We are aware that there is a lot of information circulating about coronavirus. We are monitoring the situation closely and we have plans in place that we will introduce, if there are local cases of coronavirus.
Please click the tabs below for further information on Coronavirus, FAQs, our services and useful links to other sites:
25 March update
Service Charges – LHP provide a number of services to our customers such as ground maintenance, communal cleaning, window cleaning for which customers receive a charge for payable through either a fixed or variable service charge.
We are continuing to work with all our contractors who provide these services to ensure that they are able to continue to provide these service as usual where it is safe to do so in line with the governments COVID-19 advice.
24 March update
23 March update
As you will have seen from our previous correspondence, Lincolnshire Housing Partnership’s main priority as part of the Coronavirus outbreak is to ensure the safety of our staff and customers.
It is with that in mind, and the government guidance on social distancing, that we have made the decision to move to an Emergency Plus Repairs service only from 5pm on Monday 23 March.
We will continue to provide the following repairs services to all customers:
As we are unable to predict how long we will be delivering this limited service for, we are committing to ensure that all key services are returned to an operational state by the end of the repair.
If you have a current appointment scheduled with us, one of our Planning Team will be in touch to postpone your appointment and we will reschedule these once our normal repairs service resumes.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you, but we are sure you will recognise that, with the Coronavirus outbreak, this is the safest course of action for both staff and customers. We would like to thank you for your cooperation and if you have any queries, please call us on 0345 604 1472, email info@lincolnshirehp.com or direct message us through social media.
20 March update
We would like to reassure everyone that we will not evict customers for rent arrears caused by the impact that the Coronavirus outbreak may have on their personal lives, and we will continue to support our customers through our Income Team and Money Support Services.
If you are struggling to pay your rent for any reason, including the Coronavirus outbreak, it is important that you contact us. Please call 0345 604 1472 and ask to speak to the Income Team or visit www.lincolnshirehp.com/moneysupport/.
Keeping on top of your rent is really important, and there are many ways you can choose to pay – please visit our website www.lincolnshirehp.com/waystopay for more information.
18 March update
At Lincolnshire Housing Partnership (LHP), our priority is ensuring the safety of our staff and customers, and the most effective way to do that is by following the advice given by Public Health England and the NHS.
In the interests of keeping our customers and staff safe, it is vital that you let us know if you or anyone else in your household is self-isolating.
Please contact us on 0345 604 1472 or use the Contact Us form on our website.
What we are doing
We want to reassure you about the steps we are taking at LHP to reduce the risk of this virus taking hold. We are ensuring staff have appropriate protective equipment and are self-isolating if they display any symptoms. We can let you know that we currently have no staff members confirmed with the virus.
Although we will make every effort to continue to deliver all of our services as usual, if the outbreak escalates in the UK, we will need to put some measures in place to help minimise the risk of further spread and keep our staff and customers safe.
We know that these measures will cause a disruption to our normal service, including delayed routine repairs and longer wait times for calls. Your understanding and co-operation at this time is greatly appreciated.
If you are self-isolating, we will continue to provide the following emergency repairs
Paying your rent
We understand some of you may have concerns about paying your rent if your financial situation changes due to this outbreak. We do have a Money Support Service – available through the Income Team, who can offer advice, guidance and discuss your options with you. Please make sure you get in touch with us as soon as possible, if you are struggling to pay your rent.
Please contact us on 0345 604 1472 and ask for the Income Team or go to our website at www.lincolnshirehp.com/moneysupport for further information.
If you are in self-isolation or are unable to leave your home and are looking for an alternative way to pay your rent, please visit our information page: www.lincolnshirehp.com/waystopay.
11 March update
We would like to share the following information regarding the Coronvirus with you:
We have some frequently asked questions for customers that will help you with any queries you may have around the Coronavirus outbreak. We have split them into departments for ease of reference. Please click on a tab to see the answer to the question. If you have a query that is not answered on this page, please email info@lincolnshirehp.com, use our Contact Form or call 0345 604 1472.
