This page explains the support and information available to you as a tenant. It includes a quick guide to your tenancy, pet permissions, how to apply for a mutual exchange or move home, and what to do if you need to pass on a tenancy. You’ll also find our lettings policy and details about our housing officers and the patches they cover, so you know who to contact for help.

How Your Rent is Calculated

The Government set Housing Association rents. They tell us what we can and can’t charge. If you’d like to know more, you can view Policy statement on rents for social housing on the gov.uk website.

In 2022-23, most will see a 4.1% increase in their rent.

This is worked out through the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate plus the percentage allowed by the Government. For 2022-23 it is 1%. By combining the CPI and annual allowable increase, we get the percentage increase.

For 2022-23 the September 2021 CPI figure is 3.1%. 3.1% + 1% = 4.1%.

Changes To Your Household

It’s your responsibility to inform us if there are any changes to your household, this includes the birth of a new child or if someone passes away.

Check your tenancy details on your Online Account, if something needs changing, please call us on 0300 304 5000, or email info@estuary.co.uk, including supporting evidence (For example, a birth certificate). 

Please include your name, household address, and a good-quality photograph, if needed.

We carry out regular tenancy checks to make sure we have the correct information and the right people are living in our properties.

Moving Home

If you’re moving out, you need to give us at least four weeks' notice in writing by email or post.

Your Housing Officer will arrange a visit and talk through the moving-out process.

The property must be left clean and tidy.

Home Contents Insurance

Contents Insurance can cover your belongings against fire, theft and other risks, such as accidental damage. If something happens to destroy or damage your belongings, it can cost a lot of money to replace those items. Given the increased cost of living, this is something we can all do without.

Contents insurance can provide peace of mind, knowing that if the worst should happen, your items can be replaced or repaired. We encourage you to look in to contents insurance if you’ve not already done so.

The National Housing Federation work in partnership with Thistle Insurance Services Ltd. Call Thistle Tenant Risks on 0345 450 7288 or you can visit the ThistlemyHome website for more information or to request a call back. You can also go to Sum Insured Calculator | My Home Contents Insurance (thistlemyhome.co.uk) to work out the value of your home contents.

Pet Permissions

Let us know if you’re looking to bring a new furry (or otherwise) friend into your home. You’ll need to apply for permission. Please don’t take on a pet unless your request has been approved.

To apply for permission to keep a pet, fill our the form below.

Your pet is your responsibility. Please keep your neighbours in mind and make sure it doesn’t cause any annoyance or nuisance.

  • This includes fouling in any communal area, and causing a nuisance to other residents.
  • If you do allow, or fail to stop your pet causing a nuisance, you’ll be breaking the terms of your tenancy. This could lead to you being asked to rehome your pet or an Injunction to allow us to remove it.

Please note, permission may be refused if you have rent arrears.

Fill in this form to apply to keep a pet in your home

Note: Questions marked by * are mandatory


Permission would only be granted for you to keep the animals identified above on the conditions that:

  • The animal does not cause a nuisance or health hazard to neighbours or other residents
  • The animal is kept under control at all times
  • Animals should not be left for lengthy periods alone in property
  • In addition dogs must be kept on a lead at all times in communal areas, and any fouling by your dog/s is cleaned effectively by you.

If we receive complaints relating to your animal/s this will be in breach of your tenancy conditions and, we may have to ask you to make alternative arrangements for them. Failure to comply with your tenancy could also lead to legal action being taken against you.

If you wish for more pets in the future you must apply in writing to you Housing Officer prior to obtaining these animals.

I agree to keep to above regulations as well as my tenancy in regards to keeping a pet or pets in my home.
*

Passing On A Tenancy

It might be possible to pass a tenancy on to another family member who is living in the property, if a tenant passes away or a relationship breaks down. This will depend on the type of tenancy you have. 

We understand this may be a difficult time and we are here to help. To change the tenancy holder, please contact us as soon as you can. We’ll explain the options. We consider individual circumstances which will include the vulnerability of members of the household when making any decision.

