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Article: Housing Management Teams

Out on an estate walkabout in DarfieldWhat are Housing Management Teams?

Housing Management Teams are small groups of officers who have responsibility for providing housing management services at a local level.  Berneslai Homes have eight Housing Management Teams who serve the following areas:

Each Housing Management Team has a Housing Management Team Leader and Housing Management Officers who are out on your estates. You can see who is in your local team by clicking your chosen area, as above. 
 
Housing Management Officer at workWhat do Housing Management Teams do?

Housing Management Teams spend the majority of their time on your estates, visiting tenants and residents and doing many different things.  They have modern equipment and can access information from your home or estate, so they can quickly deal with your query or problem.  We visit & talk to many thousands of you each year, however we will visit every tenant over a minimum 3 year cycle to make sure that they are happy in their home, have no problems and are following the terms of their tenancy.  They will also carry estate inspections so that you can meet them on the estate in order to discuss issues.  There is no description for this image

Here are just a few of the things Housing Management Officers do.

  • When you are offered a new home -A Housing Management Team will contact you and show you around the property. This could be while the property is having some work done on it to see if you are happy with it. If you are once it is ready we will arrange for you to comment of the standard of your new home and arrange to sign the appropriate tenancy agreement. They will also show you where to turn off your gas,  electricity and water and where the meters are.
  • When you accept a new home - They will make sure that you have signed all the paper work, hand you a housing benefit form if you wish to seek assistance with paying your rent, inform you how you can pay your rent, how you can report repairs, how you can get in touch with your Tenants and Residents Association or other active community groups, any support needs you may have, how you can report issues such as noise nuisance, etc and any other things which we feel are important. They will also explain other things both you and Berneslai Homes are responsible for.
  • When you have moved in - They will visit you within 28 days of you moving into your new home. This is your chance to discuss any issues which have arisen since moving in.
  • If you have never had a Council Tenancy before - After the first visit they will usually arrange a second visit with the first three months of you moving in and a third one within six months of you moving in. Again this are your opportunity to discuss any issues. Additional visits could be programmed in if either you or the officer felt this was appropriate.
  • If you have had a Council House before  - No visits other than the one within the first 28 days of you moving in will normally be arranged. However additional ones could be programmed in if it is felt there is a need.
  • While you are a Tenant - They make sure you and other tenants keep to the terms of their tenancy.  Either by enforcing tenancy conditions where tenants refuse to follow the terms of their tenancy or by giving support to vulnerable tenants who might have difficulty managing their tenancy.   Housing Management Officers in action
  • They deal with neighbour disputes.  
  • They give advice and assistance to tenants and residents.  For example they will advise you what to do if you want to:  improve your own home; transfer to another council property; report a repair; complain about our service; end your tenancy; complete a mutual exchange. 
  • They regularly check the estates for grass cutting, litter and graffiti.  If there is an issue they will arrange for appropriate jobs to be done by the Council’s Neighbourhood Pride service. 
  • They work with and help set up local Tenants and Residents Associations.  We get and use your views! Housing Management Teams also take part in other types of customer consultations such as surveys, attending open days and giving presentations at public meetings.  
  • They work closely with other people, departments and organisations such as: Local Councillors; Area Forums; Environmental Regulatory Unit; Social Services; and local schools.   
  • They work very closely with the Safer Neighbourhood Teams, South Yorkshire Police and our Tenancy Enforcement Team to address ASB, youth nuisance or drug related problems.  By working in partnership, we hope to resolve the problem more quickly & effectively. We regularly exchange information and carry out joint visits where appropriate. 
  • They work closely with our elderly persons wardens in our bungalow and sheltered housing schemes. 
  • They make sure that any empty property is prepared for re-letting quickly.  
  • They work with our specialist lettings staff to make sure that our properties are let in line with our lettings policy.
  • They complete accompanied viewings of prospective tenants.   

Who is my Housing Management Officer?

A Housing Management Officer has responsibility for a specific location, known as a ‘patch’.  Please see the above list to find out who is in your area.

Like us all, they come in many different shapes and sizes!  But the uniforms they wear, which are clearly marked with a Berneslai Homes logo, make them highly visible on your estate.   They also carry an identity badge which has their photo, name and job title.

How can I contact my Housing Management Officers?

Housing Management Officers spend more time on your estates.  So if you need them and you see them on the estate just call them over.  But they can also be contacted in many other ways.

By phone: On 01226 775555 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.  If it is a general enquiry Barnsley Connects staff will more than likely be able to help. If they cannot help they will record your enquiry and the officer will contact you within 5 working days of your inquiry. If it is felt that it is more urgent than this they will ask the offiicer to contact you sooner.

By e-mail: You can email your local Housing Management Team below: 

If you e-mail us we will acknowledge your e-mail within one working day.

In writing: You can write to our housing managment teams at the following addresses:

North Housing Management Teams cover areas in the north of the Borough including: Cudworth, Royston, Athersley, Lundwood, Darton and Penistone areas.

Barnsley North Specialist Services, PO Box 627, Barnsley, S70 9FZ. 

South Housing Management Teams cover areas in the south of the Borough including: Dearne, Wombwell, Kendray,Worsbrough and Hoyland areas.

Barnsley South Specialist Services, PO Box 627, Barnsley, S70 9FZ .

Where can I see my Housing Management Officer?

Wherever possible, Housing Management Officers will come out to see you in your home rather than expecting you to come out and see us.  But if you prefer we can arrange an interview in your local Barnsley Connects Office, local estate office or other convenient location.

What do Housing Management Officers do for good tenants?

Thankfully  the majority of tenants are good, and have respect for one another, their home and the environment.  Because so many don’t cause problems, the chances are you will have less contact with our staff.  But they are working for you on a daily basis - checking your estates and taking action where things are not right or against those tenants who do cause problems.

We also hold annual garden competition where we award prizes for tenants who take extra care and pride in their garden.  The winners are invited to attend an award ceremony at the Town Hall to have their hard work recognised. If you would like to enter your garden this year, please let your local officer know.

How do I know what is happening on my estate?

The simple answer is just to ask us! But you can find out in many other ways:

Our newsletter Open House has up to date information about what’s going on.  But what about getting involved?

Estate walkabouts have been organised on each estate, which gives residents a greater opportunity to talk to Berneslai Homes and Barnsley Council Officers, who deliver services on your estate. 

Many estates have a Tenants and Residents Association (TARA) which is an organisation formed by local people. It is run by volunteers and is open to everyone who lives in the area it covers. The Association may concentrate only on local housing issues, or it could get involved in wider housing policies that affect everyone in the borough. It could also get involved in a whole range of community issues. If you are interested in getting involved as a community representative please let your Housing Management Officer know.

If you are involved in a TARA or any other community organisation that has dealings with Council tenants or are affected by the actions of council tenants or their families,  we would like a representative from your group or association to join our Housing Management Team Steering Groups. By doing this you can influence, on behalf of your group, the prioritisation of the work your Housing Management Team carries out, play a part in monitoring their performance and take part in scheduled Estate Walkabouts. You can also participate in decisions taken on how small amounts of monies can be spent on things that improve the environment or reduce actual or perceived crime and safety.   If you are interested please contact a member of your local team.

See our Get Involved section for further information on how you can help to shape our service. 

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