Are you a Wandle homeowner who wants a real say in how your services are delivered? This is your chance to be heard and make a difference. We’re launching a new Wandle Homeowners Panel and are looking for volunteers to join us!
As a panel member, you will:
Have a direct say in decisions about service charges, major works, consultations, insurance cost and leaseholder matters.
Hold us accountable and help raise standards.
Help us improve communication, transparency and service standards.
Influence how we implement the Service Charges Code and shape policies on shared ownership and leasehold.
Contribute to our journey towards a HQN accreditation for excellence in homeownership services. Your involvement can help us achieve that goal.
The panel will meet quarterly, either in person or online, and will be made up of a diverse group of homeowners from across Wandle homes.
If you are interested in joining the panel, please email homeownership@wandle.com. Please include your name, address. and a few lines about why you’d like to join. Together we can make a real difference.
Sun safety
The UK has already experienced several heatwaves this summer, and even though the sun hasn’t been shining in recent days, the temperature is predicted to heat up again in August. Therefore, we have put together some tips to keep you safe for when the sun returns.
When the temperature rises, make sure to:
Use a high protection sunscreen of at least SFF 30, which also has a UVA protection. Apply a generous amount and apply frequently, especially if you are spending a lot of time outdoors.
You can protect your skin by wearing a loose fitting t-shirt and shorts. To protect your face, pop on a hat and some sunglasses.
Try and not be in direct sunlight between the hours of 11am-3pm as this is when the sun is strongest.
Keep babies, young children and pets out of direct sunlight.
Never leave children, anyone vulnerable or pets in a parked locked car.
Never exercise pets when the temperature is very high. A regular walk could become a medical emergency.
Always test pavements, footpaths and slabs in gardens and communal areas. If it’s too hot on your hand, it’s too hot for your pet.
Make sure to drink plenty of water.
If there are any changes to a mole or mark on your skin, book an appointment with your doctor to make sure everything is ok.
BBQ Safety
Never use a BBQ (including disposables) indoors or on your balcony.
Don’t cook in communal areas. Have your barbecues in a private space, away from neighbours and well away from sheds, fences, trees or shrubs.
Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the BBQ.
Have a bucket of water/sand or a fire extinguisher nearby in case of an emergency. If you’re using a gas BBQ, make sure you know how to cut the gas supply.
Never leave your barbecue unattended.
Smoke can get into hair, clothes, eyes and lungs, and can also contain carbon monoxide and other dangerous substances. Try and keep your distance as much as possible.
Grilling gloves and utensils with a long handle will keep arms and hands safe from flames.
Check your food is cooked: ideally, burgers, chicken and sausages should be tested with a thermometer before eating and no pink meat should be visible.
After you have finished cooking, check the charcoal is cold or the gas has been turned off. Store your barbecue in a safe, dry place and not on your balcony.
If you have an emergency while having a BBQ, please call 999.
Tip to keep you and your home cool this summer
Take lukewarm or cool showers
Close your windows, doors, curtains and blinds closed during a heatwave to keep the hot air out. When the sun goes down, open your windows and doors to let the cool air in.
An electric fan is relatively cheap to run and will instantly cool you down. Remember, the fan will not decrease the air temperature, so don’t leave a fan in an empty room, as you will waste energy.
At night, you might think it’s better to not wear anything, but wearing thin loose clothing will act as a sweat barrier between you and your bed sheets, which will help you feel cooler.
To read more about sun safety, here are some useful websites:
Every year Sureserve Compliance South are required to check landlords gas appliances in your home, such as gas boilers, gas fires and cookers. A degree of flexibility has been introduced for the timing of landlords’ mandatory annual gas safety checks.
The MOT-style change will allow landlords to carry out their annual gas safety check in the two months before the due date and retain the existing expiry date.
This regulation sets out when the next safety check must be completed in order to retain the existing deadline date. It also sets out a one-off flexibility that landlords can use to align the date of an appliance check with that of other appliances at the same premises. This avoids landlords waiting until the last minute and not gaining access or having to shorten the annual cycle check to comply with the law. There is no change to the legal requirement for an annual gas safety check or for maintenance to be carried out.
Here is an example:
An engineer completes a gas safety record on 10 February 2025 which means the next check is due by 10 February 2026 (the “deadline date”). On 5 January 2026, the next gas safety record is completed (about 5 weeks early). The next check will be due on 10 February 2027 despite being done early because the “deadline date” has been retained under the new legislation.
Under the previous rules using this example, the next record would have been due on 5 January 2027.
Please be aware you may be required the have your gas safety check sooner than current expiry as this will then align servicing into the summer months to assist with the winter demand.
If you would like more information or would like to check when your last gas safety check was, please contact Sureserve on 020 3961 5210.
Wandle Greenfingers is back for 2025!
Our annual gardening competition is back for 2025 and by entering you could be in with the chance of winning £150 or £300.
Gardening and tending to plants is a great form of exercise as well as being a positive mindful activity which can boost your mood and help with your mental health.
This year we have three categories:
Community Project: We have loved seeing your community gardens over the years, creating beautiful spaces to share and build together. This year, we want to see examples of how you use gardening to bring your community together.
Prize: £300 cash prize for first place and £150 cash prize for second place, to put towards your community garden.
Best Back Garden: If you love spending time in your garden, attending to your flower beds and creating your own space to enjoy alone or with loved ones, then we want to hear from you and see your beautiful botanical creations!
