December 18 2007

DONCASTER DIRECTOR APPOINTED TO NATIONAL GROUP

 

A Doncaster director has been appointed to a national advisory group.

Paul Hopkinson (51), the Director of Property Services at St Leger Homes of Doncaster, has just been elected to the Housing Quality Network Advisory Group. He will serve on the group until 2010.

The Housing Quality Network was established in 1997 to assist local authorities and housing associations to meet the challenges of the government’s Best Value agenda.

Paul, who has a proved track record of achievements in high profile service organisations, said: “I am really pleased to be elected to this group and will use my expertise and experience from a range of sectors including social housing, health care and the commercial arena, to benefit the advisory group.”

 

December 15 2007

FUNDING RELIEF FOR FLOODED HOMES

 

December 10 2007

St LEGER HOMES TAKES ACTION AGAINST TENANT

A council tenant in Edlington who ignored repeated requests to clear her overgrown and dirty garden has been evicted by St Leger Homes of Doncaster.

Emma Davis, of Linden Grove, refused to take any action to improve her garden,  despite 30 visits to her property by an Estates Officer over a period of 18 months, involvement of Doncaster Council’s Social Services and the Edlington Family Centre.

Martin Musgrave, Chief Executive of St Leger Homes of Doncaster said: “Since the first complaint about her garden was made in April last year our Estates Officer has made repeated visits and tried to work with Ms Davis. However, having exhausted all possible methods, we have been forced to take action. “

“The state of the garden on Linden Grove was damaging the quality of life for her neighbours. Eviction is always a last resort but we will not tolerate repeated, deliberate breaches of tenancy that affect the local community.” 

Doncaster’s County Court granted the order for repossession on 15 October 07 and eviction took place on 3 December 07.

 

November 27 2007

EASY WAY TO EXPRESS INTEREST IN A COUNCIL HOME

Doncaster residents can express an interest in a council home – all at the touch of a button in their local library, customer service centre or St Leger Homes’ area office. 

Residents who are on the council waiting list for a home can head to their library, log on to the computers and visit the Doncaster HomeChoice website. Here they can look at the available council homes and if they want, express an interest in up to three of the homes available.

However, residents who do not want to use a computer need not worry, they can still phone the Doncaster Homechoice service direct on 01302 862628 or visit any St Leger Homes area office to speak to a member of staff who will do the work for them!  

Doncaster HomeChoice, is the new approach to renting affordable homes and means that people on the council waiting list apply to be considered for a home of their choice rather than wait for an offer to be made to them. They simply get in touch with St Leger Homes to express an interest in the homes they are interested in moving to.

Available homes are advertised each week in the borough’s libraries, in the council’s customer service centres, on the Doncaster HomeChoice website, through supporting people agencies, in the Doncaster Free Press and in St Leger Homes’ offices.

People who are registered can apply for homes of a size and type their family require anywhere in the borough.       

The new system does not mean that any more properties will become available so there is still a system in place which means that those people in most housing need receive the highest priority for homes. 

Councillor Chris Mills, Doncaster Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Investment said, “It is a really easy system. Residents wanting to express an interest in a home can contact St Leger Homes in a variety of ways including in person, by phone, text, or the website and declare an interest in a home.”

Don Valley MP Caroline Flint said: “Doncaster HomeChoice gives residents a more active say and makes the choice of available homes more open and transparent.  I hope the new letting scheme is a great success.”

Judith Jones, Director of St Leger Homes, said: “This is an innovative way of allocating council homes and we always have staff on hand for anyone who needs help with this system.”

 

November 20 2007

BLACK AND MINORITY ETHNIC GROUP CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY

A Doncaster Black and Minority Ethnic group has celebrated its first birthday with a night of traditional foods, decorations and music.
 
The Doncaster BME Settlers’ Tenants and Residents Association, which is supported by St Leger Homes of Doncaster – the organisation that manages just over 21,000 properties for the council – held the celebrations at their first Annual General Meeting (AGM).
 
St Leger Homes has also organised classes for BME tenants to help them improve their English skills.
 
Mahroof Hussain, St Leger Homes’ Diversity Manager, said: “Everyone who attended the AGM had a great time, celebrating the anniversary with a range of traditional food and music from everyone’s respective countries.
 
“The English classes are also going extremely well,” he added. “Besides the students’ English improving, they are making new friends and enjoying the classes.”
 
Anyone interested in attending the BME Settlers’ Tenants and Residents Association or the English classes should ring Vivien Binks, Equality and Diversity Officer, on 01302 862297.

