Due to the expansion of our in-house services, we are recruiting two new permanent caretaker roles! Interested? Find out more HERE

Last year, we introduced a new approach to engagement – developed using your feedback. Engagement at EHA is aimed to allow you to have your say on the services you care about, in ways that suit you – there are four ‘levels’: Information – sharing clear and useful information with you Consultation – you giving opinions and preferences Participation – you working with EHA to inform services and co-creation Management – you leading on decision making and governance We aim to share information with you throughout all stages of your tenancy. This newsletter, our website and social media, is where you will find information. Anything that relates specifically to you or your tenancy, we will contact you directly. We gain your views through consultations and participation work, where tenants work with us to make changes within the groups below. All feedback, and how we will act upon it is then shred with Board (who oversee all of EHA’s work), often through our Scrutiny Audit Panel: To make sure our service is working, and to identify any changes we might need to make – we need your help! For your chance to be entered into a prize draw for £20 M&S…

In its first year, Eden Housing Association’s Eden Rural Community Fund (ERCF) has awarded grants to 6 projects which will all help improve the lives of  people throughout Eden.  The projects benefitting were Newbiggin Village Hall, Armathwaite Old School Hall, Great Salkeld Village Hall and Reading Room, Upper Eden Linking Lives, Alston Town Hall Trustees and Citizen’s Advice Carlisle and Eden.  A contribution was also made to the Cumbria Community Foundation Winter Warmth fund helping to keep older people in Eden warm. Earlier this year, ERCF were surprised to receive a bequest following the death of Penrith man George Walker.  The bequest has been added to the Fund and will result in more money being available for grants in future years. One of the projects benefitting from the funding is Citizens Advice Carlisle and Eden.  At first glance, the Eden area as a whole fares similarly to the national average for indicators of deprivation such as low income. However, this hides the real picture as there are some wards where levels of child poverty are well above the national average with the proportion of children in relative low income in the Warcop ward being 33.3% compared to the national average…

As your landlord, we are responsible for the majority of repairs to your home. We’re looking to review our repairs policy, and making some key changes that we think will improve the service for all. Please take some time to review and respond to the following questions, where we can make sure we listen to your opinions, and reflect that in our new policy and reviewed service. tell us here!  All completed forms with contact details received by Friday 1st November will be entered into a prize draw for £20 high-street vouchers. Good luck!

We are about to set our budgets for the year from April 2025.  It’s really important to us that where we can, we make sure we’re spending money on the areas our tenants tell us mean the most to them. Please take a few minutes to complete our quick survey. If you add your contact details, we’ll enter you in a draw for £50 vouchers to spend locally – you’ll receive them before the end of November, ready for Christmas! Tell us your priorities here

At their next meeting, our Board need to decide about what increase to apply to rents next year. We are still waiting for confirmation from the government about what the increase can be, but we are expecting 2.7% and this is what we will recommend to our Board. We think this is the minimum required to keep the business running and meet tenants’ priorities. Our Board are keen to hear what tenants think so they have a clearer picture before considering our recommendation. Find out more, and tell us what you think HERE! If you add your contact details, we’ll enter you in a draw for £50 vouchers to spend locally – you’ll receive them before the end of November, ready for Christmas!

After completing her full term of office, Beth Furneaux has retired from her position as Chair on the Board of Eden Housing Association. Stepping up from Chair of Audit & Risk to Chair of the Board is Douglas Ross, who has served on the Board for 4 years. Beth Furneaux commented, “I am delighted that Douglas Ross has taken over the role of Chair, and I’m sure he will lead the Association forward.  My time with EHA has been a real privilege, and I’m proud to have been associated with such a great team of staff who work so hard to provide a good service to all the tenants.   The tenants come first at EHA and I feel sure the Board and Executive Team will make sure this continues to be the case.” Douglas Ross joined the Board of Management in 2020 and has been the Chair of its Audit and Risk Committee since 2022.  Doug has a wealth of housing knowledge and experience, previously employed primarily within the public and social housing sectors, and prior to retirement, was most recently employed as Finance Director and subsequently Managing Director of a Housing Association based in the North East of England….

Bogus callers remain a threat in our communities, so please be careful who you let into your home, or what information you share. Our contractors should always have an appointment, and should be able to show you some ID. If you are not sure, please ring EHA on 01768 861400.  Housing Disrepair Claims We’re aware that some of our customers are being approached by Claims Management Companies about making a Housing Disrepair claim against us. We want to protect you from these companies and explain the factors and risks you need to consider if you’re thinking of making a claim. What are Claims Management Companies? They are companies that target tenants, particularly tenants of social housing landlords, with marketing tactics to encourage you to make a claim for disrepair. They then sell your claim to Solicitors who act as intermediaries between you and your landlord (in this case, us), and represent you and handle the claim on your behalf, for a cost. These companies are not what they seem. They may not give you all the information you need before you agree to work with them.  These companies will usually tell you that they operate on a “no win, no…

Check out August’s Viewpoint HERE