Lettings Policy

This policy describes how we let our general needs rented homes. It aims to provide information and advice for customers and staff on how we select applicants and allocate our general needs rented homes.

if you need some information that's more in depth, you can read the full Lettings Policy.

Right to Acquire

If you'd like to find out if your home qualifies for the right to acquire, or you'd like to know how it all works, please contact our sales team

Your Housing Officers

Aleisha Diss

·Aleisha Diss Portrait Image       

Aleisha Diss' line manager is Sarah Bridge. Aleisha is responsible for the following patches: 

•    Brentwood
•    Maldon 
•    Chelmsford

Alisa Harvey

 

Portrait Image of Alisa Harvey Tenancy Coach

Alisa Harvey's line manager is Susan Harland. Alisa is a Tenancy Coach who works across all areas.

 

 

Danielle Stewart

·Portrait Image of Danielle Stewart         

Danielle Stewart's manager is Sarah Bridge. Danielle is responsible for the following patches:

  • Barking and Dagenham
  • Castle Point
  • SS0 (Southend-on-Sea)
  • SS2 (Newington Avenue)

 

 

Giovanni O'Brien

Portrait Image of Giovanni O'Brien

Giovanni O'Brien's line manager is Sarah Bridge. Giovanni is responsible for the following patches:

  • Epping
  • Rainham (Havering)
  • Redbridge
  • Rochford
  • SS2 (Carnarvon Road — Carlile, Renshaw, Norman, Tolhurst, Tobin, Helmsley, Tattersall & Selby)

Jenna Mansfield

Portrait Image of Jenna Mansfield

Jenna Mansfield's line manager is Jennifer Needham. Jenna is responsible for the following patches:

  • Shoeburyness (SS3)
  • SS2 (Sutton Road — Underwood, Hammond, Valentine, Vernon & Wilkinson

 

Jessica Hosten

 Portrait Image of Jessica Hosten ·      

Jessica Hoston's manager is Sarah Bridge. Jessica is responsible for the following patches:

  • Thurrock

Jose McKay

Portrait Image of Jose McKay

Jose McKay's line manager is Sarah Bridge. Jose is responsible for the following patch:

  • Pembridge Court, Scheme Manager

Larissa Farrey

Portrait Image of Larissa Farrey

Larissa Farrey's line manager is Jennifer Needham. Larissa is responsible for the following patches:

  • Woodgrange Drive Estate (WDE):

                                Centre Place
                                Coaster Steps
                                Fortune Steps
                                Lantern Steps
                                Marionette Steps
                                Mirror Steps
                                Pierrot Steps
                                Windmill Steps
                                Prospect Close

  • Kenway (Coates House & Cole House)
  • Leigh (SS9)
  • Oakham Court

 

 

Lynn Karrer

Lynn Karrer's line manager is Jennifer Needham. Lynn is responsible for:

  • Oakham Court, Lynn is the Scheme Manager

Prakash Shah

Portrait Image of Prakash Shah

Prakash Shah's line manager is Sarah Bridge.Prakash is responsible for the following patches:

•    Havering (excluding Rainham)

Ruth Fordham

Portrait Image of Ruth Fordham

Ruth Fordham's line manager is Jennifer Needham. Ruth is responsible for the following patches:

  • Cany Terrace
  • Carousel Steps
  • Crystal Steps
  • Ferris Steps
  • Harlequin Steps
  • Penny Steps
  • Romany Steps
  • Skelter Steps
  • Swingboat Terrace
  • Waterfall
  • Outing Close
  • Kursaal Way

Shanice Beningfield

Shanice Beningfield's line manager is Jennifer Needham. Shanice is responsible for the following patches:

  • Uttlesford
  • Basildon
  • SS1 Southend-on-Sea (including The Courtyard)

Tom Morley

· Portrait Image of Tom Morley        

Tom Morley's manager is Sarah Bridge. Tom is responsible for the following patches:

  • Berbergh
  • Tendring
  • Colchester
  • Suffolk Coastal
  • Braintree
  • Pembridge Court
  • SS2 (Seaforth Grove, Guildford Road & Porters Brook)