 

November 20 2007

Showing commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour

The organisation that manages Doncaster’s council homes has signed up to a Government set standard to show its commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour on council estates.
 
Martin Musgrave, Chief Executive of St Leger Homes of Doncaster signed up to the Respect Housing Management Standard on November 15.
 
This standard is one of the elements of Doncaster’s status as a Respect Action Area, which was announced at the start of this year. Doncaster is one of just over 40 Respect Action Areas across the country.
 
St Leger Homes of Doncaster – the organisation that manages just over 21,000 homes for Doncaster Council - has worked hard to prepare for signing to the standard which shows St Leger Homes’ commitment to support the local authority’s on-going commitment to tackling any  problems of anti-social behaviour across the whole of Doncaster.
 
Doncaster Council and St Leger Homes are both part of the Safer Doncaster Partnership – a statutory body also made up of representatives from the police,  fire service, health authority  and other agencies – who all work together to reduce crime and disorder in the borough.   

Safer Doncaster Partnership initiatives in place include estate walks where agencies visit the estates to pick up on any antisocial behaviour issues and a  family intervention project  to give families help to give their children the opportunity to grow up with a chance in life.
 
This year St Leger Homes successfully obtained its first demoted tenancy order which effectively acts as a ‘yellow card’ against a tenant, putting them on a year-long warning that eviction is only a small step away if their behaviour as a tenant does not improve.
 
Eviction is the ultimate weapon in the fight against troublesome tenants – and it is seen as a last resort – and St Leger Homes would rather work with people to improve matters.  
 
Cllr Stuart Exelby, Doncaster Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Environment, Housing (Central) said: “Through partnership working we are committed to making our homes and neighbourhoods safer for all tenants and residents across Doncaster.”
 
Mr Musgrave added: “St Leger Homes will not tolerate anti-social behaviour on the estates it manages.  We will do everything in our power to tackle such behaviour so that our tenants can live in peace.”

 

November 20 2007

Bike project scoops another prestigious award

A Doncaster tenants’ and residents’ association has scooped a prestigious award for a bicycle recycling initiative

The Craganour Tenants’ and Residents’ Association (TARA) has scooped the green project award in the TPAS Connecting People Awards held recently in Manchester for its Craggy Cycles project.

The project, which has already picked up around five awards, now goes through to compete on a national level hoping to become overall winners for this category.

The project started when a young child told Jim Tierney, of Denaby, that he didn’t have a bike. Jim, chairman of the Craganour TARA, collected bits of old bikes to make one for this child.

It all started about 15 months ago and Jim decided to continue recycling bikes until every child on the estate had one. Together with a team of residents, he works hard towards achieving this. The team has also sent a number of recycled bikes to Romania and Africa for youngsters there.

Jim said: “The project isn’t just me, it revolves around lots of people. People who bring me old bikes to recycle, Paul Skelton who helps with the bikes, and who teaches others how to repair them, and others.  They are all fantastic and help the project so much. The local councillors and the MP also support us.”

The bike initiative, together with the Craganour TARA, is fully supported by St Leger Homes of Doncaster – the organisation that manages more than 21,000  properties for Doncaster Council –the Doncaster Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations and the local media who put out pleas for old bikes.

Martin Musgrave, Chief Executive of St Leger Homes, said: “This is a fantastic achievement. The Craggy Cycles project team work really hard and deserve this award. I wish them all the best in the national finals.”

 

15 November 2007

HOPING TO PUT A SMILE ON YOUNG PEOPLE'S FACES

A big smile is going to be put on the faces of some of the world’s poorest children, thanks to big-hearted staff at Doncaster’s St Leger Homes.
 
Staff have packed over 80 shoe boxes with goodies, including toys, toothbrushes, colouring books, pens and pencils, as part of this year’s Operation Christmas Child – a project run by the Samaritan’s Purse.
 
The shoeboxes will now be distributed to young people in orphanages, hospitals, refugee camps, homeless shelters and in poor neighbourhoods in countries struck by poverty, famine, disease, war and natural disaster.
 
Colleen Thompson, of St Leger Homes, who has organised the collection, said: “Last year we collected 68 boxes for this charity – but this year we have done even better.”
 
Martin Musgrave, Chief Executive of St Leger Homes, added: “Staff have done a marvellous job, donating goods and packing shoe boxes. Hopefully these gifts will put a smile on the faces of young people living in poverty stricken parts of the world.”

 

 

November 1 2007

NEW WAY OF GAINING A COUNCIL HOME IS LAUNCHED

From today (November 1) there is a new way of gaining a council tenancy in Doncaster.

