Rents frozen for 2021
Our Board has agreed to freeze rents this year. Every April we increase rents in line with inflation. However, given the quite exceptional year which presented so many challenges to residents, this year the Board thought it fair to keep rents at current levels.
Staff
We furloughed two maintenance staff in January as the lockdown took place and we scaled back on maintenance work. As the UK comes out of lockdown and re-opens over the next 2-3 months, we’ll be bringing staff back to work and restarting normal maintenance.
Reporting maintenance
Please remember that the new email address for all maintenance is repairs@zebrahousing.com
Easter weekend
This is just a reminder that we will close from Thursday 1 April at 5.30pm and re-open on Tuesday 6 April at 9.30am although our out of hours/emergency service will operate throughout.
Wardens
Our wardens, of course, will be there to deal with emergencies etc. over the Easter weekend and they are always there out of normal working hours – evenings and weekends. They can also help residents with advice and information during the pandemic.
And once again a big thanks to them. They have been invaluable to Zebra’s staff and residents over the last year.
Covid-19
At the time of writing conditions in the UK are improving and there is a clear plan to come out of lockdown. However, residents should be mindful that they need to maintain social distancing, wear masks where it is appropriate and follow the government guidelines on behaviour.
Given that conditions vary across the world residents also need to keep abreast of the rules on travel and we strongly recommend that residents consult the government website https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control before considering any international travel. Steve is regularly in contact with residents updating you all on the domestic scene and how we can all protect ourselves and our fellow residents.
If we have to go into an occupied flat, we risk assess the job beforehand and discuss what we are going to do with the resident.
Our priority remains the safety and security of our residents.
Social Programme
We are re-scheduling our annual Garden Party – making it a late summer event – so we are thinking of a mid-September date. Here’s hoping! And again, hopefully this will be the start of a new social programme!
Scheme Meetings
Steve is organising meetings with groups of residents at individual schemes by Zoom. We want to find out what your concerns are, to see if we can help out, and what our priorities should be next year. It would be particularly good to hear from new residents. He will be in contact in early April
