CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we are taking the necessary steps and precautions to try to minimise the risk to our customers and staff. We would like to reassure you that tenant and staff wellbeing is our number one priority, which is why we are stepping up measures to limit the spread of Coronavirus following official advice.

We are monitoring the Coronavirus situation daily to ensure that we are in the best position to manage what is happening as effectively as possible and to keep customers and staff safe. In an effort to minimise the risk of infection, we are making some changes to our services.  Please take the time to read over and follow this guidance. We must all work together in order to try to prevent the spread of Coronavirus and protect our family, friends and communities.

1.  Temporary Service Changes

We have taken the decision to close our office until further notice. This is in line with recent UK and Scottish Government advice. We will keep you up to date through this website and by SMS texting service. In the meantime, our staff will still be able to deal with any enquiries you may have via other methods. Our staff will be working from home and we aim to continue providing services with as little disruption as possible. You can still call us on 01786 841 101 or email enquiries@rsha.org.uk. If you normally come into our office to pay your rent/service charges in cash please look at the alternative ways to pay here.

2.  Allocations, Voids and Reletting

We would encourage all new applicants to visit our website where you will find a copy of our application form available to download (here). This should then be e-mailed back to enquiries@rsha.org.uk to be processed more quickly. To protect tenants, applicants, staff and contractors we have temporarily suspended all works associated with voids and reletting of our properties.

3.  Home visits and face-to-face appointments cancelled

We appreciate many of our customers prefer to meet face-to-face with our staff. However, in the interest of protecting staff, tenants and the wider public, we will not be carrying out home visits or face-to-face appointments until further notice. If you need to contact us urgently, please visit the Staff Team area of our website where you will find contact information for all members of staff. If you already had a home visit or appointment scheduled with a member of staff we will be in touch with you to discuss this and offer an alternative option.

4.  Investment works

For the safety of our customers, contractors and staff, all investment works have been suspended. Kitchen replacement works and Fire Safety Upgrades have been suspended with immediate effect. Our refurbishment programme will commence again when it is safe to do so.  We hope you understand that these measures are necessary in the current climate.

5.  Emergency repairs only

Our main contractors are still operational, however, providing a reduced service. We will only be carrying out emergency repairs until further notice. All gas audit inspections have been suspended but annual servicing is essential and will still continue. We will continue to deal with emergency gas repairs. Please also be aware that our target response time for emergency repairs of 4 hours may be slightly longer than normal. Please contact us on 01786 841 101 during normal working hours to report an emergency repair. Our out of hours emergency contact numbers remain the same:

• Gas repairs call Saltire on 0845 606 1555
• All other emergency repairs please call McDougall Group on 0800 975 1234.

We will need to ask you some screening questions to protect both you and our contractors before visits can be confirmed. Our Contractors will also ask you a series of questions before they enter your home.

We will advise customers as soon as possible if there are any further changes to the repairs service. In the meantime, please consider whether your repair is an emergency before requesting a visit.

6.  Woodyard Court - New Build Doune

This development is currently in the Defects Liability period and all defects are the responsibility of the main Contractor, Hadden. Hadden Group are currently not able to guarantee emergency cover service for defects. Therefore, please contact us on 01786 841 101 during day time hours to report an emergency defect repair. Out with this time, our out of hours emergency contact numbers should be used, Gas repairs call Saltire on 0845 606 1555 all other emergency repairs please contact the McDougall Group on 0800 975 1234.

7.  Self-isolation

You should let us know if you are self-isolating or have recently returned from any of the countries already in lockdown.

We are grateful to all of our customers and staff for their patience, support and understanding at this uniquely challenging time.

General Advice

If you have developed a new continuous cough and/or a fever/high temperature in the last 7 days, stay at home for 7 days from the start of your symptoms even if you think your symptoms are mild.

Phone your GP or NHS 24 (111) if your symptoms:

• are severe or you have shortness of breath;

• worsen during home isolation;

• have not improved after 7 days.

You should also phone your GP or NHS 24 (111) if you develop breathlessness or it worsens, especially if you:

• are 60 years old or over;

• have underlying poor health;

• have heart or lung problems;

• have a weakened immune system, including cancer;

• have diabetes.

If you have a medical emergency, phone 999 and tell them you have COVID-19 symptoms.

To protect yourself and others, it is best to:

• To kill germs, wash your hands with soap and water, or use a sanitiser gel.

• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze.

• Bin the tissue.

For the latest public information on coronavirus visit: www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus 

Please follow the links below for further information. 

Childcare for Essential Workers

First Group Bus Information

Suspension of Kitchen Replacements Programme

Changes to Household Waste Collection

Paying your rent during the current Coronavirus outbreak

We have updated our guidance on paying your rent and financial difficulties during the outbreak. You can read more here.

Please also see our frequently asked questions.

CORGI independent quality inspections