Called Doncaster HomeChoice, this is a new approach to renting affordable homes and means that people on the council waiting list  will apply to be considered for a home of their choice rather than wait for an offer to be made to them.

Vacant properties will be advertised every week with applicants on the council housing list getting in touch with St Leger Homes to express their interest in the homes they are interested in moving to.

There is no need for people to worry that they will not be able to get used to the new system as help is at hand for anybody who needs it.

The new system does not mean that any more properties will become available so there is still a system in place which means that those people in most housing need receive the highest priority for homes. 

This will be done by giving people a band according to their priority – either platinum, gold, silver or bronze - and they can then register an interest for properties advertised in their particular band. If more than one person applies for the property, the customer with the earliest registration date will be offered the home first. People who are registered will be able to apply for homes of a size and type their family require anywhere in the borough.      

Available homes will be advertised each week in the borough’s libraries, in the council’s customer service centres, on the Doncaster HomeChoice website, through supporting people agencies, in the Doncaster Free Press and in St Leger Homes offices.

Councillor Chris Mills, Cabinet Member for Strategic Investment said, “The

introduction of this scheme is part of Doncaster Council's wider housing strategy to increase people's ability to access affordable housing across the Borough. Other initiatives planned include, working in partnership with Housing Associations to build, at least, an extra 200 new affordable homes each year for people on the Council's housing register.”

Judith Jones, Director of St Leger Homes, said: “This is an innovative  way of allocating council homes.

“Applicants already on the council’s housing register will automatically be transferred to this scheme and will not have to reapply. We are in the process of sending them out information packs  which will give them full details on how to express an interest

 

 

October 31 2007

 

STAFF RAISE MORE THAN £399 FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Staff at Doncaster’s St Leger Homes took part in a ‘wear it pink day’ to raise more than £399 for charity.

The event, held to raise money for the Breast Cancer Campaign, included one employee, Mark Brown, donning pink finger and toe nails for the day to get the money rolling in. Other staff paid a donation to dress in pink. Already £399.64 has been collected, with more money on its way.

Martin Musgrave, Chief Executive of St Leger Homes of Doncaster, said: “Credit to Mark for being brave and having painted pink nails for the day, but also to all staff who contributed money to raise such a fantastic amount for such a worth while charity.”

 

 

October 19 2007

NEW GROUP LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS

A newly formed group in Doncaster is on the look out for new members.

The Doncaster Young Tenants’ Action Group, or DYTAG, has been set up by St Leger Homes of Doncaster – the organisation that manages nearly 22,000 properties for Doncaster Council.

The group, run by diversity officer, Catherine Foster, and community liaison officer, Karl Chapman, meets on a monthly basis. It is where younger tenants, aged around 18-30, can put their views forward on a range of relevant topics.

Catherine said: “This group acts as a chance for young tenants to give us their views on our service and give us ideas on how we can work together in the future. The group is an opportunity for young tenants to have an active input into shaping and directing the services they receive from St. Leger Homes – they could make a real difference to their community.”

If you are interested in joining the group please call Catherine on 01302 862624 or email catherine.foster@stlegerhomes.co.uk

 

 

October 17 2007

The French Connection

It’s ‘bonjour’ for some tenants of St Leger Homes this week.
 
For St Leger Homes - who manage nearly 22,000 properties for Doncaster Council -is the host to three French apprentice plumbers, to give them a taste of how plumbing work is carried out in the UK.
The trio, Antoine Yaich (17), Charles Micout (17) and Alexandre Braque (20), all from Paris, are taking part in a new European training scheme, and have been working around the Doncaster borough with St Leger’s team of plumbers.
 
The initiative, which has been organised by Business and Education South Yorkshire (BESY), will see the plumbers in Doncaster for three weeks. They spent their first week in college, followed by two weeks on placement. All three are being looked after by volunteer families in the borough, with no cost to St Leger Homes.
 
Blaine Baumber, Quality Control Supervisor, at St Leger Homes of Doncaster, said: “The three apprentices say it is a fantastic experience to be able to work in Doncaster. They all speak very good English and are working well with the English plumbers on a wide range of plumbing jobs. They will be able to take back to Paris, knowledge of how the plumbing trade works in the UK.  We wish them all the best in their future careers.”
 
Business and  Education South Yorkshire Education Director, Deidre Eastburn said, “The project aims to give the apprentices a chance to practice in the technical skills used in plumbing in the UK and to give the students an all round experience of English life. The apprentices are full of enthusiasm about learning English plumbing methods, which are different in several ways from French practice. We would like to thank St Leger Homes for taking part in this project, which gives the apprentices a great opportunity to gain valuable work experience here in South Yorkshire.”

