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South Tyneside Homes

South Tyneside Homes Putting housing at the heart of South Tyneside Contact us - South Tyneside Homes 0191 423 4000 Fix it 0800 694 6900
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Your home

In this section:

 

Improving your neighbourhood

We want our estates and homes to be nice places where people want to live. This part of the section lets you know how you can help us improve your neighbourhood.

How can I help to make my estate a nice place to live?

You can make your estate a nicer place to live by:

  • letting us know if things go wrong or need to be done
  • making sure that you put your rubbish out in the right place and that it is secure
  • letting us know if someone has dumped rubbish
  • reporting any anti-social behaviour
  • letting us know your views, such as by filling in a feedback form or questionnaire
  • joining a tenants’ and residents’ association

Empty homes

What do we do about empty homes?

We realise that the condition of empty homes can really spoil how an estate looks. A home that stands empty can cause problems. If not secure, it can attract vandals and burglars. It can soon become overgrown and filled with rubbish and become an eyesore. It can also become a safety risk and pose danger to inquisitive children.

We aim to tackle this and maximise the number of homes available to our customers. We do this by:

  • Inspecting homes before a tenant leaves so that we know what repairs will need doing
  • Investigating any reports of abandoned homes within 24 hours
  • Cleaning and clearing the home within two days
  • Making sure empty homes are kept safe and secure
  • Checking empty homes at least once a week and putting right any problems
  • Repair all homes to our lettable standard

Estate inspections

What are estate inspections?
Estate inspections involve tenants and residents joining housing office staff on quarterly walkabouts. By helping to inspect estates, you get the chance to improve the services we provide.

They’re a great opportunity to look at the estate and report any issues. They also give tenants and residents a chance to check problems are being dealt with and standards are being met, as well as helping to identify ways in which we can improve our service and the area you live in.

Download the pdf posters to find out when the next inspection of your estate is taking place.

Concierge service

What is the Concierge Service?

The Concierge Service provides all our customers who live in high-rise homes with a 24-hour-a-day security and reception service.

The concierge staff may also report emergency repairs for you.

Your estate officer will let you know if your home benefits from a concierge service.

Shared areas

If you live in a block of flats with other tenants there will be areas and services of the property that are used by several people.  Sometimes people living in houses or bungalows share facilities with other people.  Although you have a responsibility to keep these areas clean and tidy, South Tyneside Homes is responsible for maintaining them. Some areas or services will be your responsibility to repair and maintain while others will fall to your landlord.

How will you maintain communal/grassed areas?

To help maintain the overall appearance of your neighbourhood, the Council is responsible for regularly mowing communal grassed areas and keeping communal hedges and shrub beds neat and tidy. Please let your estate officer know if there are any problems.

 

Rubbish

You should always make sure that you get rid of your rubbish properly. You should not dump rubbish, or abandon any property, including vehicles, on the estate or near your home. This includes leaving rubbish outside your home or in nearby walkways. This is very unhygienic and, as well as causing a nuisance to your neighbours, can also attract vermin. If you or members of your household are found to be dumping rubbish or litter, you will be either served with a fixed penalty notice (this means a fine of £50 or more) or prosecution through the courts. Please assist us by creating a pleasant environment where you live. This section explains about the Council’s refuse service, what they offer and how you can contact them.

> More about rubbish

Vandalism and graffiti

What should I do if I see vandalism or graffiti?

Please let us know so we can investigate and have it repaired or removed. We’ll try to recover the cost from the culprit. The Council aims to remove any offensive graffiti within one working day of being told about it. You can report vandalism or graffiti to the Council’s Community Safety Team on 0191 424 7931 or on the Graffiti hotline 0191 427 2000. Alternatively, you may wish to report it to your estate officer or estate warden.

Dog warden service

Who is responsible for stray dogs?

The Council employs dog wardens to patrol streets and public places, such as parks, to provide an effective control service in the borough for stray dogs. It also gives fixed penalty notices for dog fouling offences. The dog wardens offer advice to dog walkers, take part in local and national initiatives and give scoop style bags to encourage responsible dog ownership. The Dog Warden Service can be contacted on 0191 424 7906 or by fax on 0191 424 7930.

The Council also operates a dog neutering and spaying scheme in partnership with the National Canine Defence League.

If you receive a recognised benefit you may qualify to have your dog neutered or spayed free of charge. The scheme is operated on a first come first served basis, so please contact the Animal Health team to see if you qualify.

Pets

Am I allowed to keep a pet?

You can keep domestic pets such as dogs, cats, caged birds, fish or small mammals in your home. They must be well cared for and kept under proper control. You must get written permission from us before keeping any other animal. If your home has a shared entrance you must not keep cats or dogs (except for registered guide dogs or registered hearing dogs).

> More about pets

Motor vehicle repairs

Your tenancy agreement says that you must not carry out repairs to motor vehicles near to where you live if this may cause offence, or a nuisance or annoyance to other people. This also applies to motor vehicle repairs carried out near a garage if you rent one. If you do repair your own car you must make sure this is not a nuisance to others. Examples of nuisance can include:

  • Noise from car radios and stereos
  • Poisonous fumes from paint spraying or exhausts
  • Revving the engine or using noisy machinery or tools, and
  • Leaving spilt oil or car parts on estates.

Noise

Noise must be kept to a reasonable volume at all times. This is one of the most common causes of neighbour disputes. So, please be a good neighbour and keep the volume down on TVs, radios, stereos and musical instruments. You are not allowed to have a party where people pay to come in or to have a party that is too noisy. You must also not advertise, or let other people advertise, a party where you live. If you do want to have a party, it is best to tell your neighbours beforehand and tell them when it will finish. Keep the music down and ask people to be quiet when they leave.

Lifts

You and your family and visitors should not use the lifts for anything other than the purpose for which they are intended. Many elderly and vulnerable people rely on the lifts and the main reason for them breaking down is vandalism. Similarly, no one likes to enter a lift that has been used as a toilet.

Restricted areas

Certain areas on the estate are out of bounds for very good reasons. You and your family and visitors should not enter any area that is marked as restricted. These include:

  • Lift rooms
  • Water tank rooms
  • The roof
  • Roof spaces
  • Drying areas (other than for hanging washing)