We are supporting Register My Appliance week.

Register My Appliance week is a consumer and public safety campaign to help encourage people to register their household appliances. 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. 

You can find out more information here:

Website: www.registermyappliance.org.uk

Instagram: @amdea_uk   

Twitter: @amdea_uk   

Facebook: amdea.uk

TikTok: amdea_uk   

We are delighted by announce that our Chief Executive, Anne Waterhouse, has been appointed to the PlaceShapers board. Anne joins James Francis ( Saffron Housing) and Kevin Rodgers (Citizen Housing), to complete a trio of appointments announced today.

Anne Waterhouse said: “I’m thrilled to join the Placeshapers board, an organisation dedicated to championing the power of place and community. Wandle has been a proud member of PlaceShapers for many years, and by joining the board I’m eager to help our members overcome the challenges we face in delivering this mission. Now more than ever, it’s vital to highlight the positive impact we bring to our communities, and the opportunity to bring a London perspective to this work inspired me to become a board member.”

Matthew Walker, PlaceShapers Chair and Chief Executive of Leeds Federated Housing Association, said: “Individually Anne, Kevin and James are outstanding additions. Collectively their diversity in terms of type of organisation, geography and size adds even greater strength to our board.

“This is an exciting but challenging time for the sector. There is refreshed energy through the government’s commitment in the Social and Affordable Housing Programme combined with a renewed focus on place-based regeneration. At the same time members are facing many challenges in their work to help communities thrive. All three bring a passion to drive forward PlaceShapers to support the sector in its place-shaping ambitions.”

PlaceShapers is a vibrant national network of place-shaping housing organisations. They support and enable social housing providers to fulfil their place-shaping ambitions to help communities to thrive.

We look forward to seeing the value and expertise Anne will undoubtably add to PlaceShapers.

Christmas festivities have begun, and you may have already or be thinking about decorating your home.

However, when Christmas decorations are not displayed correctly, they can become a fire or safety hazard.

Christmas decoration safety

• Never overload electrical sockets and always switch off your Christmas lights when you go to bed or leave the house.
• Never place candles near your Christmas tree, garlands or decorations.
• Keep candles out of reach from children and pets and never leave candles unattended.
• Do not light cigarettes or leave ashtrays near decorations.
• Do not attach decorations to lights or heaters, as they can get hot and start a fire.
• If you have an open fire, take care when decorating the fireplace and have nothing hanging over the edge.
• Check your Christmas lights have the British Safety Standard sign either on the battery pack or on the plug.

Christmas cooking safety

Christmas usually means extra time cooking in the kitchen when hosting gatherings with friends or family, therefore it’s especially important to take further precautions this season, to keep you and your home safe.

• Many Christmas dishes require a longer period in the oven, therefore avoid leaving the oven on unattended and don’t leave your oven on when you leave the house.
• Avoid cooking under the influence of alcohol.

Christmas home safety

• When wrapping gifts, make sure you are not near any open flames or lit cigarettes.
• Do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace, as it burns very quickly and could cause a chimney fire.
• Make sure guests visiting your home know the emergency exits.
• Test your smoke alarms.
• Always blow out candles.
• Check in on older and vulnerable relatives and neighbours, to ensure their homes are safe.

And remember, never try to tackle a fire yourself. Get out, stay out and call 999.

Wandle colleagues and residents celebrated the newly built Rowan and Alan House in Lewisham with a ribbon-cutting ceremony together with Featherstone Homes.

The scheme provides 61 homes in total, as well as a commercial space and transforms a vacant site next to the historic railway arches, kickstarting a wider regeneration of the new Bermondsey neighbourhood.

Wandle have purchased 29 affordable homes from Featherstone Homes, working closely together over the development phases.

Alan House provides 16 shared ownership homes, and Rowan House provides 13 social rented homes. The 29 affordable homes, funded by Wandle with grant support from the Greater London Authority (GLA) are located only a 10-minute walk from South Bermondsey and Surrey Quays station, with direct links to the city.

Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive of Wandle, said: “Our roots are firmly and proudly south London, and it’s an exciting time for us to be involved in the regeneration of South Bermondsey.

“Wandle now has 336 homes in Lewisham, and where the opportunities arise, we are committed to delivering more new homes that are safe, secure and sustainable in the borough.

“At this scheme we were able to fund a further eight affordable homes over and above what was originally required by the planning consent. This means that we can now provide homes for eight more local families, setting them up for success in this developing community.”

Valerie Vaughan-Dick, Chair of Wandle’s Board, said: “We are building new homes that meet the needs of our communities, by working with housebuilders, developers and other partners to bring our vision to deliver 500 homes by March 2028 – including these 29 affordable homes – to life.

“It was a pleasure to see first-hand the positive impact these homes have had for our new residents, many who have been in temporary housing for far too long.”

Wandle resident, Helen Ademiluyi said, “My home is peaceful and safe. I have recently moved to Rowan House with my children after we previously lived in a hostel for seven years. It was cramped and not ideal, so it is wonderful to now have the space to relax and make a home.”

Joe Brennan Training (JBT) have an opportunity to join their team as a Plumber Apprentice (Level 2) which has been exclusively offered to Wandle residents first.

Summary of the role:

• Plumber Apprentice (Level 2)
• The candidate will be working alongside skilled trades people on a large new build site in the London Borough of Merton. 
• Working Week: 40 hours
• Hourly Wage: £12.25

Please see below for the full job description. If you would like to apply for the role, please send in your application to CSR@higginspartnerships.co.uk, by Friday 5 December 2025.

On Friday 14 November, we welcomed Helen Hayes, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood at our French, Finch and Margerat blocks to view the fire safety works we are undertaking. 

The proposed works, being undertaken for us by Higgins Group involve removing the existing insulation and replacing it with non-combustible materials. In addition, the timber decking will be replaced with fire-safe aluminium decking. The project is expected to last 18 months and is due to be completed by October 2026. 

The work relating to the leasehold homes has been funded by the Cladding Safety Scheme (CSS), and no costs have been passed onto homeowners. In contrast Wandle is funding approximately £2.34 million for the works to the social rented homes due to not being eligible to access the additional government funding, because of the works contract being in place ahead of the funding being announced.   

Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive of Wandle, said “The safety of our residents is our priority and appreciate how disruptive the work is. We want to make the experience as stress-free as possible, and we keep in close contact through monthly meetings, with a dedicated website that all impacted residents have access to. 

“We welcome any opportunity to meet with elected officials who represent our residents and share how we can work together to deliver homes that are safe and sustainable.” 

It was useful to discuss our approach with Helen and raise the wider implications of having to fund the cost of works to the social homes ourselves.   

Damp and mould can grow at anytime of the year, but due to the cold weather, it can be more common during the winter months.

Damp is excess moisture in a building or home, which is mainly caused by leaks or condensation. This can lead to wet patches on walls and cause paint or wallpaper to peel off.

Mould is a type of fungus that can grow on damp surfaces. It can appear a green or black colour, have a fuzzy texture and sometimes it can have a musty smell.

Damp can cause mould or mildew on walls, windows, furniture and textiles such as clothing, carpets or curtains. Both damp and mould can negatively affect a person’s health and cause respiratory issues.

As your landlord, our aim is to eradicate (as far as possible) damp and mould from your home. However, by working together, we can help to prevent damp and mould in your home.

Working out what is causing the problem

The reasons for damp and possibly mould growth arising, are leaks, structural damage, inadequate ventilation/heating and condensation. It is important for us to work out which of these is the main cause so we can adopt the most effective course of action.

What will we do if you report damp and mould?

The first thing we will do is to ask you to try some preventative measures for a 6-week period. The reason we do this is that around 1 in 5 cases of damp and mould can be solved with this approach and it is helpful to eliminate it as a cause. If, at the end of this period you still have a problem, contact us again and we will arrange for someone to come round to your home to investigate.

