Thanks to the feedback you’ve given us, we’ve recently produced and published our new asset management strategy. This is designed to help ensure we manage your homes, communal areas and estates most effectively. It will also help us plan well in advance to make sure we are investing in the right homes at the right time.
You’ve told us that it is important to you that your homes are more energy-efficient, which can help to reduce energy bills, leading to more affordable warmth and comfort.
As part of our strategy, in a small number of cases, we look to release the poorest performing properties. By that, we mean properties that need significant financial investment and major works to meet sustainable energy and efficiency standards, for example. This could be because properties have very high maintenance costs, are difficult to improve the energy efficiency of, or cost too much to heat.
The proceeds we make are reinvested into developing new and maintaining our existing affordable homes. This strategy ensures that we can continue to provide high-quality, affordable housing to those who need it most.
Affected customers are offered an alternative home that is of a better standard than the one they are currently living in, and that meets their needs now and into the future. They have an ongoing right to affordable housing.
We have a dedicated Home Move team who support customers throughout the moving process. We look to engage at the earliest possible time with customers to be able to accommodate their needs and preferences and support them as much as possible. Throughout the process we are in regular contact with affected customers and provide a range of services to ensure their emotional, physical and financial wellbeing is supported.
We offer face to face meetings where any questions or concerns can be answered, and we appoint dedicated and highly experienced Home Move Co-ordinators to engage, support and communicate with customers.
We want you to live in a safe, secure, well maintained, comfortable, home that is warm, modern and suitable for your needs. We’ll make sure that anywhere you move to meets your individual requirements. For example, if you currently live on the ground floor and would like to remain living on the ground floor, we’ll support you to move into this same type of home.
We’ll make sure carpets or other suitable flooring and curtains are provided, and any special measures such as adaptations for accessibility are in place. We’ll balance availability of properties with your preferences, as well as making sure any future home meets your longer-term housing need.
The earlier you talk to us about your preferences and housing needs, the quicker we can then find you a suitable, good quality, longer-term home.
We’ll provide a range of support that takes into consideration and supports your individual requirements. We’ll be available if you ever need to talk to us about any changes that take place and we’re happy to talk to your support network as well, to answer any questions or concerns you or they may have.
We’ll take care of the whole moving process, including supplying boxes and packaging, helping you to pack, the removals and settling into your new home. If you would like to use this as an opportunity to sort out any old belongings, we’ll arrange and pay for any removals of these unwanted items too.
You remain fully entitled to affordable housing and we’ll cover the majority, if not all, of the costs associated with a home move and make adaptations as needed to help you settle into your new home.
In many cases, we can successfully relocate customers into an alternative Aster property, but if we can’t do this then customers may be able to move to homes belonging to other Housing Associations.
If you wish to get in touch with us about this, please use the form below.