Home: About Us: Our Services
Our Services
As a community based housing association, Colne is flexible and responsive to local needs. We are proud of our track record in creating communities by providing affordable housing in different locations and in a variety of ways.
Our tailored services range from working with small local and large national developers through to innovative solutions for specific housing needs such as purpose built bungalows for clients with physical disabilities.
As well as developing and managing rental housing, we also provide:
- intensive housing support services for people in our retirement housing schemes
- direct management support to tenants with learning disabilities
- floating support services for tenants, both ours and those of other social landlords
- leasehold management services
- maintenance services
Colne Plus + Supported Housing Team
Our Supported Housing Team, Colne Plus +, provides intensive housing management, support and advice to help tenants maintain their tenancies and live independently. The Colne Plus + team provides a range of housing and support services to a wide variety of clients, including those in our sheltered and supported housing schemes.
Sheltered Housing Support
We own and manage almost 200 properties for retired people aged 55 and over across Essex. In these schemes we employ a Retirement Scheme Officer who provides support to enable our tenants to live independently for as long as they wish.
The service is paid for via the rent and is funded by Essex County Council’s Supporting People team, for those receiving Housing Benefit. Otherwise the cost is borne by the tenant.
The support tenants receive whilst living in sheltered housing is permanent and integral to the tenancy agreement. It includes the provision of an emergency careline connection.
For more information see Our Homes and Apply for Sheltered Housing, e-mail support@colnehousing.co.uk or contact us on 01206 244700.
Supported Housing Assistance
The Society has various arrangements in place to assist people who, for one reason or another, may require support to help them live independently. These arrangements include:
- Tenants of the Society who have special needs and receive support from outside agencies to live independently.
- Schemes built or acquired by the Society that are let, or leased, to occupy. These range from flats let to single vulnerable people to registered care homes.
- Support for tenants in general needs housing who require some support. This may involve additional housing management or the provision of aids and adaptations to assist with daily living.
The Society works collaboratively with a variety of agencies to ensure our tenants receive the support they need. Access to the Society’s supported housing arrangements is through nominations from the local authority, primary care trust or support agencies. E-mail support@colnehousing.co.uk or see Our Homes for more information.
Floating Support Services
Floating Support can help residents successfully maintain their tenancy, particularly through challenging times in life. Recipients of Floating Support are allocated a support worker for between 6 months and 2 years to help with a variety of activities, including claiming benefits and grants, managing debts, getting connected to utilities, settling into a new community or finding more suitable housing.
In the Colchester, Braintree, Maldon and Tendring areas Floating Support is provided by Swan Housing. It is funded by Supporting People, part of Essex County Council, and is open to anyone in need.
For more information, visit Swan Housing or call 0845 6122551 or talk to one of our Housing Officers on 01206 244700.
Leasehold Management Services for Homeowners
We provide leasehold management services to over 140 leaseholders, the majority of whom live in our 4 leasehold retirement schemes. For more information, please request our Leaseholders Guide.
Maintenance Services
At Colne, we want to make sure that your home is well looked after in the long term. Our maintenance service is staffed by experienced tradepeople who aim to complete all repairs in a timely and professional manner. Our ISO 9001:2000 accreditation is evidence of our regular internal and external quality audits.
