PORTCALL Sun, sea and ice cream - New homes come to Portobello - Port of Leith Housing Association
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SUMMER 2018
PORT OF LEITH
HOUSING ASSOCIATION
PORTCALL
Sun, sea and
ice cream
New homes come
to Portobello
+ Get to know our + Customers making + Enter our competition
Maintenance Team life-changing moves to win a £25 voucher
2 PORT NEWS NEWS PORT 3
CALL CALL
Storing mobility scooters
New faces and
promotions New laws on
protecting
KEITH’S
MESSAGE Everyone here at Port of Leith personal
I hope you enjoyed all the sunshine on Leith we
Housing Association would like
to say a big hello to our new
colleagues Kirsty and Bradley,
information
experienced over June and July. Let’s hope it stays with us and congratulations to Rachel
for the rest of the summer. Gilburt who has moved from The law has changed around
the Customer Advice team to how organisations protect
I also hope you enjoy reading our latest issue of Portcall, provide maternity cover as the personal information they
which brings news of us opening 52 new affordable homes Facilities Admin Assistant. hold about customers and
for social and mid market rent in Baileyfield, Portobello. staff. The new legislation,
Another article gives you a chance to get to know our which is called the General
Maintenance Team better and to find out more about how Data Protection Regulation
we handle repairs to your home. (GDPR), came into force on
25 May this year, and requires
You can also read all about how transferring to a more Kirsty With fire safety in mind, mobility scooters. For this organisations to follow strict
Thomson
suitable property has made a big difference to two of our Corporate we are asking customers reason, we ask customers to rules about how they collect
customers, Ian and Faruk. Business not to store their mobility please avoid using mobility personal information, when
Co-ordinator scooters in communal scooters in our lifts. they collect it and how they
Have a great summer! areas and stairwells. We are happy to discuss use it.
In the absence of rehousing options with You can read all about how
Keith designated storage areas anyone with a mobility we handle our customers’
for mobility scooters, they scooter who lives above personal information in the
should be stored safely in ground level or who does enclosed notice, titled ‘How
customers’ own flats. not have space to store it. we handle your personal
Our lifts have been Please contact your information’. You can also
breaking down because housing officer to discuss read all about our new data
Multiple awards they were not designed to all the options available to protection policy on our
carry the extra weight of you. website www.polha.co.uk
for Leith Fort Bradley
Forbes
ICT Service
Desk
Administrator
We can help you obtain accredited qualifications
Our development at Leith Fort has attracted a string of
awards, including winning the coveted Saltire Medal Since the beginning of the An accredited qualification
and the Multiple Housing Development category at this year Community Works has means that instead of being
year’s Saltire Housing Design Awards. been preparing to provide able to simply say that, for
It was also named as one of the winners in the 2018 We are also pleased to say accredited training. Now it’s example, you can provide
that Christina (Tina) Bell will pleased to share the news great customer service, you
Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) that it is accredited by both have the qualification to prove
be joining the team at Port
Housing Development Awards and is now shortlisted the Institute of Training and it on your CV and during
of Leith Housing Association
for the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland when she takes up the role of Occupational Learning and interviews.
Award, to be presented in November. Qualsafe, one of the largest If you would like to find out
Customer Advice Manager on awarding organisations in the be accredited. We have and more about the accredited
We are thrilled that Leith Fort has received this 13 August.
recognition and won such prestigious awards. UK. now we can deliver accredited qualifications Community
It was not just a question Customer Service, Hospitality, Works could help you achieve,
The homes we have created along with the City of We wish Lucy Whittaker, who of signing up and paying the First Aid and various other please call 0131 554 0403
Edinburgh Council have given the area a new lease of has recently left this role, all bill. We had to prove that our courses to our tenants and or email community.works@
life, making it a great place for people to call home. the best for the future. courses were of a standard to clients. polha.co.uk
4 PORT TENANTS TENANTS PORT 5
CALL CALL
TENANCYFRAUD New
community Are you Help us to make
Portcall even better!
Help us to tackle tenancy fraud bank comes ready for
to Leith Universal We would like to hear from
anyone who has a story
It’s very important that people
living in the homes we
How do I report tenancy
fraud?
Credit? idea for Portcall, or who
would like to write a story,
or share a photo in the
provide are legally entitled newsletter. If you would
to do so. Given the shortage If you think someone in like to get involved, please
of affordable homes, it’s a your development may be email wendy.chan@polha.
serious issue if any of our subletting their home or co.uk or call 0131 554
properties have been obtained living elsewhere, please 0403 and ask to speak to
fraudulently by someone report this to us. Wendy Chan.
Universal Credit is
who is not eligible for social
housing.
