Changes to Local Housing Offices

MIDDLESBROUGH’S largest housing association is keeping tenants at the heart of its business by making changes to its services.

Erimus Housing has been carrying out consultation with its customers to find out how to provide better services.

Now the organisation has opened its exciting new Homechoice Centre, situated on Corporation Road, which plays home to a range of services.

The facility can deal with general housing enquiries and also houses the homelessness, adaptations and wardens services, repairs hotline, Community Kids Project, Tenants Contents Insurance scheme, Disabled Persons Housing Service and Erimus Housing’s choice based letting scheme.

In the New Year, residents will also be offered new services which will make life easier for them, including paying bills by Direct Debit and paying at local shops or Post Offices through Allpay and Pay Point.

Customers with a Switch or credit card will also be able to pay their bills over the phone by ringing their local housing office and tenants can also use the facilities at the Residents’ Resource Centre in Thorntree.

Resident Grace Khurana, from Hemlington, said: “You will be able to pay your bills any time, which is a great thing for most people, especially for elderly people and parents with young children.

“You will also be able to use the Allpay and Pay Point facilities when you are out and about shopping on a weekend.

“The Homechoice centre has also opened, which is easily accessible in the town centre and has services under one roof.”

As part of the changes, the opening hours at Erimus Housing’s five sub-offices will change in January.

From April, services will be consolidated at the housing association’s four main housing offices in Berwick Hills, Hemlington, Thorntree and Grove Hill, in line with the promises made to tenants at the time of transfer.

Susie Thompson, Director of Housing, said: “We would like to thank our tenants for taking the time to participate in our consultation events.

“This ensures we change our services and standards in line with what they want.

“These are very exciting changes that will mean a positive change to all our customers.”

Anyone with any comments on the changes should contact Linda Bacon, Resident Involvement Manager, on 01642 773633 or email info@erimushousing.co.uk by 9th January 2006.