 

 

October 17 2007

New lease of life, thanks to new home

 

A Scawthorpe woman with a debilitating medical condition has been given a new lease of life, thanks to a bungalow specially converted by St Leger Homes of Doncaster.

Mum-of-three Yvonne Randall (35) was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in June 2003 and is now heavily dependent on a wheelchair to carry out her day-to-day business.

Yvonne struggled to get around her old home, but has recently moved into a newly adapted bungalow on Newstead Road, just a few streets away.

The detached home was previously two semi-detached bungalows, which were empty properties.  St Leger Homes - who manage nearly 22,000 properties for Doncaster Council – converted the bungalows, making a more spacious home for Yvonne and her family, meaning she can easily manoeuvre around the property in her wheelchair.

Ramps have also been installed at the bungalow, together with wide doorways, a wetroom – making showering easier for Yvonne – and a specially adapted kitchen, meaning she can reach the cupboards, washing machine and cooker.

Since October 2005 St Leger Homes has relet 58 previously empty properties which had all been vacant for more than one year.

 

 

October 1 2007

Tenants prepare to see homes transformed

Armthorpe council tenants in Doncaster have received a taste of how their homes will soon look, as they prepare to see them transformed in a £4.4 million home improvement scheme.
 
Work on homes can include new kitchens, bathrooms, windows and doors, new fireplaces, rewiring and central heating.
 
In Doncaster around £300 million is being spent on the Decent Homes Programme to ensure all properties meet the government’s Decent Homes standard. The initiative is being delivered by St Leger Homes – the company that manages and maintains nearly 22,000 properties for Doncaster Council.
 
Recently Armthorpe tenants were invited to a Choice Event, at Doncaster Rugby Club, organised by St Leger Homes and Bramall Construction, where they could choose from a selection of displays including the style and colours of new kitchens, bathrooms and/or fireplaces. Residents had the opportunity to walk round their future kitchen or bathroom as demonstrations were set up to allow a realistic feeling of their new rooms.
 
This event is one of many that will be carried out throughout the Decent Homes Programme,  which targets those areas of the borough that are due to have work carried out.
 
Leslie Smith, who was selecting a new kitchen, toilet and back door for his mother, Elspeth (97),  said: “There is more of a choice than we expected. It’s good.”
 
His wife, June, added: “We didn’t know what to expect at this event but I think it’s really good.”
 
While Raymond Macdonald, of Oak Grove, added: “What I have seen so far is very good. I think the kitchens are good quality, the choice of colours is good too – and I’m quite a choosy person.”
 
Paul Elliott, Assistant Director of Capital Programmes at St. Leger Homes said: “We are dedicated to providing quality homes in quality neighbourhoods. The £4.4 million to be spent in Armthorpe will result  in around 400 homes being refurbished. Tenants will benefit from a range of improvements which may include new kitchens, bathrooms, windows and doors. Our standards are above the government’s minimum target, and include extras such as UPVC double-glazing on windows and doors, where they are being fitted, with added security measures.”
 
Dylan Gelder, Liaison Support Manager for Bramall Construction added: "The choice event at Armthorpe was very successful and it gave both Bramall and St. Leger Homes staff the opportunity to meet with local residents.
 
“We believe that our work is much more than building with bricks and mortar, it's about strengthening communities and the Choice Event is just the start of getting involved with the local community."

 

 

September 10 2007

Top architects invited to compete for St Leger Homes project

St Leger Homes of Doncaster is joining forces with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to invite suitable designs for extending and adapting one bedroom bungalows throughout the Borough.
 
St Leger Homes manages around 3,000 such properties around Doncaster as part of the 22,000 homes it manages on behalf of Doncaster Council.
 
The bungalows typically have small kitchens and bathrooms and as people live longer and more active lives, these properties are increasingly unsuitable and undesirable for tenants.
 
The call for designs is being run by RIBA as a competition for architects across the country. Four successful entrants will be shortlisted to produce concept design proposals. This competition process has produced landmark buildings and structures such as BALTIC, The Sage Gateshead and the Milennium Bridge in London.
 
St Leger Homes’ Director of Property Services, Paul Hopkinson said: “We are dedicated to providing quality homes for council tenants in Doncaster and we are always looking at new and different ways to achieve this. By joining forces with a respected body such as RIBA we hope we can attract the finest architectural minds to Doncaster and really improve the accommodation on offer.”