How to reduce condensation

Condensation appears when moist air touches a colder surface. This can be a window, external wall or even a mirror. It also happens when the air cannot move which is why you can find it behind furniture or
inside wardrobes.

There are 4 key things we can do to reduce condensation in our homes:

• Produce less moisture – tips include putting lids on pans when cooking, drying clothes outside if you can and venting your tumble dryer to the outside.
• Let the damp air out – use extractor fans if you have them, keep kitchen or bathroom doors shut and open the window so steam goes outside. Trickle vents and a gap between furniture and walls, keeps air moving and fresh. To keep air moving, keep a gap between furniture and walls.
• Heat our homes a little more – while you don’t want to be wasting money on heating, having heating on low in rooms you don’t use very much will help prevent them becoming damp.
• Insulate and draught proof them as much as we can – draught proofing will help keep your home warmer. When the whole house is warm, condensation is less likely to form.

First steps in dealing with mould

Wipe down areas with a fungicidal wash (not bleach or washing up liquid). Look for one with a Health & Safety Executive approval number. Spray onto the cloth, not the affected area. You can also paint areas with anti-fungicidal paint. Please let us know if you are struggling to afford this.

Below we have shared our damp and mould leaflet for your reference.

If you have an issue with mould or damp, call us on 0300 2000 120 or email customerservices@wandle.com.

Joe Brennan Training (JBT) have an opportunity to join their team as a Carpentry and Joinery Apprentice (Level 2) which has been exclusively offered to Wandle residents first.

Summary of the role:

• Carpentry and Joinery Apprentice (Level 2)
• The candidate will be working alongside skilled trades people on a large new build site. The successful candidate needs to reside in the Borough of Merton.
• Working Week: 40 hours
• Hourly Wage: £12.25

Please see below for the full job description. If you would like to apply for the role, please send in your application to CSR@higginspartnerships.co.uk, by Sunday 30 November 2025.

It is important you know about gas safety, as a gas leak can be fatal. We have put together some tips and advice to keep you and your home safe.

Always ensure you have an annual gas safety check

As your landlord we have a legal duty to check your gas appliances and flues to ensure they are safe.

We carry out annual safety checks for all our homes and an annual service for any gas appliance we own. These checks usually last between 20-30 minutes and please ensure someone is in for the appointment. If you cannot make an appointment, please contact us so we can rearrange. If we cannot complete the gas safety checks due to obstruction or denied entry, will request court permission to force entry into your home.

Any Wandle or partnering employee who attends your property, will be wearing an ID card. If you would like to check their identity further, please call us on 0300 2000 120.

Obtain a gas safety certificate

A gas safety certificate provides you with the confirmation that the appliances in your home are safe to use. A gas safety certificate, also known as a gas safety record, is a document given to you by the gas engineer after they have carried out gas works, repairs or safety checks within your home. This is a legal requirement and should be updated every 12 months.

Book an annual boiler check

We recommend your boiler is serviced once a year to ensure it runs safely and efficiently, as well as ensuring your boiler warranty remains valid.

Get a carbon monoxide alarm fitted

To keep your home safe, get a carbon monoxide alarm fitted and place it roughly 15cm from the ceiling. Make sure you test the batteries regularly.

Only use gas appliances for their intended purpose

It is important to only use your gas appliance for its intended purpose as tampering could be fatal.

This will ensure that the appliances are used safely and avoid any unwanted emergencies. Gas appliances should have adequate ventilation: making sure no air vents are blocked allows gas appliances to burn properly, reducing the risk of fire or explosion. 

Know what to do in an emergency

If you think you can smell gas:

• put out any flames
• do not touch any electrical appliances
• open all windows and doors
• turn off the gas emergency valve control if you can
• leave the property

Then call the National Grid immediately on 0800 111 999.

Do not use your phone within the property. Make sure you follow all the advice given to you by the emergency adviser and wait outside for the engineer to arrive.