General
In the interests of keeping our customers and staff safe, it is vital that you let us know if you or anyone else in your household is self-isolating.
Please contact us on 0345 604 1472 or use the Contact Us form on our website.
We want to reassure you about the steps we are taking at LHP to reduce the risk of this virus taking hold. We are ensuring staff have appropriate protective equipment and are self-isolating if they display any symptoms. We can let you know that we currently have no staff members confirmed with the virus.
Although we will make every effort to continue to deliver all of our services as usual, if the outbreak escalates in the UK, we will need to put some measures in place to help minimise the risk of further spread and keep our staff and customers safe.
We know that these measures will cause a disruption to our normal service, including delayed routine repairs and longer wait times for calls. Your understanding and co-operation at this time is greatly appreciated.
With the well-being of staff and customers in mind, we are closing our offices to the general public from Monday 23 March. If you need to contact us, please call 0345 604 1472 or email us. Alternatively, you can direct message us on social media (Twitter: @lincolnshirehp or Facebook) or use the contact form on our website.
Please visit the NHS web page - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ for up to date gudiance on symptoms to look out for.
Official NHS guidance states that everyone must stay at home to stop the spread of Coronavirus. If you have symptoms, please use the NHS 111 Coronavirus service online at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/. If you are unable to get through online, please call 111.
We are putting measures in place through our Warden Service to assist those self - isolating customers, who are without family or relatives to support them in obtaining supplies
We are presently working with our key partners on how we can work together to provide support to our most vulnarable and elderly customers.
We are presently working with our key partners on how we can work together to provide support to our most vulnarable and elderly customers.
Housing
To minimise the risk to both customers and staff during the Coronavirus outbreak, we have made the decision to move an Emergency Plus Repairs service, until further notice.
We will continue to provide the following repairs and services to ALL customers:
• Heating and hot water
• Sanitation, including running water
• Power
• That properties are secure: doors and windows
• Fix anything which is causing significant damage to the property
If you have a current appointment scheduled with us, one of our Planning Team will be in touch to postpone your appointment and we will reschedule these once our normal repairs service resumes.
Please call our main number, 0345 604 1472, to let us know that you are self-isolating
We are presently working with our key partners on how we can work together to provide support to our most vulnarable and elderly customers.
Education
Schools are now only open to key workers. Government recommendation is that you only send your child to school if absolutely neccesary, so currently, you will not risk any fines or prosecution for non-attendance if you take your child out of school to reduce the risk of being exposed to Coronavirus.
Official government guidance on education can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-cancellation-of-gcses-as-and-a-levels-in-2020/coronavirus-covid-19-cancellation-of-gcses-as-and-a-levels-in-2020
Financial
We have a multitude of payment options available, many of which you can do from your home. If you have internet access please visit our website, otherwise please contact the CSC or Income team on 0345 604 1472 who can talk you through the options to find the best solution for your circumstances
There are no changes with regards to rental charges. You are still responsible for the payment of your rent and service charges but we realise that this is a difficult time financially. Please contact the Income team on 0345 604 1472 who can assist you and put you in touch with our free Money Support ervice
If a new or existing claim for benefits requires a face to face visit or assessment these will be done over the telephone instead, they will contact you direct to arrange this
It is really important to keep logging on to your UC journal to keep your work coach up to date with your circumstances, they will discuss every aspect of your claim with you, including payments and what will be expected with regards to claimant commitment.
The DWP have made changes and can provide an advance payment immediately without the usual ID appointments. However please remember that this advance includes an amount for your housing element so please discuss with the Income team what rent you should pay
Please contact your energy providers as they are offering a variety of solutions to help customers with the bills and topping up.
The rent element of your shared ownership is not the same as the mortgage portion. The rent will continue to be charged, in line with the rest of our social housing rents.
