Hello and welcome to the October issue of your newsletter 

This month, we continue to support you with the cost-of-living crisis and bring you some highlights from our 2021/22 Financial Statement. Halloween is also fast approaching, so we’ve got some frightfully fun recipes for all to get involved in.

We know that many of you are concerned about possible rent and service charge increases during this cost-of-living crisis. The Government consultation on a possible rent cap for tenants has now closed but, as we told you last month, there are no equivalent proposals being made in relation to shared owners. The provision for rent increases in shared ownership leases is a link to the Retail Price Index and we cannot vary the core terms of the model forms of shared ownership lease, which we are required to use. 

We're looking urgently at the likely level of rent increases for shared owners. We will assess how we can limit increases while continuing to ensure our long-term ability to provide homes for people who can’t afford to rent or buy on the open market.

Service charges are also a concern for many shared owners. The service charges pay for the services you receive, we don't make any profit from these. Energy costs are often a significant proportion of service charges – the measures announced by Government will help to limit the increases. We are looking at how we can keep other costs as low as we can while continuing to provide good quality services. 

We will provide as much notice as we can of increases in rent and service charges, and information about the steps we are taking to keep those increases as low as we can. In the meantime, if you are worried about money this winter, please get in touch. Talk to us as soon as you can. We will do what we can to help.

What has your career looked like so far?
I started in the construction industry working as a labourer then a bricklayer. After university I moved to London, working for a Tenant and Residents' Association linked to a London Borough; this ultimately led to getting a job as a housing officer for a small Housing Association in East London, and the rest as they say is history.  Over the years I’ve worked for both Housing Associations and Councils (big and small) in a variety of housing roles. While I owned a leasehold flat, my interest in this area of housing lead me into the field of service charges and homeownership, where I have remained to this day.

What are your current top priorities in the role?
It’s early days, but one of my main priorities is to build the trust between you and Paradigm. I'll be focusing on making sure we provide value for money in delivering our services and finally I want to make it easier for you to get your views heard.

What's the biggest challenge you think you will face in the role?
The cost-of-living crisis is going to be like nothing we have experienced for decades. With increasing mortgage and living costs will come greater hardship, and the increase in anxiety and mental health problems. This crisis will affect our homeowners just as much as our tenants, so it will be my team’s job to ensure that you are front and central during these testing times.

The Resident Services Panel (RSP) new scrutiny review
‘How do Paradigm make sure the information you receive is relevant to me, useful, accurate and given at the right time so I have the day-to-day information I need to live happily in my home, and know how to access services when needed?’

These are the questions the RSP is asking us. Members have already questioned how information is selected, updated, and shared with you, as well as what procedures are in place to get essential information to you.

They will now "reality check" what they have been told by comparing newsletters and the website to service and policy changes and speaking with key staff members.

This is an exciting challenge, and if this is something you would like to help with, then please contact Rachel Whitrod, Customer Involvement Lead.