royston 10a Angel Pavement, Royston Hertfordshire SG8 9AS 01462 704116 royston@nhh.org.uk You can also contact your local St Albans Neighbourhood Officer for more advice. 19 Victoria Street, St Albans Hertfordshire AL1 3JJ 01462 704104 stalbans@nhh.org.uk If you have a compliment, comment or complaint on any area of service please call 01462 704107, email talk2us@nhh.org.uk or write to us at the address on the back cover.

North Hertfordshire Homes Limited Rowan House Avenue One Letchworth Garden City Hertfordshire SG6 2WW T 01462 704100 F 01462 704190 E customer.services@nhh.org.uk W www.nhh.org.uk This leaflet about our under occupation scheme is available in large print or other formats on request. You can also ask for a translation into another language. Bengali Polish Punjabi Urdu NS01/13