General Information
Changes to your Circumstances
If the composition of your household changes or there are any personal or financial changes to your circumstances you should inform the Association immediately so that your records may be changed and relevant advice provided, for example, changes in Housing Benefit entitlement.
Insurance
The Association insures all dwellings against structural damage. All tenants are responsible for insuring the contents of their home and you should ensure that your personal belongings are adequately insured.
Keys
All tenants are issued with keys for their home. In most schemes the key to a flat will also open the main front door to the building. At some schemes tenants may be issued with a fob for the main front door to the building and a separate key to their flat.
If additional or replacement keys are required, a request can be made to head office for the provision of a key request letter which allows you to obtain your own keys from a designated supplier for which you will incur the cost.
If additional or replacement fobs are required a request must be made to head office for which you will incur a cost.
Alterations & Adaptations
You must obtain permission from Head Office to carry out any alterations to your home.
If you require an adaptation, such as a walk in shower or grab rails, due to a medical condition or illness, you should contact the local Occupational Therapy department of the local Health Trust for assessment.
If the Association receives a referral from an Occupational Therapist the necessary adaptation work will be undertaken if feasible.
Parking
The Association provides parking spaces at all of its schemes for the use of tenants, visitors and care staff.
Some schemes have a limited number of “disabled” parking spaces for the use of “blue badge” holders.
Car parking spaces are NOT allocated and CANNOT be reserved for use. Parking spaces should be used on a first come first served basis.
Gardens
If you live in a bungalow, you are responsible for the maintenance of both the front and rear gardens. The Association will maintain the fencing or boundary markers but you may erect new fencing if you obtain the Associations consent and if necessary planning permission.
The Association is responsible for the maintenance of communal grounds only. If you want to take on care of part of these communal gardens, talk to the Maintenance Department about this. If it can be arranged without causing annoyance to other tenants or upsetting the balance of the gardens, the Association will be happy for you to do this.
Smoking
Government legislation makes it illegal to smoke in any enclosed communal area of the Association’s property. Smoking in an external communal area is acceptable as long as it does not cause a nuisance to other residents.
Tenants are free to smoke in their own home.
Association staff and contractors are not permitted to smoke in a resident’s home. Similarly the Association would respectfully request residents not to smoke when being visited by staff. A smoke free location can be sought for meetings with a resident who smokes if a member of staff does not wish to enter their home.
Pets
New tenants may be granted permission to bring a pet to their new home on a trial basis. Where permission is granted, it is essential that the animal does not cause a nuisance to neighbours and is kept under control at all times. No pets should be left to roam communal areas and should be kept on a leash (if necessary) when in these areas. Otherwise, permission may be withdrawn.
Tenants are requested not to acquire pets once they have moved into Association property. If a pet dies, another animal should not be acquired.
Business in Your Home
Your home must be used for residential purposes only. You cannot operate a business from your home without the prior written consent of the Association. |