Any information you give
What does tenancy fraud
include?
us will be treated in the
strictest confidence and your on its way Come to us
for council
identity will be protected.
• Not using the property as
the sole or principal home You can report the suspected
tax advice
fraud to us anonymously
• Subletting without but please give us as much
permission, including for information as possible to
short-term holiday lets help us investigate it. The
more information that we
• Giving the tenancy to have, the better the chance
someone else without we have of stopping this type
permission of fraud from taking place. Castle Community Bank,
which offers savings Universal Credit (UC) is here to help you with
• Abandoning the property accounts and loans to is expected to be fully this process.
Please call us on 0131 people living or working in rolled out to all benefit Please call them on 0131
• Trying to get a property 554 0403, if you think you ‘EH’ postcodes, has opened claimants in Edinburgh and 554 0403 if you would like
using false statements, for may know about a case of a branch at 49 Great Leith from this November help with:
example, falsely claiming to tenancy fraud. Junction Street. onwards. Changes are coming through
be homeless The Department for • Setting up an e-mail Universal Credit which
The bank was formed in Work and Pensions (DWP) address will have an impact on
• Trying to get a property 2016 following the merger will, in most cases, pay • Opening a bank deductions from benefits for
using false documents a of two Credit Unions the housing element of account council tax.
forged passport or claiming which had been operating the benefit directly to • Universal Credit or any
to be someone else in Craigmillar and north claimants. This means other welfare benefits Remember that Fiona
Edinburgh for over 30 claimants will need to Neilson, our Money Adviser,
years. budget accordingly and If you have any concerns can help and advise you
make arrangements with about the roll-out of about your council tax, so
To find out more the Association to ensure Universal Credit, and what you don’t end up paying
about how Castle rent is paid on time. it might mean for you, please more than you need to.
Community Bank could The application process do not hesitate to get in
help you, call into the for UC is done online and touch with us.
branch or visit www. can take up to one hour. We will be very happy to Get in touch by calling
castlecommunitybank. Don’t worry though as help customers in any way 0131 553 8745 or emailing
co.uk our Tenancy Support Team we can. fiona.neilson@polha.co.uk
6 PORT FEATURES FEATURES PORT 7
CALL CALL
First homes for
social rent in over
Reuse show home
a decade come to
Portobello area popped up in Leith
On 29 June we headed to
the seaside to celebrate Pictured left: of furniture, the show home
the opening of the Visitors to the featured artworks from local
largest development of show home enjoy up-cycling artists, such as
affordable homes for a cup of tea Vivienne Kelly, a taxidermist
social and mid market Pictured bottom who uses art to connect the
rent in the Portobello right: Handmade city with its relationship
area in over a decade. upcycled & with urban animals, and
recycled items by Martina Salvi, a design
local artists student at Napier University.
Our subsidiary company Initiatives Manager at Quay
Quay Community Community Improvements,
Improvements, along said:
with Changeworks, has “Quay is thrilled that
transformed a former so many people visited
Barratt show home in the show home. It’s great
Lochend using second- to have been able to play
hand furniture and soft our part in creating this
furnishings as part of the opportunity both for reuse
Zero Waste Leith project. and repair organisations
Members of the local to generate business and
community visited the for widening the appeal of
show home during the second-hand furniture.”
Ash Denham, MSP for first weekend of the Quay Community
Edinburgh Eastern Leith Festival in June to Improvements and
(pictured above with Keith see for themselves just Changeworks partnered
Anderson), officially opened how attractive, affordable with a number of local
our Fishwives Causeway “This has given Ryan not only a beautiful new home and environmentally- reuse organisations who
development in Baileyfield, friendly second-hand items provided the furniture and
which has brought 52 high- but it has allowed him to have his own freedom and can be. Clare Halliday, furnishings for the show
quality, affordable homes independence living in a great location.” Business and Community home. As well as large items
to the Portobello area. This
includes 28 homes for social new social housing was built “We appreciate that Port of
rent and 24 for mid market in Portobello, Fishwives Leith Housing Association has
rent via our subsidiary
Persevere Developments.
