Important Notice to

Factoring Service Customers on the plan for Bellsmyre to transfer to Caledonia

Bellsmyre Housing Association is proposing to become part of Caledonia Housing Association through a transfer of engagements arrangement. This will ensure the regeneration of the Bellsmyre area and support further investment in our remaining homes, the local neighbourhood and provide improved rent affordability and service delivery.We joined the Caledonia Group in 2016 through a partnership arrangement and have benefited from the service and business support arrangements put in place through this partnership. Despite the improvements made, there continues to be problems with low demand for our current homes and this effects the longer-term sustainability of our Association and our future ability to improve homes and services.

The proposed transfer will involve the ‘next step’ development of the partnership we have with Caledonia. It will involve Bellsmyre formally becoming part of Caledonia. This will mean that Bellsmyre will no longer exist as a housing association and Caledonia will become directly responsible for the homes and services we provide.

Our focus going forward will be on strengthening demand for our homes, improving tenancy sustainment and increasing tenant satisfaction through a substantial regeneration programme. This will involve replacing up to 250 unpopular tenement flats with up to 150 new high quality mainly two storey homes. The transfer of engagements proposal will enable this major positive change to be achieved.

The Bellsmyre Management Committee have given detailed and careful consideration to the proposed transfer and believe that it is in the best long term interests of our tenants and other customers. We have a requirement to consult with our tenants in a specific way about the transfer proposal. This will involve consideration of the key benefits of the transfer - delivering the regeneration of the Bellsmyre estate, better rent affordability, investment in tenants’ homes and ensuring a strong ‘residents voice’.

The final decision on whether the transfer goes ahead will involve a tenant ballot, and then consideration by the members of Bellsmyre Housing Association at 2 Special General Meetings. These will likely take place in the next few months.

We fully appreciate though that the proposed changes will also involve the many homeowners that we provide factoring services for. This leaflet contains information on the key aspects of the transfer proposal and what it means for you as one of our factoring service customers. We are inviting you to read through and think about the proposal, and then get back to us by Friday 7th February 2020 with your thoughts and views.

If you would like this publication in a different format or language, please phone 01389 765179

Formal Consultation Notice

Louise SpenceChairperson BHA

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Providing ServicesBellsmyre and Caledonia each have experience of providing factoring services to owners. We remain committed to ensuring that these services are affordable and represent value for money, and that the charges applied meet the costs involved in providing the services. You will continue to receive all the same factoring services that are currently provided by Bellsmyre.

Your existing factoring agreement will simply transfer over to Caledonia. Caledonia have a great deal of experience providing factoring services for homeowners. They currently provide this service to over 1,200 customers and will use their experience to help and support the local team delivering our factoring services. They are investing in new technology to improve our current factoring services and ensure that they are well managed and provide value for money. This will include more online services, which will enable the local team to spend more time in the community helping and advising residents.

Managing what we doBellsmyre Housing Association is currently governed by its own Management Committee. If the transfer goes ahead Bellsmyre HA will no longer exist. Existing members of Bellsmyre will become members of Caledonia. This means they will have the opportunity to stand for future membership on the Caledonia Management Board.

Caledonia has a good reputation as a well-managed, financially strong housing association. Its Management Board is made up of volunteers who have a wide range of skills, knowledge and expertise. Caledonia will become responsible for the services that you receive and the management of our homes.

The local Homeowners Forum will continue to receive support and will be kept informed to ensure the transfer promises and commitments are delivered in full.

Delivering the regeneration of the Bellsmyre EstateOur Transfer Promise – Delivering the Regeneration of the Bellsmyre estateOne of the main reasons for the Bellsmyre Committees decision to proceed with a transfer was to ensure the regeneration of Bellsmyre estate could be delivered, it recognised the level of investment needed, over £30 million, was more than they could hope to fund.

As an existing partner in the Caledonia Group, it knows Caledonia has the resources and experience to deliver this level of investment and is committed to building good quality homes that transform communities. As a developing organisation, Caledonia has the expertise to carry out the regeneration and will look to achieve wider community benefits as they build.

BHA regeneration planPhase Demolished* New Homes*

1 56 31

2 52 35

3 69 30

4 19 17

5 45 37

Total 241 150

*subject to planning and consultation

Delivering excellent local servicesThe local office will ensure services are delivered in the community. We will review the office opening hours to ensure we provide value for money for tenants and customers while tailoring service to local needs.

Our Factoring Service – The Transfer Benefits

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About Caledonia Housing Association…

Caledonia is one of Scotland’s leading providers of affordable homes for people in housing need. They own and manage over 4000 homes across 8 Scottish local authority areas. Along with Cordale Housing Association, Bellsmyre became part of the Caledonia Housing Association Group in 2016, giving a combined total of over 5500 homes in management across the Group.

Like Bellsmyre, Caledonia are a registered charity and are registered and regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator. Caledonia, as parent of the Group, is committed to providing homes and services that make life better. They have developed a Customer 1st approach to service delivery using technology to support service improvements with an approach that ‘keeps it simple, keeps it personal and makes it right’.

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Your Views MatterAs one of our valued factoring service customers, we would welcome any thoughts or views that you might have on the proposed transfer at this stage.

You can contact us in one of the ways detailed in the ‘How You Can Get Involved’ section on the back cover of this leafl et.

Please send us all your thoughts and comments by 7th February 2020.

Views on theTransfer Proposals

The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR)The Scottish Housing Regulator is responsible for regulating the work of Scotland’s housing associations and the housing services provided by local authorities. Its objective is to safeguard and promote the interests of current and future tenants of social landlords.

We have submitted the Business Case to the SHR to ensure they are informed about the transfer proposal. Within the Business Case we demonstrated that the transfer is in the best interest of our tenants and that we have provided good opportunities for tenants to have their say.

Keeping you UpdatedWe’ll ensure that we keep you updated as the consultation progresses. We’ll also let you know if the transfer is going to go ahead and will contact you nearer the time on the transfer of your factoring service account to Caledonia. You would continue to receive the same service after the transfer and wouldn’t need to change your current payment arrangement.

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INFORMATION IN OTHER FORMATS

If you have difficulty in reading or understanding English and require help in translating or interpreting any information that Bellsmyre Housing Association provides, or if you have other special requirements and need further help, please ask at reception or contact us on 01389 765179.

How You Can Get Involved

Your thoughts and views on the transfer proposal are very important for us. You can let us know what these are in a number of different ways:

16 Merkins Avenue, Bellsmyre, West Dunbartonshire,G82 3EB

Call us on 01389 765179

Email us enquiries@bellsmyre-ha.org.uk

Get in touch via social media@bellsmyreha

@bellsmyrehousing

Visit www.bellsmyrehousing.org.uk

Complete and return one of our pre-paid

feedback forms

CONTACT US

Bellsmyre Housing Association, 16 Merkins Avenue, Bellsmyre, West Dunbartonshire G82 3EB

Telephone: 01389 765179 Email: enquiries@bellsmyre-ha.org www.bellsmyrehousing.org.uk

Bellsmyre Housing Association is registered with the Scottish Housing Regulator: Reg No HCB 235; Financial Services Authority: Reg No 2380 R (S) and Scottish Charity No SC038496. Property Factor Registered Number: PF000266

Please send us all your comments by 7th February 2020