January - March 2025

Keeping your appointments!

Most tenants make sure they’re home for appointments with the Council, and we really appreciate this—it helps us be more efficient!

However, missed repair appointments cost both us and our repair partner, Morgan Sindall Property Services, more than you might realise.

Each missed visit:

• Delays repairs: Missed appointments result in longer waits for essential fixes.
• Disrupts schedules: Engineers lose valuable time, and neighbours experience delays.
• Wastes money: A no-access appointment can cost up to £150—funds that could be better spent on improving homes.

With thousands of homes to manage, this affects us all, and the money could be better spent elsewhere.

How You Can Help:

• Plan ahead: Book repairs only when you’re sure you’ll be home.
• Stay updated: Make use of our reminder texts, emails, or calls.
• Reschedule early: If your plans change, let us know as soon as possible.

Why Being In Matters:

✅ Faster repairs for you.
✅ More funds for community improvements.
✅ Smoother services for everyone.

Need to reschedule?

• Phone: 01727 819256
• Email: stalbansrepairs@morgansindall.com 

Together, we can keep repairs on track and make the most of every visit

Meet Your Housing and Income Officers

Say No to Fly-Tipping: Keep St Albans District Clean and Green!

Fly-tipping is not just dumping rubbish on country lanes—it includes leaving bulky items or waste in bin stores, garage areas, or sheds, as well as placing items in front of bins, which may block their emptying. This anti-social behaviour is unfair to neighbours and harms our community and environment.

What is Fly-Tipping?

Fly-tipping involves illegally dumping waste, including furniture, household items, or construction materials, on public or private land. It’s not only an eyesore but also poses risks to health, wildlife, and the environment.

Why It Matters:

• Environmental Harm: Dumped waste pollutes our parks, rivers, and green spaces, affecting wildlife and plants.
• Health Hazards: Hazardous materials in dumped waste can endanger residents and animals.
• Community Costs: Cleaning up fly-tipping diverts funds from essential services.

How You Can Help:

• Keep it tidy: Use the bulky waste collection service and keep communal areas clean and clear.
• Report it: Spot fly-tipping? Report it to the Council to ensure it’s cleared quickly.
• Dispose responsibly: Use your local recycling centre or licensed waste disposal services.

Let’s work together to keep St Albans District safe, clean, and green.

Report Fly-Tipping:

Visit St Albans District Fly-Tipping Page or call 01727 819519 to report incidents.

Your actions make a difference—thank you for protecting our community!

Stay Safe with Annual Gas Checks

Almost all tenants allow us access to complete necessary safety tests and services to ensure everyone's safety. We are committed to 100% compliance with annual gas safety inspections, and this is non-negotiable.

Gas safety is vital. Faulty appliances can cause explosions, fires, or deadly carbon monoxide leaks. To prevent this, we schedule inspections annually or when tenancies change. Please contact us promptly if you need to reschedule your appointment.

Our Gas Safe engineers aim to complete checks on the first visit, treating you and your property with respect. To assist:

• Ensure someone aged 18+ is present.
• Provide clear access to appliances.
• Have credit on your gas meter.

Because gas safety is vital, refusing access can result in legal action and potential costs, including court orders and loss of tenancy.

Our gas compliance team has done an excellent job not only ensuring safety but also identifying and supporting vulnerable tenants by signposting them to relevant support agencies. As a Gas Safe accredited organisation, we check and service gas appliances, provide a Landlord Gas Safety Record (LGSR) certificate, and inspect smoke alarms, heat sensors, and carbon monoxide detectors. This ensures your home’s safety and legal compliance.

It is important to know the location of your gas supply and how to shut it off in case of emergencies. If you detect the smell of gas, immediately call the 24/7 National Gas Emergency Service at 0800 111 999. Open all doors and windows to ventilate the area, and avoid using any flames or electrical switches.

For further assistance, you can contact the team at customer-services@qhs.co.uk or  through their freephone number: 0808 156 1518. Your safety is our priority.

Struggling with Money or Wellbeing?

If you're a tenant, leaseholder, or know someone facing financial concerns or seeking support, the St Albans Healthy Hub is here to help. This free, one-stop centre provides information, advice, and support for a range of health and wellbeing challenges.

Whether you're looking to:

• Lose weight
• Quit smoking
• Cut down on alcohol
• Get more active
• Manage your money

The Healthy Hub connects you with expert organisations, including Citizens Advice, Communities 1st, and Mind in Mid Herts, offering tailored guidance and support.

Don't wait—get the help you need today! Click here for details

Join Us for a Community Afternoon in 2025!

Discover our exciting Community Afternoons—designed to bring people together, offer vital support, and strengthen your community. These events are packed with opportunities to connect, learn, and thrive.

What’s On Offer?