 

September 10 2007

Industry Award shows Doncaster’s council tenants get top quality gas service from St Leger Homes

Doncaster’s council tenants are guaranteed a safe, top quality gas repairs service as St Leger Homes of Doncaster celebrates a recent industry award from gas body CORGI.

St Leger Homes, the company that manages Doncaster council’s 22000 council homes, has been awarded CORGI certification – one of only 76 companies out of 50,000 registered organisations in the UK.

To hold the certification, St Leger homes underwent an in-depth inspection and matched exacting industry standards that demand a personalised, quality service and knowledgeable staff. Meeting the standard shows a company’s commitment to quality, customers and safety and shows that it monitors its service at a high level.

CORGI certification also means that St Leger Homes will still be regularly monitored by CORGI but will undergo less detailed inspections, allowing staff to spend more time serving customers rather than with time consuming assessments.

Welcoming the award, St Leger Homes, Assistant Director, Sharon Adam  said: “We set the bar high for our safety and customer service and this certificate recognises that. We are delighted to be recognised for all the hard work we put in and I’m sure our tenants will reap the benefits from our skilled team.”

Richard Whitehead of CORGI said “This is a significant achievement for St Leger Homes as it is a testament to their overall approach to gas safety. As well as the legal requirements of CORGI registration for the gas work itself, St Leger Homes has put in place support systems and procedures which all contribute to safety and excellence within the Gas industry.”

 

 

 

September 20 2007

DONCASTER RESIDENTS INVITED TO BE PART OF A MULTI-MILLION POUND INVESTMENT

It’s your home so it’s your choice – that’s the message from St. Leger Homes of Doncaster as it invited Rossington residents to choose the style of kitchen and bathroom they would like following an £8 million home improvement scheme in the area.

A £300 million investment into council homes is underway as Rossington becomes the first to reap the benefits of the official Decent Homes Improvement Scheme.
 
Residents were invited by St. Leger Homes and the three Construction Partners, Bramall Construction, Henry Boot Construction and Wates Living Space to attend a Choice Event, where they could choose the style and colours of their new kitchen or bathroom, depending on which works they were having carried out through the Decent Homes Programme.  

This Choice Event was just one of many that will be carried out throughout the Decent Homes Programme, primarily targetting those areas of the borough that are due to have works carried out.

Paul Elliott, Assistant Director for the Capital Programme at St. Leger Homes explains what will be in-store for the people of Rossington: “By the end of next year, Rossington will have had over £8 million pounds spent on home improvements. Tenants will benefit from standards well above the governments’ minimum target including extras such as UPVC double-glazing on windows and doors with added security measures. We also fit smoke alarms on every floor.”
 
The event was held at Pheasant Bank School in Rossington and over 70 per cent of the residents attended to choose their themed kitchen or bathroom. Residents had the opportunity to walk round their future kitchen or bathroom as demonstrations were set up to allow a realistic feeling of their new rooms.

Mrs Smith went along with her mother in-law and neighbour: “I am surprised at how easy the selection process has been. I thought we would find it difficult to choose but mum knew exactly what she wanted and the staff here have been very helpful.”

The Decent Homes Programme represents a huge investment into the borough’s 22,000 council homes, to ensure all properties meet the government’s Decent Homes standard, and is being delivered by St Leger Homes, the company which manages and maintains the houses.
After signing the official contract last month, the Construction Partners have named Rossington as the first area to be improved through the official programme.

Dylan Gelder, Liaison Support Manager for Bramall Construction said: "The choice event at Rossington was very successful and it gave both Bramall and St Leger staff the opportunity to meet with local residents. We believe that our work is much more than building with bricks and mortar, it's about strengthening communities and the choice event is just the start of getting involved with the local community."

St. Leger Homes was delighted when it recently unlocked funding for the £300million programme, after being awarded a “good” two-star rating, on a scale of zero to three stars, by the Audit Commission.

 

September 17 2007

St Leger Homes introduces password scheme to tackle doorstep crime

St Leger Homes of Doncaster, the company responsible for managing the Borough’s 22,000 council houses, is keeping tenants safe in their homes by introducing a password scheme to identify bona fide repair staff calling at their door.
 
From September 3, tenants calling the St Leger Homes Repair Contact Centre will have the option of agreeing a password by answering a security question.  The Repair Officer assigned to the call will be given the password to be used at the door as an extra safeguard to confirm their identity.
 
