SHELTERED HOUSING ADVISORY BOOKLET
Introduction.
What is ‘sheltered’ housing?Page 1
What is ‘special sheltered’ housing?Page 2
What is the role of the Scheme Manager?Page 3
What accommodation is provided?Page 4
How Much Rent Will I Pay?Page 4
Are Pets Allowed In Sheltered Housing?Page 5
How do I apply?Page 5
Index of individual schemesPage 6
Description of schemesPages 7-18
SHELTERED HOUSING IN MOLE VALLEY
Introduction
The term "sheltered housing" is often misunderstood. This booklet, produced by Mole Valley District Council's Housing Department, is designed to clarify some of the more common myths and misunderstandings that exist about this type of accommodation and to provide answers to those questions most frequently asked by people when thinking about moving into sheltered housing.
The decision to move to sheltered housing is not one to be taken lightly. Sheltered housing is just one of the options available to people who have reached or are nearing retirement age. This booklet does not attempt to "sell" sheltered housing. It does not make comparisons. It simply tells you what sheltered housing is and what it is not.
It is for each individual to investigate the alternatives and eventually decide which type of accommodation is best suited to meet their own needs and requirements. Whatever the final decision, if this booklet helps someone decide that sheltered housing is or is not for them, then it will have served the purpose for which it is intended.
It is likely that there are questions that are not covered in this short booklet so if after reading it you want to know more, then please contact the Housing Needs Section by telephone, letter or by calling in person at:-
The Housing Department
The Council Offices
Pippbrook
Dorking
Surrey
RH4 1SJ
Tel: 01306 879197.
1.
What is sheltered housing?
It might be easier to start by explaining what sheltered housing is not. Sheltered housing is not an old peoples home, it is not a nursing home, nor is it a retirement home, in fact it is not a "home" at all.
At its most basic, sheltered housing is a group of dwellings; they may be flats or bungalows or a mixture of both. The essential difference between a "home" and sheltered housing is that the flats or bungalows that comprise a sheltered scheme are all self contained.
Each is a separate, private dwelling with its own entrance, with its own kitchen and its own bathroom. When residents are in their own flat or bungalow and have closed the front door behind them, they are in their own private domain; they are at home.
People who live in sheltered housing lead normal, independent lives. They decide for themselves when they will get up, when to eat, when to go to bed, whether they will go and visit friends or whether they will have friends visit them.
Sheltered housing is ideal for reasonably active people who simply require good quality housing and facilities, amongst others of a similar age group and would appreciate, and need, the reassurance and support provided by the Scheme Manager.
There is, of course, more to it than that.
Apart from the Scheme Manager, whose role is more fully described later in the booklet, there are usually other facilities that put the "shelter" into sheltered housing and there follows a brief description of these.
First of all is the alarm system. Every flat in sheltered accommodation has an alarm system with pull cords in every room and a two-way intercom to speak to the Scheme Manager.
The alarm system is for use in emergencies and one simple pull of the cord alerts the Scheme Manager to a problem in the flat. The Scheme Manager would then ascertain the problem through the intercom and visit the flat to assist and/or contact the appropriate emergency services as necessary.
When the Scheme Manager is not on site at the scheme all alarm calls are transferred automatically to the Community Alarm Centre. The Centre is staffed 24 hours a day with a fully trained Operators available to answer all calls and arrange for the correct services to deal with the problem that has arisen, so assistance in emergencies is always available.
2. There are also the communal facilities. Each scheme in the district is different and each schemes individual facilities are described later in the booklet.
The majority have a communal lounge where residents can meet and socialise. Many schemes have thriving social clubs and organise activities such as bingo, coffee mornings, craft classes, cards and darts, outings and parties. The main emphasis is on residents to work together to organise the kind of social activities they enjoy. Many residents find a great advantage is gained from living in a community with others of a similar age and from all walks of life, providing companionship and friendship to each other.
Most schemes have pleasant garden areas maintained by the Council, some with greenhouses but, if residents particularly enjoy gardening, participation will always be encouraged.
All schemes have full laundry facilities, with washing machines, tumble dryers and irons for the use of all the residents at no extra charge. They also have a twin bed guest room which can be booked by residents for visitors who wish to stay overnight. There is a small charge for the room towards the cost of linen, cleaning etc.
Most schemes with bathrooms have a communal shower room for those who find bathing difficult, and those with shower rooms all have an assisted bathroom. Many, but not all, have a stairlift or passenger lift to the first floor flats.
What is Special Sheltered Housing?
