In order to keep you, your family and all our staff safe we have introduced measures to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus. In line with government guidance the changes to your service are explained below. To keep up to date with service changes please visit www.swindon.gov.uk/coronavirus.

• Where possible all non-essential home visits will be replaced with a telephone call or email
• If a home visit is considered essential, you will be asked a series of health related questions before your appointment is considered
• Tenant meetings will be postponed until further notice

Please keep safe and stay indoors.

Information on rent payments

We are very aware that this is a difficult time for everyone.

We can advise that the Council will not evict council tenants who are affected by coronavirus and fall behind on rent payments. We will not be chasing for rent arrears as long as tenants follow the advice and support provided by their Housing Officer.

For all other tenants we will continue our rent collection processes as normal. Advice is available on the Council’s website or by speaking to a Neighbourhood Housing Officer.

Your repairs service

Please be aware that we are only taking requests for urgent repairs (e.g. leaks, electrical faults and broken heating). We have also had to move any existing routine appointments to August in order to allow us to carry out urgent repairs – if this affect you, you will receive a text notifying you of your new appointment.

All non-essential home improvements (e.g. bathroom and kitchen upgrades, roof renewals and external planned maintenance) have been postponed until further notice.

Our Annual Gas Safety check programme will continue as usual.

Do you live in one of our Sheltered Housing Schemes?

In line with government advice we have closed the communal lounges and seating areas in our Sheltered Housing Schemes. Our communal laundries are open but residents are encouraged to respect social distancing guidelines and avoid using the laundry room if there are already two people present. 

Many residents will be particularly vulnerable at this time, please be respectful and remain two metres apart at all times.

Sheltered Housing staff will keep in contact with residents via the intercom. Pendant alarms should be worn at all times in case of an emergency.

Right to Buy applications (RTB)

We are still accepting Right to Buy applications, however, interviews and home visits will be delayed until further notice. Any applicants affected by these measures will be notified.

Why not use this time to complete some online training modules?

We will be offering a variety of online training modules to our tenants. Upon successful completion of a module tenants will receive a digital certificate which can be used on their CV.

Contact Adrian Sobczyk at asobczyk@swindon.gov.uk or 07811413160 to find out more.

Pay your rent online

If you currently pay your rent at a shop or post office, please consider setting up a direct debit or making arrangements to pay online or by telephone.

Join us at our virtual café

The Street Reps are running two virtual cafés on Facebook every Tuesday and Friday from 1pm to 3pm. The virtual cafés are the perfect opportunity to chat to others over a homemade beverage and offer support to those in your community.

Tips to avoid unnecessary call outs

Wipes, napkins and paper towels should not be disposed of in your toilet. If you throw inappropriate items down the toilet you may be recharged for the cost of the call out. Help us to keep our vulnerable tenants safe and avoid putting any unnecessary pressure on our teams.

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