Commenting on the new scheme, St Leger Homes’ Chief Executive, Martin Musgrave said: “It’s always upsetting to hear about residents being tricked or worse by bogus tradesmen. We are putting these extra measures in place so that customers are in no doubt that it’s a friendly face at the door to carry out repairs. Our staff always carry ID and the password scheme will add to our customers’ peace of mind and hopefully reduce the incidents of criminals preying on vulnerable people.”
 
The password scheme is the latest improvement to the St Leger Homes dedicated repair service which handles around 3500 calls on its free phone number 0808 126 3123 each week and has increased customer satisfaction to 96% since St Leger Homes was created in October 2005.
 
The Contact Centre based in Balby employs 20 staff and opens from 8am till 7pm during the week. A full appointment service is operated outside these times in partnership with Doncaster Council.

 

9 August 2007

BRAMALL REFURBISH 2500 DONCASTER HOMES

 

In Partnership with St Leger Homes of Doncaster, Bramall Construction has completed the refurbishment of 2,500 homes in Doncaster under the Decent Homes Programme.

To celebrate the landmark occasion representatives from Bramall Construction, part of the Keepmoat group, and St Leger Homes visited Mr Alan Rodgers from Eden Grove whose home is officially the 2,500th to be completed. 

The work to Mr Rodgers’ home included a new kitchen, bathroom and central heating.  He was presented with vouchers, flowers and a cake to mark the special occasion.

Mr Rodgers’ said: “I’m nearly 60 and I think it’s marvellous that I have what is, essentially, a brand new home to live in. Every day the site team made sure my home was in a liveable condition and they were all really considerate when the work was taking place.”

“I have arthritis and now the taps in the bathroom are really easy to use, I don’t even have to turn them! Everyone from Bramall has just been fantastic. Thank you so much”

Bramall have modernised homes in several areas of Doncaster which have been in much need of renewal for many years.

St Leger Homes’ Chief Executive, Martin Musgrave said: “This is a milestone for St Leger Homes, our construction partners and our customers. I am delighted that we have now unlocked the £300m of funding to continue this programme - £55m will be spent this year. Work has started in earnest across the Borough to bring more homes up to and beyond the Government’s decency standard.”

Pete Varley, Construction Manager for Bramall Construction, said:  “We believe that our work is about much more than building with bricks and mortar it’s actually about rebuilding communities and the spirits of the tenants in those local areas.

“It’s great news for Doncaster residents that we have now been able to modernise 2,500 homes and counting.  And it’s vital that residents have housing that’s ready for the future.  By working closely with St Leger Homes we can make sure that we deliver that to residents all across the Borough.”

The project is part of the Decent Homes scheme set up by the government where all council properties must meet a decent standard, with modern facilities, warmth and weatherproofing, by the year 2010.

Bramall Construction have been working on the scheme in Doncaster since 2004 and have  built a strong relationship with DMBC and now St Leger Homes - the Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) created by the council to manage the transformation of council tenanted homes. 

A £300m investment programme has just been signed between St Leger Homes and seven contractors including Bramall Construction, Henry Boot Construction and Wates Living Space.

 

August 7 2007

ST LEGER HOMES OF DONCASTER SHOWS ‘YELLOW CARD’ TO TENANTS

 

St Leger Homes of Doncaster – the company that manages Doncaster Council’s housing - has shown a ‘yellow card’ to a tenant in Dunscroft who used their house for cannabis cultivation.

In the first case of its type in Doncaster , Doncaster Council with St Leger Homes successfully imposed  ‘demoted tenancy’ status on the address which means that eviction is only a step away and the tenants are effectively placed on warning for a year to improve their behaviour.

The status, obtained through county court proceedings, can be applied for a variety of reasons such as criminal, antisocial or nuisance behaviour. The demotion orders are used as a warning, with the emphasis on working with tenants to encourage a change in behaviour and help them keep their homes. In many cases, additional support will be offered to help the tenant change their behaviour

St Leger Homes of Doncaster Chief Executive, Martin Musgrave said: “We are committed to customer service but we won’t tolerate tenants or their families that break our tenancy agreements and cause problems for their community. Eviction is a last step and we would much rather help tenants improve their behaviour. Demoted tenancies mean that we can put people on a strong warning that if they continue to cause problems they will be evicted.”

 

 

July 24 2007

Official signing marks start of £300m investment into Doncaster homes

 

The start of a £300m investment programme into Doncaster’s council homes is just a pen’s length away, with the official signing ceremony for the Decent Homes Programme due to take place next week.

The ceremony will be held at the Mansion House, in High Street, Doncaster, on Monday, July 30. It marks the official start of this year’s programme, which will see £55m invested between now and March 2008, during which time nearly 10,000 homes will have some elements of work carried out.