Special sheltered accommodation is designed to cater for the more physically frail people who feel they may need a greater level of support.
There are two resident Scheme Managers at these schemes so there is always someone "on site" to come to residents' assistance in emergencies.
The accommodation in special sheltered schemes is essentially the same as other sheltered schemes but the communal facilities are more extensive. All these schemes have a dining room where a two course lunch, prepared and cooked on the premises, is available everyday of the year. Other facilities include a passenger lift and sometimes a hairdressing room and assisted bathroom.
Applicants for special sheltered schemes must still be reasonably mobile and capable of making their own decisions. They will need to be able to manage their own personal and financial affairs and provide their own breakfast and tea, or have assistance available from relatives, Social Services or another reliable source.
3.
What is the role of the Scheme Manager?
Just as Sheltered Housing should not be confused with a residential or nursing home, the manager's role should not be confused with the role of a nurse, maid, home care, relative or miracle worker!
The Scheme Manager is employed primarily to manage the day to day running of the scheme and to promote the safety, security and general well being of the residents.
He or she will ensure the building and communal areas are kept clean and in good repair, and that equipment meets all safety requirements.
The Scheme Manager can be called upon in the event of an emergency and will offer advice and assistance in times of difficulty. The Manager will also offer support and a friendly ear when needed whilst respecting your right to privacy and independence. The Manager will not usually call on you on a daily basis or intrude on your life but will try to be alert to your needs and be there if needed.
At ‘standard’ sheltered housing schemes, the Manager’s generally work a 5 day week, usually Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, and are on call outside of these hours for emergencies, when they are at the scheme. When they leave the building the alarm system is transferred to the Community Alarm Centre so help is always available.
As the Scheme Manager will always try to respect your right to privacy in your home, we ask residents to respect the warden's need for time off duty, barring emergencies, and to try to leave non-urgent problems until the next working day.
At ‘special’ sheltered schemes, the two resident Managers provide cover between them, so there is always someone available every day of the week, although we still ask that general queries are raised during normal working hours.
Residents in sheltered accommodation, as mentioned before, should be able to live independently and be capable of managing all their day to day affairs and chores, or have help available from friends, relatives, Social Services or other agencies.
The Scheme Manager is not generally able to undertake personal care or run errands for residents, but he or she will however do his or her best to liaise with the person or services who can help. Their role is to co-ordinate the help you require, not to provide it personally.
4.
What accommodation is provided?
A single person will normally be offered a fully self contained studio flat, comprising one room which is a combined living and sleeping area, a fully fitted kitchen complete with electric cooker and fridge, and a bathroom or shower room with W.C. Two person flats are basically the same but have a separate bedroom and living room. In some instances, if no couples are awaiting housing, a one bedroomed flat can be offered to a single person.
The flats are all let unfurnished leaving residents free to provide themselves with carpets, curtains and furnishings of their own choice.
How Much Rent Will I Pay?
Every flat is assessed separately so it is not possible to specify a standard rent, however all rents are very reasonable for the standard of accommodation and facilities available. The Housing Needs Officer can give an approximate guide to the full rent at different schemes.
The total rent for your flat is made up of various parts. The first is the Basic Rent, which is based on the size and value of the flat itself. The second part is the Property Management Charge, which is a charge towards the cost of other facilities provided such as the laundry, lounge etc, cleaning of the scheme and maintenance of the grounds. The third charge is for Support, which covers a small portion of the cost of the scheme manager and the provision of the Alarm Call service.
If a tenant is on a low income and has less than £16,000 savings they may be eligible for Housing Benefit towards some or all of these charges. If a tenant is not eligible for Housing Benefit, but has less than £20,000 savings, they may still be entitled to some help towards the Support element of the rent charges.
In addition to these rent charges every resident has to pay a Utility Charge. This covers the water rates and sometimes the heating, hot water and electricity. At ‘special’ sheltered schemes there is a small additional charge towards the cost of ensuring the availability of the meals service. The Utility Charge, and when relevant the Meals Availability Charge, must be paid even if a tenant is eligible for full Housing Benefit which covers the cost of all the rent.
Residents are responsible for their own Council tax charges, telephone, food and all other usual household expenses.
We recommend, whatever the financial circumstances, any person in need of re-housing should contact us to discuss their individual circumstances.
5.
Are Pets Allowed in Sheltered Housing?
Residents are free to bring their fish or caged birds to live in their accommodation, however other pets are not allowed without prior permission.
