CouncilHousing Help for Professionals
London Borough of Tower Hamlets Housing Department has launched a Housing Help-Line for professionals working in the borough.
If you work in the health and social services (including educational health and social services), or 3rd sector agencies, and your work involves vulnerable, elderly or disabled people, there is now a dedicated resource to help you access Housing information.
If you need assistance or help with:
- Finding the correct landlord or housing service
- Reporting housing issues
- Getting advice about housing issues
Email housing@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Email enquiries will only be accepted from work emails of known agencies.
However, the information below may be enough to help you with your work. If not email the Housing Help-Line with your query.
Anti-Social Behaviour
You can report anti-social behaviour directly to the Council on 0800 917 5918.
Click here for more information on anti-social behaviour
Benefits
The Benefits section deals with benefit claims and can offer general advice about claiming benefits, clothing grants, free school meals, housing benefits and council tax benefits. The service is provided on an area basis.
Click here for more information on benefits
Energy Efficiency Unit
The Energy Efficiency Unit is able to provide advice on energy conservation and grants.
Click here for more information on the Energy Efficency Unit
Environmental Protection
To contact the following teams call 020 7364 3687.
- Health & Housing Team
Deal mainly with health issues in the private sector, including Houses in Multiple Occupations (HMOs) - North & South Teams
Deal mainly with noise and dust problems, as well as some housing issues
There is also a Pest Control Team and Health and Environment Team (air pollution issues etc.)
Environmental Protection falls within the Environment & Culture Department, not Housing. Although this site deals mainly with Housing Directorate services, the above information has been included because of its relevance.
Hate Crime Reporting
This service allows users to report hate crime in confidence to organisations other than the police.
- Hate Crime 24 hour Reporting Line – 0800 138 0521
Homeless and Housing Advice Service
The Homeless and Housing Advice Service consists of several teams:
- Rents Team
- Re-housing Team
- Reception
- Homeless Independent Living Team (HILT)
- Accommodation Team
- Visiting Team
- Housing Advisory
- Assessments
Homeless independent living team (HILT)
HILT assists homeless service users to achieve and maintain an optimum level of independence, and to sustain tenancies in a safe and accessible environment. They aim to prevent the revolving door of homelessness, support disabled and vulnerable homeless applicants, and assist with finding housing. Occupational Therapists carry out housing needs assessments, rehab and support needs. Specialist Tenancy Sustainment Officers are also in post.
HILT can be contacted on 020 7364 7302.
To contact the other teams, call on the switch on x100 or 020 7364 5000.
Details on the other teams to follow.
Housing Development
Private housing improvement team
The Private Sector Improvement Team is able to help elderly, disabled or low-income homeowners apply for grants. These grants are for improving and repairing their home or carrying out adaptations to meet the needs of a disabled person.
For general enquiries call 020 7364 2531 or select the above link for more information.
Housing Development Team
The Housing Development Team aims to develop partnership working with RSLs, government agencies and private developers.
For information on the shared ownership scheme contact 020 7364 2530.
For information on affordable housing contact 020 7364 2528.
Housing Occupational Therapy Team
The Housing Occupational Therapy (OT) team deal solely with people applying to be re-housed. They conduct assessments to determine what adaptations can be made to a person’s home to improve their activities of daily living.
The Housing Directorate funds adaptations to Council properties and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs). Private sector adaptations may be facilitated by the Private housing improvement team (see above).
The Housing OT team do not take direct referrals. Cases are referred to them from the Lettings’ health advisor. For enquiries contact Roz Stern 020 7364 3601 Monday to Wednesday.
If your client does not meet the criteria for Housing OT, please contact the Social Services Community Occupational Therapy Service on 020 7364 5948 / 5945 (Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm).
Lettings
The Tower Hamlets Choice Based Lettings System is open to people on the housing list. It can help people on the list find a new home under the bidding system. Bids can be entered at www.thhs.org.uk. In order to bid, people must first be registered on the common housing list.
Contact the Lettings teams.
Local Housing Offices
Local Housing Offices provide estate based housing management and mediation services. It is important that local housing offices are made aware of any tenancy changes, including long stays in hospital.
Rents
If a service user falls into rent arrears, it is better for us to be aware of it sooner than later so that we can find a way to help them manage their rent account better.
Repairs Help Centre
For all issues relating to Council housing repairs, including emergency call-outs, the Housing Repairs Call Centre can be contacted on 0800 376 1637.
The Sylheti Help-Line is 0800 376 1638
Supporting people
Supporting People is a national programme aimed at promoting independence and quality of life for vulnerable people. By providing housing-related support services that enable people to live successfully in their accommodation, Supporting People is an opportunity to bring about a comprehensive change in the way the needs of vulnerable people are met.
The Programme has a very wide scope, reaching out to many vulnerable members of society, including:
- People who have been homeless or sleeping rough
- People with drug or alcohol needs
- Older people with support needs, mental health problems and dementia
- People with mental health needs and mentally disordered offenders
- Women fleeing domestic violence
- People with a physical or sensory disability
- People with a learning disability
- People with HIV and AIDS
- Offenders, and people at risk of offending
- Refugees
- Young people leaving care or at risk
- Homeless Families
- Teenage Parents
- Travellers
Examples of services funded by Supporting People include:
- Sheltered housing services for older people
- Support workers who visit a wide range of people in their own homes
- Specific housing-related support in a range of accommodation, including hostels and homes for residents who have specific short or long term needs
Visit the Supporting People web-site at www.spkweb.org.uk Select ‘Tower Hamlets’ from the ‘your local area’ list.
Contact
Tower Hamlets’ Supporting People admin officer
Tel: 020 7364 7021
Email: housing@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Tenancy Support Team
The Tenancy Support Team provides a case-based, optional and flexible support service for Council tenants.
You can contact the team on 020 7364 5544 or ask at a Local Housing Office.
