The safety and wellbeing of our customers, staff, partners, and the public remain our top priority. We are monitoring the situation very carefully and regularly review our services in line with Government guidance. Our focus is to ensure the continued provision of essential services while limiting the opportunity for the spread of infection. This page is being constantly updated as new information emerges. Please also check the Government and NHS websites in the first instance for up-to-date details.
Residents will by now have received notification of their amended rent and service charges for April 2021. Housing Associations such as English Rural rely on rental income to resource services to residents. Rent increases result in more money available to reinvest in existing homes as well as continuing to improve on the services we offer to residents. This can be seen through ongoing investment in the maintenance of your home, including supporting a programme of planned replacement and external decoration works, in order to ensure we continue to provide good quality housing for our residents.
If you have any queries relating to your new rent amount or are having difficulties maintaining rent payments please contact your Regional Housing Manager who can offer further advice.
In line with Government guidelines, it’s very much ‘business as usual’ as we continue to carry out essential repairs and gas safety checks.
We are encouraging all residents to register for ‘My English Rural‘ to ease pressure on our services. Within the portal, you can contact us, report repairs, feedback on repairs and check and pay your rent – 24-hours a day.
We need you to tell us if you are self-isolating.
In line with updated Government guidelines, our contractors will continue to make home visits and will strictly adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Our Surrey office remains open for staff who are unable to carry out their work from home. A thorough risk assessment has taken place and guidelines have been put in place to ensure it is ‘Covid-19 Safe’. All other offices remain closed and the majority of our staff are continuing to work from home.
We are encouraging all residents to follow the latest advice from the Government and NHS.
If you have not already done so, we would ask that you now sign-up to use the online resident portal. The portal offers a range of self-service options and will help to minimise calls during what is a busy and ever-changing time.
It is quick and easy to sign up with a computer or smartphone. You just need a few details to hand. You can register using the following link – https://englishrural.org.uk/register.
If you need help, email us first on info@englishrural.org.uk or call us on 020 7820 7930 and we can register for you on your behalf if you can provide us with a valid email address.
Please let us know if you are self-isolating. You can now alert us via the resident portal in the ‘Contact Us’ section or you can email us on info@englishrural.org.uk or call us on 020 7820 7930. We have also introduced some extra protocols for staff, which mean they will ask you some further questions when you call. Please always be clear and honest in your response to these questions.
If you display any coronavirus symptoms, you should follow guidance available from public authorities. The advice is subject to change and can be found on the NHS website.
The Government have also produced a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about social distancing and information on how to manage your mental health.
The Government has updated its guidance for people in ‘vulnerable’ categories.
The Government has outlined financial support measures to protect people’s wages with the introduction of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Check here to see if your employer can use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
If you are having any problems paying your rent, discuss these with your Regional Housing Manager who can offer further advice based on your circumstances. English Rural has a social purpose, and this means that we will understand and support you when you face financial challenges.
The rent-setting policy applied by English Rural means that none of our rents are above the level at which you will be able to receive financial support from the Government. Claiming financial support from the Government can take time and the important thing is to start this as soon as your circumstances change. Contact your dedicated Regional Housing Manager if you are unsure about how to do this. They will be ready and willing to help you.
The Citizen’s Advice Bureau offers further advice if you can’t pay your bills because of coronavirus.
In line with Government guidance, English Rural intends to continue a normal repairs and maintenance service whilst observing social distancing guidelines. However, you must let us know if you are self-isolating.
Maintenance and Repairs
Operatives entering your home should notify you in advance of arrival, maintain a safe distance and follow hygiene procedures set by HSE guidance.
No work should be carried out in any household which is isolating, unless it is to remedy a direct risk. Please highlight any related requirements to the contractor when arranging an appointment or contact the English Rural repairs team for assistance.
Planned and Cyclical Maintenance
We are continuing the external cyclical decoration programme as normal.
We will be working with our contractors to understand specific risks to allow internal planned maintenance to resume for the kitchen and bathroom programme. However, this will only take place in homes where residents are not self-isolating and method statements can be produced to reflect a suitable working practise.
Gas Safety Checks
The guidance during lockdown is that Landlords should make every effort to abide by statutory safety obligations, such as annual gas safety inspections. We continue to work with our gas service contractors from two months preceding the expiry date to ensure ample time to gain access and complete a gas safety certificate.
If you are self-isolating, you should inform us to rearrange the gas safety check to take place after your isolation has period ended.
Urgent Repairs and Emergencies
Out-of-Hours Repairs – 0800 046 9985
Emergency repairs are classified as:
If you smell gas, immediately call the National Gas Emergency Helpline on 0800 111 999.
In the event of an emergency
English Rural are committed to returning to a normal service as soon as we can and in line with Government guidance.
As always, we welcome any comments and questions you may have. You can get in touch via the online resident portal, by emailing us on repairs@englishrural.org.uk or by calling us on 020 7820 7930.
Work carried out in your homes, for example by tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, can continue, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no coronavirus symptoms. Social distancing guidelines will be observed in accordance with Government advice.
It is important to ensure that Public Health England guidelines, including maintaining a 2-metre distance from any household occupants, are followed to ensure everyone’s safety.
No work will be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household, such as emergency plumbing or repairs, and where the tradesperson is willing to do so. Routine safety maintenance that ensures your home is safe to live in (e.g. gas servicing) will continue to be carried out.
No work will be carried out by a tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild.
Staff will continue to only attend appointments when they are unable to carry out their work from home and will observe the current guidelines on social distancing, wearing a mask and washing/sanitising their hands.
Over the coming months, as restrictions begin to be lifted, these arrangements will be regularly reviewed to ensure we continue to the meet the needs of our residents whilst observing any national guidelines.
Where we are unable to attend appointments in person, we will use alternatives arrangements such as telephone or video calling. Please contact your Regional Housing Manager if you have any concerns.
We will use this website and the resident portal as our primary channels to provide you with new information. We will also send text messages and the postal service when appropriate. We recognise that not everyone has access to the internet, and where you do not, we would ask that you check with neighbours who do so that they can share information with you, ensuring you adhere to the Government guidelines on social distancing. We have made the decision to offer future updates electronically partly for practical reasons, but also because circumstances are changing so rapidly that information is quickly out of date.
We also strongly recommend that residents consult the advice given on the Government and NHS websites.
The Government have also produced a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about social distancing and information on how to manage your mental health. You can also download a helpful information leaflet here (PDF).
Please be aware that false and misleading claims about coronavirus can spread online and in social media at this time. Special units across government are working to combat this. Read more here.
Our Surrey office remains open for staff who are unable to carry out their work from home. A thorough risk assessment has taken place and guidelines have been put in place to ensure it is ‘Covid-19 Safe’. All other offices remain closed and the majority of our staff are continuing to work from home.
We are well prepared for this decision as our IT and phone systems enable home-working for all staff. We have redirected post. Phone numbers remain the same. The reality is that residents are unlikely to notice that this change has happened.
You should contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on Freephone 0808 2000 247 or contact your Regional Housing Manager. If it’s an emergency then call the Police on 999. Most councils also provide a list of local contacts on their website where you can seek support. Please also see our specific page on domestic violence which lists useful contact details for a variety or organisations and services that can help.
The Government also offers advice about what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
During this time, you may be bored, frustrated or lonely. You may also feel low, worried, anxious, or be concerned about your health or that of those close to you. Everyone reacts differently to events and changes in the way that we think, feel and behave vary between different people and over time. It’s important that you take care of your mind as well as your body and to get further support if you need it.
Please refer to the Government’s guidance on looking after your mental health and wellbeing during this time.
The Government also offers advice about what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
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