Around your home

Housing managers

Housing managers work on your behalf and have a day to day interest in everything that happens where you live. They are there to help you with any problems or concerns. This may not be just the big things like enforcing tenancy conditions or getting involved with nuisance, vandalism or anti social behaviour, but also being there to give advice on how to pay your rent and what to do if you want to move on. They are also concerned with making where you live safer and cleaner.

There is a housing manager based on each estate. They are available to see you if:

You want to see someone about anything to do with your home or where you live. Housing managers can come to you at home or you can see them at their office.
You want to join them out and about as they conduct regular estate inspections every six weeks to check up on any unreported problems there might be.
Additionally, your housing manager will:
Arrange an estate walkabout every three to four months where you will be welcome to join them as they look at solving problems in your area.
Respond to breaches of tenancy conditions and decide if action is required within 5 days.
Handle any application to exchange property within 42 days.
Give you advice on any tenancy transfers or successions within 28 days of a request being made.
Investigate reports of nuisance, harassment and anti social behaviour. You can report these to them in writing, in person or over the phone. You will be kept updated on progress at least every 10 working days.
Conduct all interviews in confidence.

You can contact your housing manager by letter, email, or by phoning 01384 812345. Appointments can be made on request. Write to Directorate of Adult, Community and Housing Services, Capstan House, Waterfront East, Brierley Hill, DY5 1XL, or email callcentre.housing@dudley.gov.uk

Estate Walkabouts

Estate walkabouts involve not only your housing manager but also your local councillors taking a tour of your neighbourhood and listening to what local people have got to say. This provides the council with an opportunity to learn about issues that concern tenants and to work to try and resolve them.

Pets

In general we allow people to keep pets in their homes as long as they are under control and do not cause a nuisance to your neighbours or anyone else. There are exceptions, however. We discourage ownership of pets in high-rise and low-rise blocks and in sheltered accommodation. If we receive complaints about your pets from someone else we will always investigate. If you have any questions about keeping a pet or wish to complain about an animal causing a nuisance, please call us on 01384 812345. We also have a pets leaflet available through your local office.

Living in high rise blocks

Many high rise and low rise blocks are fitted with a door entry security system operated by a small plastic fob or key. Please ensure the main entrance doors are always securely closed every time you use them and don’t let people in who you don’t know or aren’t expecting.

Should you loose your fob or key you will be charged for a replacement. We can issue extra fobs or keys on request, although we will also charge you for these.

You must dispose of your household rubbish by using the bins or refuge chute provided. When using the chute please ensure only small carrier bags of rubbish are disposed of. Anything bigger won’t fit and may jam the chute. Please wrap breakable items in newspaper. Removal of bulky items and white goods from your home can be arranged by ringing 01384 812345, although there is a charge for this service.

Fire Safety

High rise blocks will be regularly inspected by the council to check on fire safety issues. Therefore, you must ensure the communal areas around where you live are free of rubbish and furniture. Your local Housing Manager can arrange for communal areas to be tidied up.

You must not use any portable oil, paraffin or gas cylinder heaters in your home. You must not store any vehicle or appliance powered by petrol, diesel or paraffin in the building.

In the event of a fire in a high rise block you are advised to stay in your flat unless otherwise advised by the fire service.

Lifts

Please do not smoke in lifts at any time. Lifts must not be used in the event of a fire. In the event of the lift breaking down please contact us on 01384 818283.

Concierge service

In designated blocks concierge staff work from 6pm until 2am. The staff patrol the blocks and are available if you wish to discuss issues with them.

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