March Customer Bulletin
It's starting to look a bit more Springlike out and about on on our estates. Our gardening service will resume this month, including grass cutting (weather permitting).

These Customer Bulletins are a chance for us to share our latest activity and update you about our plans. If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact: georgina.thompson@lyha.co.uk
Schoolchildren name the streets at our latest development

We have been delighted to work with Barnsley schoolchildren to come up with the street names for our Catherine's Walk development due for completion in Autumn this year. The winning names chosen were 'Blossom View' and ‘Tawny Street’, named by Ruby Kenny and Olivia Robinson (both aged 8) from Laithes Primary School.

Once completed the new development at Athersley South, Barnsley, will provide 54 affordable new homes for families and older people (including 40 houses, 8 apartments and 6 bungalows). Five of the homes will be available for shared ownership. To find out more, please email: elaine.hindes@lyha.co.uk
Rent adjustment letters

You should have received your annual rent adjustment letter through the post last week.
If you pay by Direct Debit you do not need to do anything. We will amend this to the new amount from 1st April 2019 and your payments will continue as normal. If you pay by standing order or any other method you will need to adjust the amount you pay asap.

If you are in receipt of Housing Benefit from your Local Authority, you need to inform them of the new rent amount we will be charging from 01 April 2019. Likewise, if you currently receive Universal Credit you will need to contact the DWP to notify them of the change in your rental amount.
Home Contents Insurance - make sure you're covered

As your landlord, we insure your home (including permanent fixtures & fittings) against structural damage. However, we do not insure your belongings. This includes carpets and wall coverings. We therefore strongly advise you to make sure you have contents insurance to cover your belongings against the cost of loss due to theft, fire or flood. Unfortunately, accidents do happen and they can be very expensive to put right yourself without insurance.

If you have not already taken out contents insurance we have negotiated a discounted rate with Royal & Sun Alliance. There are different cover levels to choose from and prices start from 76p per week. To find out more, please click here . Alternatively, you can use a price comparison website, such as Money Supermarket, to find out the best rate for you.
You said....

Back in October we held a customer focus group about improvements to our IT. You told us you wanted us to focus on our core functions: make it easier to get through on our phones and improve our repairs service.

....we did

We've embedded a new phone system and our stats tell us that calls are getting answered more quickly. We've also made improvements to our repairs satisfaction. In January we completed 317 repairs: 86% of customers told us they were satisfied with their repair and 80% reported a first time fix. Of those that weren't completely satisfied, this was mainly down to communication, so we will focus our efforts on this going forward.
Focus on Shared Ownership

Shared Ownership is a government-backed scheme to enable first time buyers to make their first step on the property ladder. It allows you to part-rent and part-buy your own home, making it possible to buy a property which may not otherwise have been affordable. It's not just aimed at young people starting out, it could be for you at anytime in life, such as following a relationship breakdown or if you've previously lived with family.

One of our Shared Ownership customers tells us about her experience:
"I moved into a LYHA shared ownership property about 4 months ago and it's been such a positive move. I'd previously owned a property with my husband for over 20 years, but when we split up I struggled to find somewhere that suited my needs. I wanted to live as part of a community, somewhere light and bright, with easy access (as I have a long-term health condition). Then I saw an advert for this shared ownership property and it's perfect for me. It's all on one level, in Horsforth close to where I lived before and I'm near to lots of local amenities so it ticks all the boxes. I think a lot of people don't know about shared ownership or realise it could be for them, but it is a great option that could work for so many people."
For further information about Shared Ownership, please visit our website or contact Elaine Hindes - 0113 220 8101.
Meet our team
Sally Hilton

Job: HR Officer

How long have you worked for LYHA?
My time at LYHA has flown. I can’t believe it has nearly been 5 years already!

What is your favourite part of the job?
I love the daily interaction with my colleagues. We are all very different but have lots in common too. I enjoy providing a service to the colleagues I see as my customers. My aim is to ensure they have the right information and support to do their jobs well. 

Where would be your ideal day out in Yorkshire?
By the sea. The drive over to the coast is breath-taking and there is nothing better than walking along a Yorkshire beach come rain or shine!
Russell Beavers

Job: Property Surveyor

How long have you worked for LYHA?
I've worked at LYHA since January 2018.

What is your favourite part of the job?
Being able to resolve issues and repair requirements, leaving customers happy and satisfied with the service. Also being part of the LYHA family.

Where would be your ideal day out in Yorkshire?
My ideal day in Yorkshire would be walking on Filey Brigg with my dog (who has now very sadly passed away).

If a visitor to Yorkshire only had time to visit one place in Yorkshire, where should they go?
They should visit the Metropolis of the North, my beautiful home city of York.
Staff training day

Please note that our offices will be closed on Tuesday 26th March for essential staff training. If you have an urgent enquiry, please call us on Tel: 0113 2783335 and you will be redirected to our out of hours service.
Our customer portal

Do you know you can now access your rent account, report a repair and bid for a property via the customer portal on our website ? It's quick, easy and accessible 24/7. If you've not already registered, you just need to click here . You will need an email address and your tenancy reference number (which you can find on your rent statement) or email us at info@lyha.co.uk
Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association | 0113 2783335 | georgina.thompson@lyha.co.uk | www.lyha.co.uk