News Categories: Residents

Green-fingered residents wanted!

It’s National Gardening Week!

At North Wales Housing, we are celebrating the week by launching our Gardening Competition for all our green fingered residents.

If you’re one of our residents with your own garden, helping out in the gardens of our Supported Housing schemes or foster a love of planting, flowers or gardening then let us know.

Our categories include:

  • Best Garden
  • Most Improved Garden – (before and after photos required)
  • Best Container Garden- Pots, Baskets, window boxes etc

If you’re not a keen gardener but know a friend, neighbour or relative who is a resident of North Wales Housing then why not nominate them.

To enter please submit photos to our Resident Participation Co-Ordinator Iwan Evans at [email protected]. Closing date is June 23rd.

Iwan said: “We want to ensure that our residents can enjoy a welcoming space where they can come together through our work but we also know that we have many residents who are creating beautiful spaces of their own so they and others can enjoy those. We want to hear from them and celebrate the beauty of their work. So please get entering!”

National Gardening Week, which runs until Sunday May 5th is hosted annually by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the world’s leading gardening charity. Each year, thousands of people get involved by sharing their love of gardening and raising awareness of the physical and mental benefits gardening can bring.

From Flat to Dream Home: A New Beginning

After six years in a cramped two-bedroom flat with no outdoor space, Sarah and her two young boys were eagerly awaiting a change.

Recognising their need for a better home, North Wales Housing was committed to helping transform their lives with a great home. In November, Sarah and her boys were thrilled as they were given the keys to their new house.

“It’s everything we’ve ever wanted!” Sarah said. “I love the big rooms and my boys are going to absolutely love this garden! We’re going to be so happy here.”

For Sarah and her boys, this new house means more than just a new address. It’s a fresh start, where they can thrive and make happy memories together.

“I’m really thankful for everything North Wales Housing has done for me and my boys – thank you!”

By providing great homes like Sarah’s, quality services, and unwavering support, North Wales Housing continues to fulfill its mission of transforming lives.

Sarah’s name has been changed for privacy reasons.

 

Megan’s Story: Finding Home with North Wales Housing

Read about how we helped Megan achieve her dream of having her own home in her hometown, thanks to our commitment to transforming lives with great homes, quality services, and support.

Background

Megan*, a resident of the Wrexham area, had been living with her parents with her 16-month-old daughter. Despite the comfort of family support, Megan longed for a place of her own in her hometown. Her wish was to provide stability and create a nurturing environment for her daughter, surrounded by familiar faces and the community she grew up in.

Challenges

Living with parents while raising a child presented its challenges for Megan. While she appreciated the support, she yearned for independence and a space to call her own. Finding suitable housing in the village seemed daunting due to the competitive market and limited availability.

Solution

North Wales Housing stepped in to assist Megan in her quest for a home in her local village. Recognising her desire to stay close to family and friends, we worked diligently to find a suitable property that met her needs.

Outcome

Megan’s dream of having her own place in the village became a reality, thanks to North Wales Housing. The transition from living with her parents to moving into her new home was smooth, allowing her to establish a better routine for herself and her daughter. With the support of North Wales Housing, Megan is now settled in her hometown, surrounded by loved ones and familiar surroundings.

Testimonial

“Having grown up in the village, I’m incredibly grateful to North Wales Housing for finding me a home here. Me and my 16-month-old daughter have been living with my parents since she was born, and I’m so happy that we’re now going to have our own place!

I have friends and family here, so it means a lot to me that I’ll be able to stay in the local area and raise my daughter where I grew up. I will always be grateful to North Wales Housing for this beautiful home, and for their support in the move-in process. Thank you!”

*Note: Megan’s name has been changed for privacy reasons.

Resident Participation Strategy – A chance to win a high street voucher worth £20!

We are developing a new Resident Participation Strategy and would appreciate your input.

Complete this survey and enter a prize draw to win £20 worth of high street vouchers!

 

Complete Survey Here

 

What is Resident Participation?

Resident participation occurs when social landlords share information, ideas and decision-making with residents working with them to agree:

  • How their homes and local environment should be managed
  • What services and service improvements are needed
  • Priorities
  • How we can work together to achieve these.

You can find our previous Tenant Participation Annual Reports here

XL Bully Regulations: Key Deadlines and Preparation

At North Wales Housing, the safety and well-being of our community, including our four-legged friends, are paramount. We understand the recent changes in the law regarding XL Bully dogs might raise questions for pet owners.