Prize: £100 Amazon voucher for first place and £50 Amazon voucher for second place.
Best Balcony: Living in London means that some of us have limited outdoor space, so we want to see your beautiful balconies. We are looking for a creative space that is sustainable and wildlife friendly, helping to protect our planet.
Prize: £100 Amazon voucher for first place and £50 Amazon voucher for second place.
You can enter the competition here and entries close on Tuesday 26 August 2025.
Barclays Discovery Day – Thursday 19 June 2025
Barclays are hosting their Career Discovery Day on Thursday 19 June 2025 from 10am – 12pm at the Barclays headquarters in Canary Wharf.
This is an opportunity to improve your CV, brush up on your interview skills and create a personal brand for the next step in your career.
Whether you are interested in banking or not, their Discovery Day will cover a range of topics applicable to any industry.
The event will include:
A tour of Barclays Headquarters.
Developing your personal brand including networking skills and creating/building your LinkedIn account.
Insights into good interview skills and quality CVs
Light lunch provided and chance to meet with Barclays colleagues.
You’ll also have the opportunity to hear from a range of colleagues in the bank who have risen to success from diverse backgrounds whilst demystifying stereotypes of being able to work in the finance sector.
It promises to be an action-packed event, so please register your interest by emailing us at communications@wandle.com.
The address was Barclays Bank, 1 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, E14 5HP
Register my appliance week: 20 – 26 January 2025
We are supporting Register My Appliance week.
Register My Appliance is a consumer and public safety campaign to help and encourage people to register their household appliances with the manufacturer. The campaign is run by the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA).
Registering your household appliances, helps manufacturers know where the products are in case a repair is needed or if it is recalled. In small cases manufacturers may identify a problem with one of their products.
You could also save money by registering your appliances as it entitles you to an extended guarantee or warranty period.
Tenants and Residents do you have Home Contents Insurance?
Why do I need it?
As your landlord we cover the buildings insurance for your home but you’re responsible, under the terms of your tenancy, for insuring your contents. It’s always a good idea to shop around for a policy that’ll give you the cover you need.
Home contents insurance isn’t compulsory, but it’s a good idea to consider what a policy would cover you for. Home contents insurance can help protect your possessions from risks like fire, theft, water damage, and many more household risks, giving you peace of mind.
What does contents insurance cover?
Thistle Tenant Risks and Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited, offer the My Home Contents Insurance Scheme, designed specifically for residents in social housing, all our residents are eligible to apply. This policy can cover:
Limits and exclusions apply. For more information about our policy, please refer to the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) and Policy Wording.
Buy online with monthly Direct Debit
It’s now easier for you to get covered with the My Home online platform. You can now purchase your home contents policy online when paying monthly via direct debit, please note paying by direct debit is more expensive than other payment options
For more details or to get started, you have a few options:
Buy Online: Visit www.thistlemyhome.co.uk to purchase your policy and set up monthly direct debit payments for added convenience.
The National Housing Federation working in partnership with Thistle Insurance Services Ltd. Thistle Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Firm Reference Number 310419. Registered in England under No. 00338645. Registered office: Rossington’s Business Park, West Carr Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7SW. Thistle Insurance Services Ltd is part of the PIB Group.
Our ASB team recently worked with our partners Calm Mediation to restore peace for two of our residents in Balham, Wandsworth.
We were contacted by two of our residents after their neighbour’s teenage children had been causing disruptive behaviour by playing extremely loud music, which created loud thuds or bangs to our residents’ homes.
The loud noise was causing distress for our residents daily; therefore, they were referred to our partners Calm Mediation who organised a meeting with all parties to draw up a mediation agreement, which everyone could abide to.
All parties agreed if the residents could hear the neighbours or their sleep was disturbed between 11pm-7am, the following morning they will knock on their door to bring it to their attention. They have also all agreed to speak to each other nicely when resolving any issues going forward.
Our residents have informed us they now feel safe and at peace in their homes. In cases of noise nuisance, sometimes it is not considered as ASB, therefore we need to find another solution within our housing management function to resolve a case like this.
If you need to report ASB or disruption to your home, please contact us here.
Domestic abuse at Christmas
The police receive a domestic abuse related call every 30 seconds, yet it is estimated less than 24% of domestic abuse is reported to the police, Refuge.Org 2024.
Domestic abuse, also called domestic violence, includes emotional, physical and sexual abuse. It commonly occurs between couples and family members, but it can happen to anyone, and it is likely you will know someone who has experienced domestic abuse in their lifetime. However, it can also happen to someone you don’t know, such as a stranger or someone you pass on the street.
During the Christmas period, reports of domestic abuse increase, due to increased stress, work priorities, financial pressures, and alcohol consumption. The abuser may use Christmas as a way to justify their behaviour, but it should never be tolerated.
Make yourself heard
If you are in danger, please call 999 immediately.
If you cannot speak freely listen to the questions from the operator and respond by coughing of tapping on the phone if you can. If you cannot do this, press 55 and the operator will know the call is genuine and will put you through to the police.
The weather is getting colder which means more of us are turning up our heating and using more hot water to stay warm. We understand for many turning up the heat in your home can be a hard decision to make with fuel prices rising.
The Home Energy Action Team (HEAT) are providing winter fuel support, funded by Octopus Energy, to help those in need by providing up to £150 to go towards their fuel bills.
We have attached their information leaflet for further information and tips on how to reduce your bills this winter.
If you would like to apply, please complete the Octopus Referral Form before the end of January 2025.
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