In this section...
Please click on the links for information about our handy person service and a range of home maintenance advice and support.
Do you need help with small DIY jobs in your home?
If you are a Phoenix tenant, we can carry out this work for you through our handy person service. It's £45 per hour or free if you're over 60 or have a disability.
All you need to do is supply the materials.
The handy person service offers a range of jobs, including:
If you would like to use this service, please contact us.
Please contact us straight away if you have damp or mould growth. We’re here to help.
Damp and mould can have serious health implications if left untreated and it’s important to contact us if you’re experiencing problems so that we can work with you to agree the best approach for your home. It is our responsibility to ensure that your home is safe and well maintained to a decent standard. Read this leaflet to learn more.
When you report cases of damp and mould to us, we will discuss the problem with you and either carry out a repair to resolve the issue or we will arrange for a surveyor to visit your home and investigate the problem further. When you contact us, please explain the problem in as much detail as possible and tell us if you have noticed any of the possible causes listed in this guide. This will help us to identify the cause and decide what action is required to resolve it. It’s important to let us know if you or any member of your household has a medical condition.
We can offer help and support to meet your needs while the problem is resolved.
All buildings move. It's not unusual for some cracks to appear at some time during the life of a building.
Changes in temperature and moisture can also cause some parts of buildings to expand or contract.
Subsidence damage occurs where changes in the ground beneath a property causes the foundations to move. If part of the foundations move up or down, then cracks are likely to appear in the walls.
Subsidence cracks are typically wider at the top than the bottom. They commonly appear around points of weakness, such as windows or doors.
You may also experience doors and windows sticking, and walls and floors may show signs of distortion.
If you notice cracks within your home more than 6mm wide (the width of two £1 coins stuck together), please contact us.
We will:
If you have a problem with pests in your home you can receive help from Lewisham Council. There is a charge for all treatments, apart from rats, but concessions are available if you receive a state pension or full benefits.
If there is a problem with pests in the communal (shared) areas of your block, please contact us and we will investigate the problem.
There are some simple steps you can take to help prevent a problem with pests:
We aim to help you to live independently and comfortably in your home for as long as possible.
We want to work together with residents to keep any pigeon problems under control.
Pigeons have been a long-standing problem across the Phoenix area, and in particular on the North Downham estate. They are a nuisance and can spread disease.
We work closely with residents to keep an eye on problems and work to reduce pigeon numbers in a humane way. Initiatives have included the use of devices to deter pigeons from balconies.
To help manage the issue we ask the following of residents:
If you have any particular issues with pigeons, please contact us.
We define hoarding as:
“Acquiring an excessive number of items and storing them in a chaotic manner. The amount of items interferes with everyday living. The amount of items is causing significant distress or negatively affecting the individual’s quality of life or their family’s or neighbours.”
When a possible hoarding situation has been identified, either by a resident’s family, friends or neighbours, or by Phoenix staff, we will work with the resident to help make sure that their home is safe and liveable. Our primary concern is the health and safety of the resident and their neighbours.
If you or one of your neighbours has a problem with hoarding, please contact us.
Everything to do with hoarding cases will be in strict confidence.
Or you can access more information at:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/hoarding-disorder
If you are having difficulties getting around your home or using your bathroom, then we may be able to make alterations to help you.
Adaptations can include:
Minor adaptations: These are works that we estimate will cost less than £1,000.
Major adaptations: These are works that we estimate will cost between £1,000 and £25,000. Sometimes they can be funded through your Local Authority Disabled Facilities Grant scheme.
Please contact us to discuss your circumstances.
We can offer advice about an Occupational Health assessment and put you in touch with an Occupational Therapist.
The Occupational Therapist will visit you at home to assess what you or a member of your household needs to make life easier. They will send their findings to Phoenix so that we can consider whether we can make the adaptation.
We aim to carry out all minor adaptations within three weeks and major adaptations within 12 weeks. All equipment provided, such as stair lifts and hoists, will be maintained and serviced every 12 months. We will try to do this at the same time as your gas servicing to minimise disruption.
In some cases we may need to consider alternatives to adapting your home. That could include supporting you with a move to another property that is better suited to your needs.
Telecare can offer you extra support and reassurance at home. It works by connecting an alarm unit in your home to a pendant that you can wear around your neck or wrist. You can press the button on your pendant to raise the alarm if you get into any difficulty at home.
A telecare service is provided by Lewisham Linkline. You can find more information about this on Lewisham Council website.
We need the help of residents to tackle housing fraud.
We want to make sure that Phoenix homes are occupied by genuine tenants with a right to be there.
It is now a criminal offence for a tenant to rent all of their property to other people without permission.
This is called unauthorised subletting. People found guilty of this can face up two years imprisonment along with a fine of up to £5,000.
But unauthorised subletting is not just a crime. It also prevents people in genuine need from enjoying a good quality home.
If you know or suspect that a Phoenix property is occupied by someone other than the genuine tenant, please contact us so that our staff can investigate.
All information you provide will be treated in the strictest confidence.
If you believe you are renting your property from someone other than Phoenix, you must also contact us immediately. If you do not take action, then you are also committing a criminal offence.