• Speak with Council Officers: Ask questions, get updates on local projects, and discuss any concerns.
• Raise Local Issues: Discuss your safety or neighbourhood concerns directly with the Police Neighbourhood Team.
• Practical Advice: Get tips on energy savings, repairs, and improving your home environment.

Plus, the charity Playing Out will be at all events, offering fun activities for children.

Community Afternoon Dates – 2025

Here’s when and where you can join us for our upcoming Community Afternoons. Some venues are yet to be confirmed, so keep an eye out for updates!

• Harpenden
  📅 Thursday, 15th May 2025
  🕒 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  📍 Venue: TBC

• Cunningham Ward – St Luke's Church
  📅 Thursday, 19th June 2025
  🕒 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  📍 46 Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans, AL1 5QJ

• London Colney – Cotlandswick (Five Acres)
  📅 Thursday, 17th July 2025
  🕒 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  📍 Venue: TBC

• Redbourn
  📅 Thursday, 18th September 2025
  🕒 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  📍 Venue: TBC

• St Albans
  📅 Thursday, 16th October 2025
  🕒 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  📍 Park Street or Marshalswick – Let us know where you’d like us to be!

• Wheathampstead – Hilldyke Community Centre
  📅 Thursday, 20th November 2025
  🕒 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  📍 Venue: 17 Hill Dyke Rd, Wheathampstead, St Albans AL4 8TU

We’d love to hear your suggestions for venues or areas to visit! Get in touch at residentengagement@stalbans.gov.uk

Let’s work together to build a thriving, connected community—see you there!

More Garages Available to Rent!

We’ve been listening to your feedback and are working hard to improve the availability of garages across the District. Following a thorough survey, we found that many garages are currently unused and could be put to better use.

While some garages may need repairs to meet the high standard you expect, we’re addressing this to ensure more garages are ready and available to rent. Our goal is to ease parking frustrations for residents.

We’ve also simplified the process of renting a garage. You can now enquire directly through your MyStAlbans account, making it quicker and easier to secure the space you need.

Stay tuned for updates on garage availability and application details. For further information or assistance you can email us at Garages@stalbans.gov.uk or contact us via your My St albans account 

Coffee with a cause: Communities Thirst Coffee Cart in St Albans serves up skills and smiles

Waste Not, Want Not: Your Guide to Effective Waste and Recycling Collection

At St Albans City & District Council, we’re committed to keeping our community clean and green, but there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to waste collection.

We provide 90 litres per property per week—and that includes weekly collections for flats. This means your bin(s) are designed to accommodate your general household rubbish, and we ask that you only place household waste inside. Please don’t use them for textiles, toys, electrical items, batteries, or anything that doesn't belong. Any bulky items? They should be taken to your local Household Waste Recycling Centre or you can arrange a special collection with Veolia by calling 01727 809019 

Now, on to the good news: there’s no limit to recycling! We encourage all residents to make the most of your recycling bin and put as much in there as possible. Here’s how to sort it:

• Paper and Card: These can go together in the same bin! But remember: flatten, empty, and break down cardboard boxes so they fit neatly in the bin.
• Cans, Bottles, and Jars: Yes, cans (including aerosols), plastic bottles and tubs, and glass bottles and jars can all be recycled together. It’s that simple!

If you notice your recycling bin is missing stickers or if they’ve become worn, simply contact Veolia at uk.veolia.waste.sadc.mailbox@veolia.com, and they’ll arrange to get new stickers sent to you.

By following these simple steps, we can all help ensure that our neighbourhoods stay tidy and our planet stays a little greener. Thank you for doing your part!

Do the Right Thing!

Social housing is for those in genuine need – providing affordable and secure homes. Subletting your council property or using it incorrectly is Tenancy Fraud, a criminal offence under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013, with penalties of up to two years in prison.

In partnership with the Hertfordshire Shared Anti-Fraud Service, St Albans Council is launching a Key Amnesty in March 2025 to tackle tenancy fraud. This initiative aims to reclaim council homes that are being misused, so they can be reallocated to those who truly need them.

From Monday, 3 March 2025, you can return your keys to us if you're not using your council home as per your tenancy agreement. By doing so, you’ll avoid any legal action for tenancy fraud.

The amnesty runs for 4 weeks, until Monday, 31 March 2025. After this date, we will resume enforcement action. Offenders could face prosecution, fines up to £50,000, and up to two years in prison.

Note: The amnesty does not apply if you have been notified that you are under investigation for tenancy fraud.

Survey Winner Announced!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Community Afternoons (Estate Days) throughout the past year and shared your valuable feedback through our short surveys. Your insights are crucial in shaping how we support and engage with our communities.

We’re delighted to announce that the winner of the £30 Love2Shop voucher has been selected! We’ll be in touch shortly with the lucky resident from Offas Way, Wheathamstead. Keep an eye on your inbox or phone if you participated.

Thank you once again for making these events such a resounding success. We look forward to welcoming you at future Community Afternoons