If you need to talk to anyone regarding your rent payments, or if you are experiencing financial difficulties please contact 0345 604 1472 and ask for the Income Team or email LHP-MoneySupportService@lincolnshirehp.com.
We would like to reassure everyone that we will not evict customers for rent arrears caused by the impact that the Coronavirus outbreak may have on their personal lives, and we will continue to support our customers through our Income Team and Money Support Services.
If you are struggling to pay your rent for any reason, including the Coronavirus outbreak, it is important that you contact us. Please call 0345 604 1472 and ask to speak to the Income Team or visit www.lincolnshirehp.com/moneysupport/.
Keeping on top of your rent is really important, and there are many ways you can choose to pay – please visit our website www.lincolnshirehp.com/waystopay for more information.
We understand some of you may have concerns about paying your rent, if your financial situation changes due to this outbreak. We do have a Money Support Service – available through the Income team, who can offer advice, guidance and discuss your options with you. Please make sure you get in touch with us as soon as possible, if you are struggling to pay your rent.
Please contact us on 0345 604 1472 and ask for the Income Team or go to the Money Support page on our website for further information.
If you are in self-isolation or are unable to leave your home and are looking for an alternative way to pay your rent, please visit our information page: www.lincolnshirehp.com/waystopay.
We are not offering a “payment holiday” for rents at this time as this would increase the monthly rent payment once the “holiday” if over and would create an extended period of debt for our customers.
However, we would encourage anyone experiencing financial difficulties due to Coronavirus or for any other reason should call 0345 604 1472 and ask for the Income Team or email LHP-MoneySupportService@lincolnshirehp.com.
The four rent free weeks will not be brought forward but used to support our customers experiencing financial hardship later in the year.
We have just had a two-week rent free period, because those customers that receive the rent free weeks received them w/c 16/03/20 and 23/03/20.
Anyone experiencing financial difficulties due to Coronavirus or for any other reason should call 0345 604 1472 and ask for the Income Team or email LHP-MoneySupportService@lincolnshirehp.com.
Sheltered Schemes
Government guidance is for everyone to stay at home, so we would ask that residents follow these guidelines, unless you have to help a relative with essential items, such as groceries and medical supplies
Yes, we have been working with all independent care providers who provide independent personal care to our customers. They will be following their own guidance around visiting service clients in schemes.
We have followed government advice and closed all our communal areas, with effect from Tuesday 24 March
All residents should follow government advice about limiting the time they are out of the scheme
We have increased the frequency of the cleaning of communal areas in our sheltered and Extra Care Scheme
We shall arrange for all communual areas to be deep cleaned where there has been a confirmed case of coronavirus.
We operate a mobile warden service, which provides us with a flexible model to move our Warden team across schemes. In addition, our Customer Service Centre and Warden Services Team will continue to make outbound well-being telephone calls direct to customers who would usually receive a face to face visit from our Warden Service.
Lettings
Due to the further restrictions imposed by the government, our lettings process is not operating as it would usually. A member of our Lettings Team will be in touch to discuss this with you further.
Please call us to discuss your current circumstances, and our lettings team will advise and agree the way forward.
Please call us to discuss your current circumstances, and our lettings team will advise and agree the way forward.
Our lettings team will contact you with you how best to proceed, and what arrangements we will put in place for you to return your keys.
Shared Ownership
Please call us to discuss your current circumstances, and our shared ownership team will advise and agree the way forward.
Due to the further restrictions imposed by the government, our sales process is not operating as it would usually. We are keeping records of applicants ready to view and we will be in touch as soon as this is possible.
Right to Buy/Right to Acquire
We are still processing applications to buy properties under the Right to Buy and Right to Acquire schemes. Where possible please email enquires to sharedownership@lincolnshirehp.com and we will keep you up to date.
A surveyor will not be required to visit your property instead this will be carried out as a desktop valuation, if you appeal your price with the District Valuer this could result in delays if they need to visit your property, we will however advise you of this.