The Decent Homes Programme represents a huge investment into the borough’s 22,000 council homes, to ensure all properties meet the government’s Decent Homes standard, and is being delivered by St Leger Homes, the company which manages and maintains the houses.

Almost 2,500 tenants have already had decency work carried our in their homes since St Leger Homes was set up in 2005. The organisation was delighted when it recently unlocked funding for the rest of the £300m programme, after being awarded a “good” two-star rating, on a scale of zero to three stars, by the Audit Commission.

The signing ceremony marks a reinforced partnership between St Leger Homes, Doncaster Council, the Doncaster Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations and the seven companies which are undertaking the Decent Homes work. Bramall Construction, Henry Boot Construction, Wates Living Space, Kier, Sovereign Group, Anglian and Nationwide Windows will be continuing their strong relationship with St Leger Homes in order to deliver this massive investment into Doncaster.

Martin Musgrave, chief executive of St Leger Homes, is more than eager for the works to begin. He said: “This day will be the beginning of a new working relationship for us and a new way of living for the residents of Doncaster.

“There are seven companies which will be working alongside St Leger Homes and our partners to deliver the programme. This year will see £55m being invested into the refurbishment of homes, to bring them to the Decent Homes standard and this represents a huge investment into the borough.”

Doncaster’s deputy mayor, Margaret Ward said: “One of Mayor Winter’s first commitments was to create decent homes in decent neighbourhoods and this programme is proof of that. This investment will take thousands of our tenants’ homes beyond the government standard to the new Doncaster Standard. As well as an investment into individual homes, this is a huge boost for Doncaster as hundreds of local jobs will be created by the work.”

The deputy mayor will be joined by officials from St Leger Homes, the construction partners and the Doncaster Federation of Residents and Tenants to mark the beginning of the Decent Homes programme.

Lyn Ralph, chair of the Doncaster Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations, will be representing the residents at the ceremony. She said: “The signing will be the start of a better future for the residents of Doncaster and their homes. We will be involved in the programme from the beginning and the federation will represent the Doncaster tenants.”

 

July 5 2007

750 members of staff at St Leger Homes show they care.

 

St Leger Homes is encouraging its 750-strong workforce to participate in a series of “dress down” days to help raise money for the borough’s flood victims.

The company has organised two “Dress to Impress” days as an extra way of demonstrating its support for those who have been severely affected by the flooding.

Staff across the whole organisation – which manages Doncaster’s 22,000 council houses – have been invited to wear casual clothes to work on Friday, July 6 and July 13, in exchange for a contribution of between £2 and £5 towards the Doncaster Flood Victim Fund.

Martin Musgrave, chief executive of St Leger Homes, said: “We want to do everything in our power to minimise the effects of the flooding on both our tenants and the wider community.

“I hope that the dress down days we have organised will inspire other organisations to hold similar fundraising events, which will help those affected by the floods.

“In addition to the support and advice we are already providing customers with, staff across the organisation wanted to do something over and above to help and I think this is a good opportunity for them to do that.”

St Leger Homes has been working closely with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council and other agencies in support of the flood relief efforts and is currently exploring a range of short and long term housing options for displaced tenants.

The organisation is stressing that once water has been cleared from tenants' properties, they must not move back into their home until gas and electrical safety checks have been carried out.

Teams are on standby to carry out these checks and a visit can be arranged by calling the St Leger Homes repair centre on 0808 126 3123.

 

REPAIR SERVICE BACK TO NORMAL

 

We are pleased to announce that the repairs service has now returned to normal. 

Tenants affected by the flooding should follow the information below. 

St. Leger Homes has confirmed that the return home programme is now up and running. However, any resident planning to return to their property once it is clear of water should arrange a full gas and electrical safety test first. To do this, call our freephone on 0808 126 3123.

 For further information concerning flooding in doncaster please visit http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/

 

It's a win... St. Leger Homes gains two star rating

 

St Leger Homes of Doncaster has been awarded a two-star rating by the Audit Commission following their recent inspection of the company. The rating means that the Commission considers that St Leger Homes provides a good service.  The Commission also rated the company on its prospects for service improvement and they were said to be promising.

In its report the Audit Commission says St Leger Homes: “demonstrates improving service for key services. It is a high performer when compared to organisations providing similar services.”

