Tenants Handbook - Your Neighbourhood
CHAPTER 5 - YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD
PARKING
Car parking on some of our housing estates may be limited, so please park considerately. You must only park your car on the public highway, in a designated parking area or a garage. Communal parking areas are generally not designated for specific properties. Please do not park on grass verges, open spaces, garage forecourts and do not block access routes for emergency vehicles.
You may be able to construct a hard standing within the boundary of your property, but you must get our permission first. You must also get permission from Hampshire County Council for a dropped kerb and access across a pavement, where necessary.
See pages 17 to 18 for advice about requesting permission.
Commercial vehicles and lorries
Commercial or trade vehicles of 3.5 tonnes and above must not be parked on our housing estates or the property without our written permission.
Caravans, boats and trailers
You will need our permission to keep a caravan, boat or trailer at the property or on the estate. We prefer these to be parked behind the building line, either at the side or behind your property.
You will be breaching your tenancy conditions if your vehicles regularly cause an obstruction or create other parking difficulties.
Disabled parking bays
You may ask to have a disabled parking bay marked on the road or parking area near your home if you are disabled and have mobility difficulties. Disabled parking bays are not allocated to an individual, so they may be used by other people with a disability or mobility difficulty.
Please contact your Area Housing Manager to request a disabled parking bay.
GARAGES TO RENT
The Council has garages across the district available to rent. See page 22 for further details.
ABANDONED VEHICLES
Abandoned vehicles are an eyesore on our housing estates and can present a very real risk of harm. You are not allowed to leave illegal, untaxed or unroadworthy vehicles on the property or on the estate, unless you have permission to do so.
We will arrange for abandoned vehicles to be removed and disposed of and will charge the registered keeper for any costs incurred.
You are required by law to either tax or obtain a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for a vehicle temporarily 'off the road' and untaxed. It is against the law to keep an untaxed vehicle or one with a SORN on the public highway.
Please inform your Area
You should report abandoned vehicles to your Area
VEHICLE REPAIRS
You may carry out minor repairs to your vehicle providing this does not cause a nuisance to your neighbours.
COMMUNAL AREAS OF FLATS
Rubbish disposal
Your rubbish bags should be placed inside the large collection bins, and not left near the bins or on communal landings and walkways, or in the gardens. Only rubbish placed in the bins will be collected. Any large bulky items placed in the bin stores will not be collected.
Rubbish bags left beside bins or outside can attract dogs, cats, rats and other pests, which in turn create a health risk.
We operate an alternate weekly bin collection service for rubbish and recyclables so please ensure you use these correctly. There are stickers on the bins to advise you what can and can not be recycled.
See pages 19 to 20 for further details on rubbish disposal.
Security
Communal doors should never be propped open because this compromises security for everyone living in the block. Replacement keys for the communal doors are available from your Area
Cleaning
We are responsible for cleaning communal areas of older peoples supported accommodation, including the common room, landings, lift, and communal kitchen and toilets.
We are also responsible for cleaning the communal areas of general needs flats, so they need to be kept clear. You pay a charge for this service through your rent.
Communal areas should always be kept clear of rubbish and personal belongings, such as pushchairs or bicycles, to ensure that all areas can be cleaned. Corridors and landings are important fire routes so should be kept clear in case of emergency.
Smoking
It is an offence to smoke in council buildings and communal areas of flats, as well as other public places. You may smoke in your own house or flat.
Repairs
Any defects to communal areas, for example, faults to the communal doors, lights or door entry systems, should be reported to the Council as soon as you can. See page 39 for details of how to report a repair.
Communal aerials
There are communal TV aerials on the Council's blocks of flats. You should check your own TV first if there is a problem with the reception and then ask your neighbours if they too have a problem with their TV reception. Please tell us if you believe the communal TV aerial is faulty.
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE OF
We regularly mow the grass and maintain the hedges, shrubs and flower beds, on our estates and at our older people's supported housing schemes.
We also regularly spray pathways and clothes drying areas to control weeds and moss.
CARETAKERS - WINNALL FLATS
The tower blocks at Winnall (Braxton, Craddock, Dennett and Earle Houses) are managed by two resident caretakers, who work Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 4.30pm. A duty caretaker is available for emergencies every evening and at weekends.
Their duties include:
- General supervision of the buildings and grounds, through routine checks, including weekly Health and safety inspections
- Weekly cleaning of the communal areas of the blocks of flats
- Reporting repairs to communal areas promptly
- Litter-picking and leaf collection in the communal grounds and garage area
- Helping residents in an emergency
- Monitoring anti-social or nuisance behaviour by residents or visitors and reporting to the Area Housing Manager for investigation
- Monitoring any breach of safety and security regulations and reporting to the Area Housing Manager for the appropriate action
ESTATE INSPECTIONS
We carry out annual inspections on our housing estates and if we find any problems or issues we will investigate them and take action. We will inspect:
- Communal areas of general needs flats. (The communal areas of older people's supported housing schemes are inspected routinely by support staff)
- Garage areas and access roads to the garage areas
- Open spaces, including 'housing' footpaths and grassed areas
ESTATE WALKABOUTS
Estate walkabouts take place about four times a year. They aim to encourage tenants and council officers to identify and resolve local concerns about your neighbourhood. All residents are welcome to attend a walkabout. Where you have a tenants association, you can also ask them to raise any concerns on your behalf.
The group involved in the walkabouts includes representatives from the tenants and residents associations, the Area Housing Manager, Area Property Surveyor and other council officers, such as a Highways Officer or Environment Officer.
To take part in an estate walkabout where you live, please contact the Tenant Involvement team or your Area Housing Manager.
RIGHT TO CONSULTATION
Under the Housing Act 1985, you have the right to be consulted on housing management issues. We will consult you on changes to the way we run our housing management and maintenance functions to you and on any proposals to improve your estate. We will ask you for your opinion and consider your views carefully before we make any changes.
BOGUS CALLERS
Please be aware of bogus callers who claim to be from the Council or another company, such as a utility company. Bogus callers may ask to enter your home and you may place yourself at risk from, for example, a distraction burglary.
All officers of the Council and people working on behalf of the Council have ID cards and show them to you before they enter your home.
We will normally tell you in advance if work is due to be carried out in your home.
We recommend that you put a notice at your front door, advising:
- 'We do not buy anything from door to door callers'
- 'We will ask for proof of ID we can verify'
If you suspect a caller at your home is not who they say they are, do not allow them into your home. You should contact the Customer Service Centre, the Police on 0845 0 45 45 45 and Trading Standards on 01962 833 620 immediately.