Causeway is giving people the
opportunity to live in a high-
given our brother Ryan's care
provider, Visualise, an amazing
Sun and fun at Leith Gala Day
quality, energy-efficient home opportunity to take on a Hundreds of people
Although we already manage in a fantastic location.” stunning flat. This has given gathered at Leith Links on
both social and mid market Ryan not only a beautiful new Saturday 9 June to celebrate
rent homes in the area, it has One of the homes has been home but it has allowed him Leith Gala Day and to mark
been at least 13 years since fully adapted for Visualise to have his own freedom and the beginning of a week of
new homes for social rent Scotland, a charity which independence living in a great festivities in Leith.
were created in Portobello. provides residential support location.
to adults with physical and “The flat itself is wonderfully This is the 9th year we have
Keith Anderson, our Chief sensory impairments, learning set up and gives all the held a stall where we were
Executive, said: difficulties and complex disabled access needed. It on hand to offer housing
“We are extremely pleased communication needs. also offers an outdoor space advice, showcase our latest
to have completed these to enjoy. All this combined is developments and to share
much needed, great new Sinead McMillan, the sister of giving Ryan the best quality information on our latest
homes. Given that it has Ryan who has moved into the of life and as a family, this is Staff from PoLHA and Quay Community Improvements at this community projects.
been over a decade since property, said: priceless to us.” year’s Leith Gala Day
8 PORT FEATURES FEATURES PORT 9
CALL CALL
Looking after In terms of fire safety,
customers can check that
(where fitted) door closers are
working and doors are closing
your home
properly. They can also make
sure that they do not wedge
open doors fitted with closers
because if a fire breaks out,
this will allow it to spread and
put your safety at risk.
Please also ensure that
Our Maintenance smoke alarms are working
Team is here to ensure correctly. They will give an
early warning to allow you
that repairs to your to evacuate your property, so
property and common it’s important that you check
and maintain them by doing
areas are carried out a weekly test. Press the test
and that your home is button for up to 10 seconds
to set off the alarm, making
kept in good condition sure you can hear it. If there
is more than one alarm in the
Portcall spoke to Steven property they will be linked
Donoghue, Senior and all the alarms will sound
when being tested.
Maintenance Officer, to Customers can also help us
find out more with Legionella control. We
carry out regular checks of
How can customers report the communal water tanks
a repair? to ensure that they are clean
and that the quality and
Repairs can be reported temperature of the water
by calling our freephone meets the required standards.
number on 0808 100 0403 or This means that the Legionella
our office on 0131 554 0403. risk in your home is very low.
However, customers can help
Customers can also email us to keep the risk even lower
at PropertyAdmin@polha. by disinfecting and de-scaling
co.uk Pictured back left to any shower heads fitted in
right: Steph Scott, Nikki will be completed in five Testing fire detectors your home every two months.
What happens after a repair Adamson, Sara Oliver. working days. If you don’t use the shower
is reported? Front left to right: Kevin regularly we recommend
Armstrong and Steven Immediate - For example, Optical alarm New multi-sensor alarm switching it on for at least two
When a repair is reported Donoghue broken windows, faulty toilets minutes once a week. When
over the phone our team or broken door locks – these your home has been empty
will arrange a suitable will be completed in 24 hours. for a period of time (eg when
appointment time for our We use four categories you’re on holiday), run the hot
contractor to complete the which help us to prioritise Emergency - For example, and cold taps for at least two
repair or for one of the how quickly we respond to no heating (during winter minutes when you return and
maintenance team to visit to a repair: months), major water leaks keep your hot water hot and
check what work is required. and no power – these will be Heat alarm New heat alarm your cold water cold.
When a repair is reported Routine - For example, attended to within two hours.
by e-mail, our contractor dripping taps, joinery
will get in touch with repairs and plaster repairs – Is there anything customers
the customer directly to these will be completed in can do to assist the
arrange for the work to be 15 working days. maintenance team? Still have questions?
completed. If you’d like to find out more
Urgent - For example, faulty There are checks customers about how we handle repairs,
How does the Association smoke detectors, no heating can do to ensure their home call 0131 554 0403 or email
decide how quickly it will (during summer months) is safe, especially around fire If the fire detectors do not sound, contact us PropertyAdmin@polha.
complete a repair? and blocked sinks – these safety and Legionella control. immediately to have them checked. co.uk
10 PORT FEATURES FEATURES PORT 11
CALL CALL
Scrutinising Life-changing moves
the day to Portcall met
day repairs two of our
customers
service who have
benefitted
from
Find out how you transferring
can have your to a more
say... suitable home
Pictured:
Staff
from TB
Mackay
The customers on the Complete your
service review panel have satisfaction reply slips
had their inspection hats on and provide feedback on
for the third time since the your repair
group was established three
years ago. Thank you to those of We would like to thank the “Living on the
As a group, they agreed you who complete our customers on the service
to review the day-to-day satisfaction surveys. review panel for their ground floor has
repairs service and to assess Currently, only 15% of support in this key area Ian made such a big
whether tenants are getting the satisfaction slips we of our work. We greatly Ian (pictured top right) has
value for money. send out following a repair value their contribution and been one of our tenants for difference to my
In the past few months,
they analysed repairs
are returned to us. It is
important that you tell us
dedication to improving
services for all of our Faruk
two years and previously
lived in Academy Street.
