Retirement Housing Group

The Counsel's aim is to help older people make informed choices about meeting their housing and care needs. EAC maintains a nationwide database of all forms of accommodation for older people - sheltered housing for sale or rent, residential care homes, nursing homes and close care schemes. Staff give guidance, advice and detailed information to help callers choose and fund the accommodation most suited to their needs.

The EAC maintains the website www.HousingCare.org with other agencies. This details older people's accommodation across the UK and offers information and advice.

 

EAC

3rd. Floor

89 Albert Embankment

London, SE1 7TP

 

Tel: 020 7820 1243

Website

The Association of  Retirement Housing Managers (ARHM), represents 59 organisations which between  them, manage 96,000 retirement properties.

 

The Association is committed to  high standards and ethics in the management of private retirement and  sheltered housing.

Our Code of Practice forms a benchmark for Leasehold  Valuation Tribunals in the exercise of their role in relation to the  management of retirement leasehold  properties.

• Advice, formally through the  ARHM, informally through our network of members. 
• Up to date information on legislation.
• Access to  a members' helpline which provides specialist  advice.
• Access to discounted insurance for  residents.
• Opportunity to join working groups on  Management and Finance.
• Regular  newsletters.
• Access to good practice notes drawn  up by experienced practitioners.
• Access to a  comprehensive home contents insurance policy which members can offer  residents.
• Possibility of referrals through new  business enquiries.

The ARHM is committed to enforcing high standards  and ethics in the management of private retirement and sheltered  housing.

The Code of Practice will form a benchmark for Leasehold Valuation  Tribunals in the exercise of their role in relation to the management of  leasehold properties.

 

Copies of the code can be ordered price £5 plus  p&p from;

 

ARHM

Southbank House

Black Prince Road

London, SE1 7SJ

 

Tel: 020 7463 0660,

Fax: 020 7463 0661

Email

Website

AIMS is a specialist Age Concern England service offering impartial information, advice and mediation for any person who lives in or is involved in providing sheltered housing.

It operates a lo-call advice line, with a translation service available for non-English speaking clients. In addition we provide written advice, site visits, and have available on request a number of information and fact sheets for residents and managers.

The emphasis throughout the work of AIMS is on dispute prevention and resolution. It uses impartial mediation to try to resolve disputes between sheltered housing residents and/or between residents and managers. AIMS is continually raising awareness of issues and examples of good practice which arise from its casework. We also offer training in conflict and dispute resolution techniques.

Some of the issues AIMS deals with includes:

• Rents and service charges
• Role of the warden or scheme manager
• Rights to repairs and improvements
• Consultation rights and tenant participation
• Noise and neighbour disputes

AIMS also seeks to share good practice and influence policy on sheltered housing. As a centre of expertise for dispute resolution within sheltered housing, AIMS is part of the formal Parliamentary consultation process which takes place during the formation and enactment of housing related legislation.