Resident newsletter – May 2026
Resident newsletter – May 2026
Welcome to your latest update
We’re pleased to share our latest update on the services we provide along with
information to help you live safely and comfortably in your home. In this short video,
our Acting CEO at SettleParadigm, Nicola Ewen, shares highlights of the work we
are doing. If there is anything we can do to help you, please get in touch using the
contact details at the bottom of this newsletter.
SettleParadigm update
In March, we wrote to all residents about plans for Settle and Paradigm Housing
Group to fully merge into one organisation, with Settle homes and services
transferring to Paradigm Homes Charitable Housing Association Limited.
The resident consultation about this proposal closed on 22 May, and we’re now
reviewing all feedback received. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share
their views.
You can still visit the Transfer of Engagements webpage for FAQs and more
information. We’ll update residents on the outcome in September.
Services update
We’re continuing to improve our repairs service and how we support you when you
need to report issues or contact us. If you have concerns about damp and mould,
or any other hazards in your home, please contact us on 0330 343 0016 or
report this online at Reportahazard.settlegroup.org.uk.
There are also updates from our Customer Hub, including improvements to how we
gather feedback from residents and handle queries. We’ve also improved how
residents can report anti-social behaviour through our website, and updated the
information we share on communal spaces and grounds maintenance. This includes
clearer guidance on cleaning and maintenance schedules on our website and
noticeboards in flat blocks, as well as the ability to report communal cleaning issues
and fly-tipping through My Settle Portal. Thank you to residents who shared
feedback to help shape this work. We know there is more to do and will continue to
build on these improvements.
Update on your rent and how we spend your
money
In March 2026, we wrote to all residents with details of rent and any service charges
for the year from April 2026 to March 2027.
For most social housing tenants, rent increases are set in line with the government’s
Social Rent Standard. While the amount may have changed, the way rent and
service charges are calculated remains the same. Your rent helps pay for
maintaining and improving homes, including our repairs service, and service charges
cover the cost of providing services where you live.
The booklet we sent sets out your specific charges in more detail. More information
is available on our website.
Safety in your home
Keeping you safe in your home is our priority. We carry out regular safety checks,
including annual gas safety and hot water cylinder checks, and electrical safety
checks every five years. Thank you to all residents who help by letting us in when
these checks are due.
We also share a fire safety reminder for residents living in blocks of flats, with
guidance on keeping communal areas clear, balcony safety, BBQ use, and other
simple steps to reduce risk and spread of fire. Find out more on our Safety in your
Home page.
Could you leave your home in an emergency?
If you live in a flat and you or someone in your household may need extra help to
leave your home in an emergency, such as a fire, you can self-refer for a Residential
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (RPEEP).
How we are listening
Since January, we’ve made improvements across several areas, including repairs,
complaints handling, the way we maintain communal spaces and green areas, and
how residents can raise concerns with us. You can read more about how we
respond to your feedback on our You Said, We Did webpages, which are updated
every three months.
We’d also like your views through our Resident Experience and How we show up in
your neighbourhood surveys. The Resident Experience survey looks at your day-today
experience of our services, while the neighbourhood survey focuses on our local
presence, safety, and how issues are reported and resolved. You can also give
feedback on our Neighbourhood Management and Noise Management policies,
which are now open for contributions on Settle Connect.
If you need to make a complaint, you can contact us by phone, email, My Settle
Portal or in person – we’re here to help.
In your neighbourhood
Our focus is on listening to what residents tell us matters most and using that
feedback to shape improvements in neighbourhoods. There are lots of ways to get
involved and have your say. Below are some of the places we’ve been listening
recently, with more visits planned in your area soon.
In Jackmans, work through the neighbourhood plan has included improvements to
lighting and CCTV, tackling fly-tipping, upgrading communal areas and supporting
community events. We’ve also worked with pupils at Garden City Academy to listen
to their concerns about road safety around the school and support discussions with
partners about how the area could be made safer.
Across other neighbourhoods, we’ve supported Great British Spring Clean events in
Westmill, Grange and Jackmans, with over 140 people taking part.
We’ve also held a Neighbourhood Action Day and Door Knock event at Moselle
House in Watford, working with partners and residents to improve communal areas,
support residents to get rid of bulky waste, and hear directly about what matters
most to residents.
Additional support
Cost of living
We know rising costs are affecting many households, and support is available if
things are feeling difficult. We can help with budgeting, applying for benefits, energy
costs, and managing rent or other debts. Visit our Support from Settle page to find
details of our in-house Money Advice team. We also work with partner organisations,
including Black Squirrel Credit Union and Better Housing, Better Health, to provide
extra support where needed. You can find more information on our Cost of living
page.
If you use oil for heating, we can also help you explore options to manage higher
fuel costs, and there may be additional funding available through your local council
depending on your circumstances.
Help to make your home warmer
We’re supporting eligible residents to make their homes warmer, more energy
efficient and reduce energy bills through a government-funded programme. Homes
must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of band D or below. You
can check your EPC rating and find out more on our energy efficiency webpage, or
email shdf@settlegroup.org.uk to talk through what support may be available.
Register your interest in cognitive behavioural therapy
If you’re struggling with anxiety, low mood, stress or worries, you can register your
interest for free cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) sessions delivered in
partnership with Buckinghamshire New University. These sessions can take place in
person, by phone or online. You can join the waiting list here.
Help with one-off garden clearance for eligible residents
We’ve launched the Green Aiders project with Groundwork East, offering one-off
garden clearance for eligible residents who are unable to maintain their garden due
to age, ill health, disability or financial hardship. If you know someone who may
benefit, or you would like to refer yourself, please contact our Neighbourhoods team
on 0330 343 0016 or email community.investment@settlegroup.org.uk.