While ensuring compliance with the new regulations is crucial, we also want to support and guide responsible pet owners through this transition. Safety remains our top priority, and we aim to provide information to help you navigate these changes.

Read on to learn more about the official guidelines, how to identify an XL Bully, and what steps you can take if you own one.

What is an XL Bully and how do I know if I own one?

The government has officially outlined criteria for identifying XL Bully dogs based on physical characteristics like size and height. Check to see if your dog falls under the new definition. To help with this, Blue Cross have made a useful video on how to measure your dog.

This is new guidance and more details can be found on the Government website.

Is it illegal for me to own an XL Bully, and what should I do if I own one?

From 1 February 2024, it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully in England and Wales unless you have a Certificate of Exemption for your dog. You’ve got until January 31, 2024, to apply for this exemption.

To keep your XL Bully dog, you must ensure it is:

  • Microchipped
  • Always on a lead
  • Muzzled in public
  • Safely secured

You will also need to neuter your dog. If your furry friend is under one year old by January 31, 2024, schedule the procedure by December 31, 2024. For those older than one year by January 31, 2024, ensure neutering is completed by June 30, 2024. To stay ahead of these deadlines, we encourage you to arrange for your dog’s neutering at your earliest convenience.

As the owner, you must also:

  • Be prepared to present the Certificate of Exemption upon request, whether it’s on the spot or within the following 5 days, to a police officer or a council dog warden.
  • Obtain insurance coverage for potential injuries caused by your dog to others; Dogs Trust Membership offers this service.
  • Be over 16 years old.

On 14 November, the Government released guidance for dog owners interested in obtaining a Certificate of Exemption. This includes a form that owners must complete online by 31 January 2024 or via post by 15 January 2024.

For more information please visit the Government website here.

Good Neighbour Awards 2023 Winners

Ellen Crummie – Cwrt WM Hughes, Llandudno

Ellen is the most caring, generous and helpful woman you will ever know. She is always helping others and her home is always open for a chat or anything you need. Ellen always puts others before herself, whether it be helping with the gardens of neighbours who can’t do them, too keeping our cul-de-sac clean. She always has a smile for everyone even though she has been through a lot. She gives to so many when needed. But most importantly, she is there if you need a chat.

 

Veronica Griffiths – Y Gorlan, Bangor

We would like to nominate Veronica Griffiths as she has been a good neighbour and friend to several, especially over the last couple of months. Not only this but Veronica still volunteers in one of the local charity shops giving back to the local community at 82 years of age, which you would never guess from her contagious energy and enthusiasm for life. She is also a prominent contributor and motivator for social events at Y Gorlan and is one of the first to help and get her hands wet too with the dishwashing afterwards and one of the last to leave.

 

Geoff & Brenda Uttley – Llys y Coed, Llanfairfechan

I would like to nominate a couple for the Good Neighbour Award: Geoff and Brenda Uttley. Throughout this last year or two, both Geoff and Brenda have been suffering from serious health problems. They have not however let this stop them from carrying on with the Llys y Coed patio plants. They also continue to provide a Friday night film in the Lounge and to be active members of the Llys y Coed residents association. They also provide help to whoever needs it, bringing shopping from Tesco etc, or offering lifts.

 

Karen Humphreys – Hafod y Parc, Abergele

She organises the majority of our events here at Hafod Y Parc, she runs the tuck shop, charity table, and arranges the monthly bingo for the scheme. It doesn’t stop there, she goes out of her way to help anybody who is poorly, helps families to organise clearing flats (even getting her hands dirty and bagging up belongings for them). She helps out with anybody who is stuck for hospital lifts, arranges the Friday coffee afternoon, collects all of the supplies for the schemes events, and organises collections for the local Hummingbird Project.

Tips to keep condensation under control

Every home suffers from condensation to some extent. Warm moist air is created when cooking, washing clothes, and bathing. Even breathing releases significant amounts of moisture into the air.

Condensation occurs when warm moist air touches a colder surface and water droplets form. You can see examples of condensation on misted mirrors after bathing or misted bedroom windows on cold mornings. The same process will occur on walls and ceilings particularly if they are cold and poorly ventilated.

Condensation is most likely in places where there is little movement of air particularly in corners, on or near windows, and behind wardrobes or cupboards. Unlike penetrating or rising damp, condensation does not usually leave a tidemark but can lead to mold growth, usually black spots, on walls, ceilings, and other surfaces.