The Council has a Pets Policy, which lays down strict conditions that must be met before permission will be granted. Not all sheltered flats are suitable for pets and not all pets will be suitable for sheltered housing, but each application will be considered on it’s own merits. We will be happy to discuss your individual situation and needs at the time of applying for housing.
Would I have to have a full Television Licence?
All the schemes except for Chequers Place, Marlborough Road and Marlborough Court are eligible for the Concessionary T.V. Licence. Tenants over 75 join the licence with no charge, tenants over 60 but under 75 have to pay £5.00 each year when the Council renew the licence.
How do I apply for sheltered or special sheltered housing?
Applications for both sheltered and special sheltered housing will normally only be accepted from single people or couples who are over the age of 55, but adult applicants with a disability can be accepted at any age..
Each application is assessed within the Council's Housing Register Policy and applicants are awarded points to prioritise offers of accommodation.
Once the completed application form is received by us, the Needs Section will register it and send an acknowledgement letter. Shortly afterwards the Housing Officer for Senior Citizen’s will contact the applicant to make an appointment to discuss their housing requirements and assess their needs. Applicants need not contact their doctor as, if further medical information is necessary, the Council's own Medical Advisor can arrange this.
For applications forms or further details and enquiries please contact the Housing Officer in the Needs Section of the Housing Department at the Council Offices, Pippbrook, Dorking, RH4 1SJ Telephone (01306) 879197.
6.
INDEX OF SHELTERED HOUSING SCHEMES
Atkinson House, Betchworth.Page 7
Brookers House, Ashtead.Page 7
Clements House, Leatherhead.Page 8
Dyson Court, Dorking.Page 8
Douglas House, Bookham.Page 9
Fairfield Court, Dorking.Page 9
Griffin Court, Ashtead.Page 10
Kenward Court, Brockham.Page 10
Lyons Court, Dorking.Page 11
Marlborough Court, Marlborough Road
& Chequers Place, Dorking.Page 11
Montgomery Court, Leatherhead.Page 12
Turner House, Beare Green.Page 13
Turville Court, Bookham.Page 13
SPECIAL SHELTERED HOUSING SCHEMES.
Chapel Court, Dorking.Page 14
Lime Tree Court, Ashtead.Page 15
Norfolk Court, North Holmwood, Dorking.Page 16
Silver Court, Leatherhead.Page 17
Southey Court, Bookham.Page 18
7.
Atkinson House, Betchworth
Atkinson House was built in the mid 1970's and has 20 one bedroomed flats and seven studio flats, on the ground and first floors. There is a passenger lift in addition to stairs.
The one bedroomed flats are spacious with separate kitchens and bathrooms. The studio flats are also larger than average with a separate kitchen, toilet and washbasin and shared use of the bathrooms. The flats are heated by electric night storage heaters and the water by immersion. All windows are double glazed.
Other facilities in the scheme include a pleasant seated area in the entrance hall and a large communal lounge, kitchen and laundry, and a guest room.
Atkinson House is surrounded by level lawned gardens with established trees. It is set back from the road with private parking to the front and views of Boxhill to the rear.
The scheme is in the attractive rural village of Betchworth, situated next door to the village shop. There is a regular bus service to local towns and hospitals.
Service charge includes heating, hot water, and electricity.
Brookers House, Ashtead
Brookers House was built in the late 1960's and was fully refurbished in 1988 to form 21 studio flats and 1 one bedroomed flat.
The flats are on the ground and 1st floors with staircases and a stair lift. The size and shape of each flat varies but many are extremely spacious with large windows. All flats have central heating, double glazing and separate kitchens and bathrooms.
The building forms a T-shape having a large entrance hall leading to the communal lounge with kitchen area. Other communal facilities include a laundry room with an outside drying area, a guest room and a shower room.
Brookers House is surrounded by open lawned areas and a car park for use of residents and visitors. It is situated on a quiet road on a large residential estate. There is a local Post Office/General Store with other shops approximately 15 minutes walk and a bus service from the end of the road to local town centres.
Service charge includes heating, hot water and electricity .
8.
Clements House, Leatherhead
Built in the mid 1960's, Clements House was fully renovated in 1987 to form 28 studio flats and 4 one bedroomed flats. The flats are on the ground and 1st floors with 2 staircases and no lift.
The flats are all spacious and, as a result of the renovations, are all quite different from each other. Most have good sized kitchens, and large bathrooms and all have central heating.
Clements House also has a comfortable communal lounge with kitchen area, a guest room and laundry and a shower room.