Erimus Housing....A Year On

NOT everyone can remember what they were doing a year ago.

But for thousands of people across Middlesbrough, 15th November 2004 was a historic day.

It was the day Erimus Housing, a not-for profit organisation and the town’s biggest housing association, started business.

For almost 12,000 people across Middlesbrough, it meant their landlord changed from Middlesbrough Council to Erimus Housing.

Not only that. It also meant those people would begin to see a string of improvements that would make a big difference to their homes and communities.

This is what Erimus Housing has achieved during the last year:

Better services for tenant

Recently, tenants were at the heart of plans to develop a one-stop shop in central Middlesbrough, a proposal that has recently come to fruition.

The complex, based on Corporation Road, houses an extensive array of services including housing advice, Tenants Contents Insurance, the Disabled Persons Housing Service and Community Kids project under one roof.

It also plays home to the Homechoice scheme, the first choice based lettings scheme to operate in the Tees Valley.

The scheme means that rather than waiting for a home someone else thinks is suitable, tenants can actively search for a home of their own choice on the website, at housing offices, at the Homechoice centre and in the Homemaker section of the Evening Gazette.

During the first week of operation, 800 people made bids for properties.

The organisation has also proved it has the interests of residents at heart by setting up its very own enforcement team after tenants highlighted anti-social behaviour as one of their major issues.

One of the team’s tools comes in the shape of Community Kids, a scheme aiming to teach youngsters in years five and six from schools across the town about citizenship, using role plays, poems, posters and even videos.

Welcome packs have been developed for new tenants, containing items including light bulbs and cleaning products, and a home contents insurance scheme has been set up.

Safety is also an issue, with a joint venture with Community Ventures Limited to install free burglar alarms to vulnerable properties and Erimus now also works with Cleveland Fire Brigade to offer free fire safety checks to all its tenants.

Not only have internal IT systems been developed, including a new finance system. Erimus has also hit the World Wide Web after launching its own website, which is soon to be developed even further.

Improving the environment

As soon as the organisation was born, a six-month quick win programme kicked off, which saw immediate environmental improvements on estates.

Skip drives were held for people to get rid of their unwanted items, landscaping and external painting took place, even car parking spaces were created.

Tenants in the driving seat

Tenants became Erimus Housing’s priority from the very start and a Residents’ Panel was immediately set up, giving tenants a big say in the development and work of the organisation.

A Residents’ Resource Centre was also set up in the heart of Thorntee, playing home to a computer suite with Internet access, phone, fax and photocopier, as well as a meeting room.

Erimus residents can now take part in a variety of courses at the facility, based on Cinderwood.

And they’re also encouraged to take part in consultation days, held in each of the four areas.

Area Partnership Forums became Area Housing Forums, operating in each of Erimus Housing’s four areas. Each was given a budget of £25,000 to use to improve its area.

Investing in homes

Erimus isn’t standing still. Regeneration is a key theme in the aims of the housing association. Earlier this year, a massive five-year, £105m improvement programme kicked off, targeting all Erimus Homes.

In partnership with Dunelm Property Services, Rok and its own in-house team Erimus Building Services, the organisation is revamping homes, including, where needed, fitting new kitchens, bathrooms, boilers, doors and windows, as well as rewiring properties.

Future development

Erimus has also joined the Spirit partnership, a collaboration of housing associations in the North of England which has allowed the group to put in bids for funding to build new homes.

The organisation is undertaking a joint exercise with Middlesbrough Council to plan a sustainable future for Grove Hill and Hemlington.

And Erimus Housing is also reviewing its services to ensure it provides the best possible service to tenants.

All this in the first year of the housing association which now employs more than 500 people.

Bob Brady, Chair of the board for Erimus Housing, says: “We naturally want to make a significant contribution to meet the housing and regeneration needs of Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley.

“Erimus Housing is well placed to play a full part in meeting the needs of our area through house improvements, area regeneration and through the building of new homes which meet modern day aspirations.

“Our first priority is to ensure that we meet in full the promises made to our tenants on transfer and justify the faith they have placed in us.”