Welcome To Wirral

January 2010

Neighbourhood Options Appraisal

 In November 2009, the Homemovers Team joined the Councils Urban Regeneration Officers on the latest Neighbourhood Options Appraisal in Birkenhead North.

Officers now carry out joint visits and are able to make residents aware of their housing options should they be affected by clearance in the future.

Joint visits will continue in 2010.

 

2009 Christmas Event

 In December 2009, the Homemovers Team joined the Wirral Wardens at the Laird Street Community House to celebrate Christmas with the local residents.

The event was well attended by residents was another great success.

 

First Homes update

 The First Homes initiative continues to develop and First Homes Open Market is now being used by first time buyers purchasing new properties in the Rock Ferry area – at Sevenoaks.

Purchasers can apply for a £2000 Incentive payment towards costs they incur and can receive assistance from the Homemovers Team if they meet the necessary criteria.

To date 13 residents have used the First Homes Open Market or Housed initiative and 4 other cases are ongoing.

 

Numbers rehoused by the HomemoversTeam in 2009

 The Homemovers Team have continued to work in the Birkenhead North and Rock Ferry areas and have helped re-house 45 residents since April 2009.

 

August 2009

New Scheme

The Homemovers Team have recently started contacting residents in Bray Street, Birkenhead. This area was declared as a Clearance area in April 2009.  The council has also recently introduced a “Business Movers Scheme”. This service will help businesses affected by clearance and is being offered in connection with the Bray Street clearance which includes business operation in the Cavendish Enterprise Centre.

 

Charter Mark success

In February 2009, the Homemovers Service was successfully assessed as still complying with the Governments Charter Mark Standard for Customer Service Excellence. This decision was reached following a routine surveillance visit which occurs every 12 months during a 3 year term of certification .

 

Winter Wonderland

In December 2008, the Homemovers Team joined up with the HMR team and the Wirral Wardens to provide a spectacular day of festive fun at 2/4 Laird Street for service users in the North Birkenhead locality.

A number of local residents attended the event and enjoyed a free glass of wine and a mince pie as well as entering a free prize draw for a Christmas hamper.

Santa was also on hand to greet the local children in his grotto and all children had the opportunity to make their own Christmas cards.

The day was a great success and, since the event, the Homemovers Team have received some very positive feedback about the service provided.

 

Previous Activity

Since the Homemovers Team was launched in 2004 we have helped relocate over 500 private sector residents, the majority from redevelopment schemes in Rock Ferry (Fiveways), Tranmere (Church Road), Egremont (Royston/Woodhall) and Birkenhead North areas (Station/Tyrer).

Although some residents remain in these areas assistance is ongoing and it is hoped all will find new or suitable alternative accommodation in the near future.

In addition to re-housing residents located in regeneration areas the service has been developed over time to provide free advice on debt and housing matters and also assistance for first time buyers looking to buy a house in the Housing Market Renewal Area. In addition, officers are also involved in an innovative initiative loaning free energy monitors to households wishing to save energy and reduce both their bills and carbon footprint.

 

Current Regeneration Scheme

During the last 12 months, the team has been working in the Birkenhead North area – Milner, Carrington & Rundle Street and has helped re-house a large number of the residents.

In April 2008, the Councils Cabinet agreed to demolish houses in this area ready for residential redevelopment.

 

Climate Change Energy Monitor Pilot - Update

The monitors have now been re-collected and research is now ongoing. Initial feedback has been very positive with participants keen to reduce energy consumption.

 

Service Development – mobile internet

The team can now provide mobile internet access for clients and it is hoped this addition to the service will help assist residents who don't have access to the internet to find alternative accommodation. The idea being that residents will be able to access local estate agents via their websites and view properties on the open market, all from the comfort of their own homes ! This facility should be very helpful to those residents unable to visit the estate agents in person.

 

Performance

A recent review of letter / email response times has shown that the team is meeting the service standard of replying within 15 working days. On-going monitoring will be maintained.

It is proposed to develop a “performance area” for the website to keep everyone up to date on the performance of the service.

 

August 2008

Free debt and housing advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

The Homemovers Team have been taking a lead role in establishing a free service with the CAB involving the provision of free debt and housing advice for residents living in the Housing Market Renewal Area.

Residents referred to the CAB by the team will receive preferential treatment, with the aim of receiving an appointment within 10 days of making a referral. This service is now available. If you would like to receive confidential advice regarding debt and/or housing matters, please contact one of the Homemovers Team.

First Homes open market has now been launched. Assistance is available to low income first time buyers wishing to buy houses in the HMRI area. For further details, please speak to one of the team.

 

June 2008

First Homes

The team has developed an assistance package to help first time buyers get a foot on the housing ladder. This package involves an advisory service, and, in some cases up to £2000 towards the costs of purchasing a house.

 

First Homes - HOUSED (Home Ownership Using Sustainable Empty Properties)

The Councils HOUSED scheme is aimed at people who wish to own their own home and who are either currently involved in a demolition area, are Housing Association tenants or are on the waiting list for a Housing Association property.

The scheme is an initiative run by the Empty Property Team and involves buying in long term empty properties, renovating them to Ecohomes standard.

The Homemovers Team now provide support and financial assistance to interested parties who wish to purchase one of the current HOUSED properties.

Applicants for the scheme will normally be first time buyers and will be admitted to the HOUSED waiting list if they comply with the necessary income criteria and priorities.

5 properties have recently been advertised and the applications are currently being assessed.

 

First Homes – Open Market

The Homemovers team have extended the First Homes initiative to help low income First time buyers (subject to criteria) into home ownership in Housing Market Renewal (HMR) areas, such as parts of Wallasey, Birkenhead, Rock Ferry and Tranmere.

The team will be working closely with local estate agents who are dealing with the sale of properties on the open market in HMR areas. When a client shows an interest in a property they will be encouraged to contact the Homemovers team.

The team offers :

Support and guidance

A financial incentive of up to £2000 towards purchasing and moving costs*

Referral to an Independent Financial Advisor who can provide mortgage advice.

Access to other support services.

 

•         Subject to eligibility and criteria. Once allocated funding has ceased, incentive payments will no longer be available.

 

Climate Change Energy Monitor Pilot

During June 2008 the Homemovers team distributed energy monitors to residents throughout Wirral as part of a pilot initiative to raise awareness about energy use in the home.

These meters will be loaned to interested households for a 3 month period.

 

Strictly Regeneration Awards

The team were recently nominated for an award following partnership working alongside Riverside Housing Associations Own place scheme.

The team were shortlisted for the award, however, on this occasion didn't win.

This however, is an excellent example of the service working well with different agencies.

 

Charter Mark

The team were assessed for the nationally recognised Charter Mark standard in February 2008 and successfully met the Charter Mark standard for Customer Service Excellence.

This is the government`s standard for customer service for organisations delivering public services.

Assessments will continue during the term of certification which is the next 3 years.

 

2007

Homemovers Card

In 2007 the team ran a competition with Rock Ferry Primary School to design a “Welcome to your new home card”.

Following some excellent entries, 2 winning designs were chosen and are now being used on cards sent to residents after they have been re-housed.

 

Customer Care

New customer care guidelines / standards are due to be launched by Wirral Council in October 2008.

 

Useful Web Links

Merseyside Homebuy Agent – www.homeshub.co.uk

Live Wirral - www.livewirral.co.uk