Delivering services & Keeping us all safe

10/06/2020

Thank you

Thank you for your patience as we continue to bring back some of the services that we suspended during the earlier part of lockdown. We are working hard to get back on track with things and deliver services in the safest way we can.

Update on maintenance services

We are now offering routine as well are urgent and emergency repair visits so our property  services team are out and about in more of your homes.

Our grounds maintenance team is back out cutting back the grass and bushes and working hard to get back on track with this work.

The major improvement sites at Exwick Road and Mount Dinham are also back open again doing their best to get these homes ready for people to move back into.

Update on Housing Services

Our Housing Team continues to work from home but are beginning to get out and about on your estates to look at your external areas and check on any issues that may have been reported during lockdown. They are not yet doing home visits to tenants.

The amount of contact we are getting at the moment is quite high so please bear with us. We aim to get back to you as soon as we can, but our target is by the end of the next working day. We will prioritise our responses based on the issue reported and we appreciate your patience very much.

We have continued to re-let homes during lockdown to support the local authorities with those in urgent need of housing but Devon Home Choice is now back in operation again. Our lettings procedures have changed to reflect government advice on moving home.

We are taking applications for mutual exchanges but not all landlords are, so please check with your exchange partner regarding this. If you are thinking of doing an exchange please follow government guidance on moving home particularly when visiting other people’s houses – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak. We are not yet doing the required property inspections for mutual exchanges so your application will be assessed and any permission to exchange will be conditional upon us completing a property inspection and you will not be allowed to move until that has been completed. We will discuss timescales with you at the time.

The head office remains closed.

Keeping us all safe

Now that we are out and about working in your estates and homes even more we would like your help in keeping us all safe. Please follow these guidelines:

• If you have Covid-19 or are self-isolating and we are due to visit you, please notify us as soon as possible. Your appointment will be re-arranged.

 

• If you are shielding and are worried about an appointment we have with you, please contact us. We can talk to you about the measures we have in place to keep you safe.

 

• Our staff have had detailed instruction on the requirements for hand washing and using anti-bac gel before visiting you, cleaning work areas and equipment/tools in between visits. Social distancing and good hygiene are the most important factors.

 

• If we are coming into your home for maintenance inspections or repair work please:
  • Open windows to ventilate your home 30 minutes before we are due to arrive and leave them open during our visit
  • Clean down the area we will be working in with anti-bac wipes or spray if you can
  • Tells us if you have developed symptoms of Covid-19 before we enter
  • Keep at least 2 metres away from us during the time we are in your home, ideally in a different room or outside of the home if you can.
  • Don’t be offended if we ask you to step back if you get too close or if we turn down the offer of a cuppa.

 

• If you see us out and about on your estate please:
  • Come and say hello if you want to, it is great for us to be interacting with you in person again!
  • Keep at least 2 metres away from us and don’t be offended if we move away if you get to close or if we ask you to step back
  • Let us know if there is an issue you need to tell us about, but respect people’s privacy and confidentiality, you can always call us if it is sensitive.
  • Don’t ask us to come and look at something in your home, the housing team is not doing home visits at this time. If it is a maintenance issue call us on the usual number.

Above all we will be polite and respectful with you and we expect the same from you in return.

How are we doing?

We hope that despite the challenges of the pandemic you continue to be happy with us as your landlord and how we have been doing during this time. We welcome feedback, positive and negative, about how we have been doing. Feel free to let us know on 01392 273462 or mail@cornerstonehousing.net.

We wish you and your families well.

From all the team at Cornerstone!