 

Martin Winter and Martin Musgrave review the report that the Audit Commission produced on the recent inspection that took place in March '07

View the Audit Commission Inspection Report

View the St. Leger Homes Press Release

View the Audit Commission Press Release

 

Improved repair-logging facilities

A new  facility is now available for tenants to help to self-diagnose a possible repair need, through a series of 'pictures' and basic questions, and to log the repair request.     Repairs On Line

It is important to note that in order to use this facility (or indeed the ability to access rent account details) you need to have pre-registered.  Details on how to pre-register, and also on the other methods for reporting a repair can be found within  Report a Repair

 

Website now speech-enabled

The Website has now been been made 'speech-enabled', which means that by installing a simple free download to your computer, you can have the text on our web pages and some documents read out loud. 

More details on how this operates, including the download link, can be found on the accessibility page 

Tuesday 08.05.07

 

Decent Homes Improvement Programme

Detailed information on the improvement programme is now available on the site.  You can search for a property via a map or directly by the address.  It is important to note that only confirmed works for 2007/2008 are shown.   It is planned to publish further details on the programme later in the year. 

View the improvement programme

Wednesday 28.03.07

 

Gas Service Programme

Information on the Gas Serviceing Programme is now available

Wednesday 28.03.07

Payzone - A new way to pay your rent

St Leger Homes in conjunction with Alliance and Leicester Commercial Bank has introduced a new and convenient way for customers to pay their rent.  The new service which is available immediately will mean that customers will be able to pay their rent at any of the regions outlets that display the Payzone sign.

The new service will mean more convenience for customers when making rent payments, as most of the Payzone outlets have longer opening hours, including weekends with some open 24/7.  It will also mean a greater choice of location for rent payers as the Payzone network includes newsagents, convenience stores and petrol stations infact anywhere that displays the Payzone logo.

 

To use Payzone simply take your new rent card and either cash or debit card to any Payzone outlet to pay your rent.  The Payzone service is in addition to our other rent payment methods and does not replace our current options which are detailed on the Make a Payment page.

Monday 19.02.07 

Tenants and Residents Day

The Doncaster Federation of Tenants and Residents in conjunction with St Leger Homes are to hold a Tenants and Residents Day at the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday 10 March 2007 from 10.30 am to 3.30pm.

Entertainment activities will be provided such as football coaching, line dancing and street magic and circus skills along with exhibitions by St Leger Homes, Bramell Construction, Fire, Police and Doncaster Council.  Staff will be on hand throughout the day to answer your queries.

Everyone welcome, please come down to make it a day to remember!

 

 

Tenants and Residents Day Poster

Friday 02.02.07

 

St Leger Homes Launches Revised Service Standards

St Leger Homes first introduced its Customer Service Standards in October 2005 at the same time as the launch of the company.  As part of the process of continually  improving our services we began to review our Service Standards in April 2006 to make them more customer focused.

Customers were involved in this process through focus groups and their views were taken on board wherever possible.  The review has resulted in a reduction in the number of service standards from 140 to 64  across ten service areas.  The Service Standard leaflets are available from any local St Leger Office or can be downloaded from the website by clicking on the link below.

We believe that the new standards are challenging and measurable and will contribute to improving the service we provide to our customers.

Click here to view our new Service Standards

29.01.07

 

Winner of Best Festive Lights Competition December 2006

West Area Winner - Ms J Plater of Mexborough

East Area Winner - Ms E Openshaw

Well done to both who won £75.00 in Argos Vouchers!

25.01.07

 

Tenant Consultation on New Tenancy Agreement

Since the 1 October 2005 the Council properties in Doncaster have been managed by St Leger Homes.  A number of service improvements were identified and as such we have revised the Tenancy Agreement to widen the actions that St Leger Homes can take regarding anti-social behaviour.

A letter and leaflet identifying the main changes will shortly be posted out to all tenants. Legislation dictates that the landlord should consult its tenants before introducing a new Tenancy Agreement and it should take into consideration any comments made.

You will be able to submit your comments by returning the tear off section at the bottom of the letter to any local St Leger or Doncaster Council office/cash office.  Comments can also be made via the website on the Complaints & Compliments page or if you wish to speak to someone in person contact the Estate Management Improvement Team on 01302 737309.

You may also view the proposed Amendments to the Tenancy Agreement by clicking on the document below.

 

 

Amendments to the Tenancy Agreement

Friday 12.01.07

 

Estate Improvement Fund

Members of the East and West Area Boards are delighted to announce that they have funding of £40,000 to enhance the quality of life for customers in their area.  Members of the Area Boards would like to hear suggestions from you on how to spend this money to maximum effect.  You can download a form below on which to submit  your ideas.

 

 

Estate Improvement Fund Suggestion Form

 

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