Condensation usually affects properties between October and April when home ventilation is at its lowest. During these colder months, people tend to keep windows and doors closed which allows water vapour to build up in the home.

Here are some tips to keep condensation under control:

  • Try and put the heating on even if on low; try to avoid rapid changes in temperature which encourages condensation.
  • Close kitchen and bathroom doors when in use and use an extractor fan if you have one.
  • Dry washing outdoors if possible, or in a closed bathroom with a window open or extractor fan on – avoid drying on radiators.
  • When condensation appears on surfaces such as windows and cills, wipe it away with a cloth.

 

Find out more here

A remarkable turnaround from North Wales Housing resident

At North Wales Housing, our mission is to transform lives with great homes, quality services, and support.

We recently took proactive measures following concerns raised by a friend regarding a resident’s living conditions. Despite initial hesitance, the team conducted a thorough inspection, revealing hazardous living conditions due to excessive household waste. With prompt action, NWH arranged for specialised clearance, significantly improving the resident’s living space.

Since then, continuous support and regular visits have fostered a strong bond with the resident, leading to a notable improvement in their engagement and overall well-being.

The resident recently conveyed their heartfelt appreciation, emphasising the positive impact that the intervention had on their life. Encouragingly, the resident’s newfound optimism has inspired them to seek opportunities to give back to the community, with plans to volunteer at a local food bank.

If someone you know is experiencing difficulties, please get in touch via our virtual assistant – ChatBot Huw, or speak to a member of our team on 01492 57 27 27.

North Wales Housing Secures ASB Resolution

In a significant step towards fostering a safe and harmonious community, we at North Wales Housing have successfully obtained an Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) injunction against an individual to protect the well-being of the residents. The interim injunction, granted by the court, includes a set of stringent terms that aim to uphold the peace and security of the community.

The individual is now legally prohibited from engaging in various disruptive behaviors within the locality. These include refraining from causing or threatening to cause nuisance, using offensive language, and displaying aggressive or threatening conduct towards any resident or staff member. This essential measure reflects our commitment to ensuring a conducive and respectful living environment for all tenants.

By taking this proactive step, we at North Wales Housing demonstrate our dedication to addressing ASB concerns promptly and providing unwavering support for the well-being and comfort of our residents.

How do we deal with Anti-Social Behaviour?

A Neighbourhood Officer will respond to you within 5 working days (1 working day for the most urgent cases), who will:

  • Treat your report seriously and agree an Action Plan setting out clearly what actions everyone involved can take to help resolve the issue.
  • Take a robust case management approach, reviewing actions until the case is closed.
  • Use all appropriate support and enforcement tools including early intervention measures to stop issues from escalating, such as specialist mediation services, and ‘the Noise App’.
  • Take appropriate legal action where necessary.
  • Work with relevant partner agencies to ensure a cohesive and effective response.

 

Download ASB Policy

 

If you want to report any ASB or have any more questions, you can contact North Wales Housing’s virtual assistant ChatBot Huw, or speak to a member of the customer services team on 01492 57 27 27.

NWH confirm absence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) within properties

Community Housing Cymru (CHC) has issued an official statement addressing the heightened concerns surrounding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC):

“As has been highlighted in the news across the country, new risks have been identified around reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) – a material that was used in the construction and modification of many buildings, predominantly between the 1950s and 1990s.”

“Until recently, national guidance on RAAC in buildings has been considered by all UK governments as being a robust approach towards managing it. However, on 31 August 2023, UK Government announced new guidance on RAAC in education settings. Since then, Welsh Government has received partial evidence from UK Government which indicates that there may need to be a change in the health and safety management approach we take on RAAC.”

In response to this, we at North Wales Housing have considered our stock within the age profile provided, have undertaken additional inspections and testing, and have now confirmed that no RAAC has been identified.

Ruth Lanham-Wright – Assistant Director Homes: “We are pleased to inform tenants of the absence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) within our properties, following a comprehensive assessment and rigorous inspections prompted by the recent advisory from Community Housing Cymru (CHC). Our diligent approach to examining our housing stock, coupled with meticulous testing, has provided conclusive evidence that our properties are unaffected by the concerns raised regarding RAAC”.

Should any resident have concerns or queries regarding their home, then please get in touch.