COVID-19 Briefing- Service Delivery- Emergency Repairs Only from 24th March 2020
From Tuesday, 24th March 2020 WGHC are temporarily providing emergency repairs services only.
To reduce spread of the virus we have suspended the following:
- All non-emergency repairs. Any non-emergency repairs reported will be logged and we will schedule these as soon as normal service resumes.
- The upgrading of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Face to face meetings and appointments in tenants’ homes.
- The cleaning of stairs as this has been categorised as a non-essential service.
Please note that gas safety checks will still be carried out as usual. Please read the note below about gas safety checks with Lothian Gas and what to do if you are self-isolating.
We are working to hard to ensure that we can still deliver a critical emergency repair service.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact our office on 0131 551 5035 or email us at mail@westgrantonhc.co.uk
Keeping you and the Public Safe: Lothian Gas Engineers in your Home
WGHC use “Lothian Gas” as its gas central heating contractor. If you are a Co-op tenant and require a central heating repair or gas safety check please be advised that with immediate effect we are asking all WGHC tenants to respect Government guidelines on social and physical distancing. When a Lothian Gas engineers calls at your home, please allow the engineer access and then remove yourself to another room whilst works are being carried out. The engineer will call on you to let you know when works have been finished and they are leaving your home. Your co-operation with these guidelines and working with all of us to protect Public Health is very much appreciated. If you have any questions please call the WGHC Maintenance Team on 0131 551 5035.
Coronavirus Update (COVID-19) – March 2020
The WGHC Office and WGHC Play Parks are now closed to the Public
WGHC staff will be working from home from Monday 30th March 2020.
Following Government advice and as a precautionary measure, the WGHC Office is now closed to the public until further notice. Staff will be working from home from Monday 30th March 2020. You will still be able to make contact with us by phone and by email during normal office hours. A skeleton staff will be in the office for a few hours in the morning over the working week. This is to allow us to continue to deal with essential functions and tasks to keep the organisation operational.
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) are currently working with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Housing Regulator. The SFHA have advised social landlords that they should interpret guidance regarding Essential Workers as follows: Category 2 Workers: “Wider public sector workers providing emergency/critical welfare services” – and that this includes housing association staff. For this reason we are able to allow a skeleton staff in the office for a few hours in the morning over the working week.
Making your Rent Payments
If you are a WGHC tenant and normally make rent payments in person at the office, we would ask you to please now make your rent payments using your mobile phone Banking App or Online Banking account to make your rent payments to us. You can also set up a regular bank standing order or direct debit to make your rent payments. Our Bank details are:
Royal Bank of Scotland
Sort Code: 83-18-44
Account Number: 00115993
Please remember to put your name or address as the reference.
Please contact us with any concerns or questions you may have about paying your rent. We understand this is a difficult period for us all and staff are happy to help.
Government guidance and advice is ongoing and expected to change over the coming weeks and months. We will continue to provide regular updates about any changes to our services on this website.
Finally if you are a WGHC tenant and self-isolating we respectfully ask you to let us know at the earliest opportunity. The latest advice is that self-isolation should last for a period of 7 days if you live alone. This extends to 14 days for households of more than one person, if someone in the household has symptoms.
We appreciate this is a difficult time so please get in touch with any questions or concerns. You can contact us by phone on 0131 551 5035 or by email at mail@westgrantonhc.co.uk Alternatively you may like to use the online form on this website- just click on the ‘Contact Us’ link at the top right of this page. Thank you for your patience, ongoing support and efforts during this uncertain period.
