Managing the neighbourhood where you live

• We are committed to working with residents to make sure neighbourhoods are pleasant, safe and well maintained. To help us to do this, we carry out estate inspections
• We will publish timetables of our estate inspections happening where you live, and provide information on how you can get involved
• We will install and maintain a notice board in most blocks and in the larger neighbourhoods, where we will display information about our work, our performance and information about local issues
• We will work with police and other agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour swiftly effectively. (Find our more in our Hate crimes service standard)
• We will investigate reports of squatting by the end of the following working day once brought to our attention
• We will investigate reports of unauthorised occupants, and take action where required
• Empty properties will be made safe and secure and checked weekly

Keeping in touch

• If you have anything you would like to discuss about your tenancy, please contact your housing officer
• We will tell you the name and contact details of the housing officer who manages your property and your neighbourhood. If you need to check this, you can find this out on our website or by asking us
• Housing officers run surgeries at their office and in other community locations - please ask for an appointment or for details of where and when they are available. Home visits are available to those customers who need them - please ask a member of staff for information on this
• We visit a number of our properties each year to talk to tenants, to check that the property is in good condition and to offer information on the services and support we can offer

Keeping us up to date

• Please tell us when your telephone number or e-mail address changes
• If you would like to take in a lodger, please tell us in writing
• If you would like to apply for a joint tenancy, please ask us for the application form or an appointment
• If you would like to purchase your property, please ask us for more information
• If you intend to own or keep a dog please ask us - we will only allow this in some circumstances

Help when you need it

• We will give you advice and support in managing your tenancy if you ask us for it. We will also tell you about other agencies that might be able to help you.

Ending a tenancy

• Because a tenancy is a legal contract, you must give us 28 days' notice when you want to leave. Rent is payable for the whole of this period
• We will give you a final rent account for your tenancy
• We will visit you in your home during the first two weeks of the notice period. This is to inspect the condition of the property and to agree with you any work that you are responsible for. We will discuss what happens next and the process for returning keys
• We will charge you for removing any rubbish left in your property, or for any damage that has not been repaired. If this is the case, we will inform you of the charge within one week of departure and how to make the payment
• We will confirm any succession rights if you ask us to

To help us deliver a great service, you can help us by:

• Keeping your property maintained and clean and tidy
• Reporting any repairs that are needed, including to communal areas or neighbourhoods
• Telling us if areas of your estate fall below standard
• Reporting issues such as dumping litter, rubbish or abandoned vehicles to us quickly
• Reporting incidents of crime or vandalism on your estate.
• Giving us 28 days' notice when you want to leave your tenancy