life. I love having
performance information, how satisfied you are with customers. Faruk (pictured top left) However, following a my confidence
complaints data to help
them identify any trends,
repairs so that we can
make improvements and
We asked Ruth, a tenant
who recently joined the
has been living in one
of our homes for the last
heart attack and a stroke
which left his left arm
and freedom
held discussions with staff give positive feedback to service review panel, what three years. paralysed, Ian found it back.”
to find out more about their our contractors where it she thought of the process. A former resident of difficult to get in and out of
role in the repairs process is deserved. We run a free Ruth said: “As a tenant, it Salamander Street, Faruk’s his flat.
and met with tenants who prize draw every month is good to know that PoLHA property was on the He spoke to his housing
had recently reported a offering a lucky winner a does listen and that our Association’s disposal list, officer who suggested a
repair. £25 shopping voucher to views are taken on board. so in March he transferred transfer and now Ian is
With support from the spend. “I would say to all tenants to a one-bedroom home enjoying living in a ground
Tenant Information Service that they should come along, on Duke Street. floor flat in our Couperfield
(TIS), the tenants made 26 Keep your contact details enjoy the company, have a He said: development. moving to a new home that
recommendations to include up to date nice cuppa and a chat.” “I am really enjoying my Ian said: “Following a would suit my needs.
areas for improvement new home. The transfer stroke, I just couldn’t hold “I jumped at the chance.
as well as highlighting Please let us know how you process was very easy onto the banister in the “Even though I had lived
areas of good practice. As would like us to contact For a copy of the scrutiny and straightforward as stairwell to get up and in the flat for years, I didn’t
part of their findings, the you. You may wish to speak report on the day-to-day my housing officer, Paul, down safely. want to end up being
tenants believe that every to us on the phone, or to repairs service, or to find helped me through each “Getting out and confined 24/7.
opportunity should be use email or Facebook to out about how you can join stage. about was becoming “Living on the ground
given to all tenants to give contact us. the service review panel, “I am very happy living more difficult, so when floor has made such a big
their feedback and would Whatever your preference, contact Wendy Chan by here and I would like to I mentioned this to my difference to my life. I love
encourage tenants to do the we will do our best to meet emailing wendy.chan@ thank Paul and Leo at housing officer he asked having my confidence and
following: your needs. polha.co.uk PoLHA for all their help.” if I would be interested in freedom back.”
LAST CALL
Community hub DATES FOR
for Newhaven THE DIARY
Dr George Venters, Chair Our AGM
of Newhaven Heritage,
shares plans to save 5 September 2018
Victoria Primary School All members welcome.
Look out for your
Victoria Primary School invitation!
is due to be replaced by
a bigger modern school. Scottish Housing
This means that the present Day
building will then be up 19 September 2018
for sale. We are working We have lots of plans
to make sure it is bought for Housing Day.
for the community and we
need your help. Updates to follow.
Newhaven Heritage wants
Victoria Primary School to
Summer treat! be reborn as the Newhaven
Heritage Centre and send you a copy of our free
Rhubarb fool community hub, owned and newsletter.
run by, and for, the people
of Newhaven. You can also visit
We asked staff to share To follow the campaign, newhavenonforth.org.uk
their favourite summer email newhavenheritage@ to find out more about the
dessert that is both easy gmail.com and we will campaign.
and simple to make without
costing an arm and a leg.
We have chosen a COMPETITION Get creative!
favourite of Jane Whiting,
our Employability Officer.
We hope you will enjoy it Pictured left: The
as much as we do! winning entry
from our previous
Method: competition.
Judah, aged
• Cut rhubarb into small 8, sent us this
pieces lovely picture
• Place a small knob of representing her
butter in a pan and melt home. Well done!
• Add some honey to taste A £25 gift voucher
and a spoon of water is on its way over
• Simmer the rhubarb for to you.
15 minutes until soft. Let
it cool
• Mix in single or double We are holding a front Please send your entry in
cream till creamy cover competition. Please high resolution to, info@
• Pop in fridge for 30 send in a drawing, painting polha.co.uk or you can
minutes. All done! or a photograph taken also post your submissions
in and around Leith and on our facebook page.
the chosen favourite We will be in touch to let
Alternative: will feature on the front you know if your picture
• Use berries instead of cover of the next edition has been chosen. The
rhubarb of Portcall. It can be as winner will receive a £25
• Use sugar instead of vibrant and colourful as gift voucher – good luck
honey. you would like it to be! everyone!
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