'Selectmove' is a department within Preston city Council who handle all the lettings for their properties. It had a reputation of creating problems with their attitude in lettings on an estate. When we formed ICA we monitored all lettings, the results astounded us, they where placing a tenant that created ASB and drug problems on the estate at 1 every 7 days. (see figures below 2003/4). This could not go on, we put our case to them and they responded in a positive way, (see figures below for 2004/5)
Myth
or MonsterThis article has been reproduced from ICA October Newsletter 2005.
By Bill McGrath (Chairman)
I have just received a letter from on of our residents who happen to live close to one of the minority families who are involved with antisocial behaviour and drugs. Fortunately this type of family on this estate is diminishing and in the minority. This lady and many of her neighbours have had to suffer, mainly because of the lack of understanding by the City Housing to the distress that this type of behaviour has on the neighbourhood.
This lady was concerned that her friend and next door neighbour had decided to leave the area. This in itself is upsetting but to make the situation even more upsetting was the fact that she was now in the hands so to speak of 'Select Move' and was upset and desperate that her nice good neighbour would be replaced by yet another antisocial tenant.
Select Move is the letting agent for PCC and use to be called 'Smartmove', this letting agent have over the past few years earned a reputation of creating problems for us all. They managed this by placing antisocial tenants into house and flats that had been vacated by decent people.
18 Months ago the ICA started long discussions with Helen and Margaret from the then 'Smart Move' and explained our concerns. They explained that owing to certain policies out of their control letting properties was not quite as simple as you or I might think. Never the less they have been more than helpful, there have been problems at certain addresses but in the main we believe things have improved.
For one the now called 'Select Move' have changed the system for letting, Helen has supplied a letter to explain in simple terms how they now go about letting properties.
We have a few facts that will show that 'Select Move' is concerned about our estate regenerating itself, and we believe that when 'Gateway' comes in things will improve even more.
This is clearly an improvement so hopefully within a couple of years we will have a far more stable environment.
Keep up the good work Select Move
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Lettings by 'Smartmove' on the Barry Avenue Estate 2003/4 |
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Smartmove
a damning report
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From the day the Ingol Community Association was formed we have been tracking lettings that have been carried out by 'Smartmove' | |
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We are confident that the figures we quote are accurate. The number of void properties let by 'smartmove on the Ingol Estate in our first 11 months is: |
57
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in no less than 37 properties |
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Of
these lettings we have had complains of
Antisocial
Behaviour
Serious
Breach of Tenancies
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65%
of lettings by 'Smartmove' have created problems for the residents
living on the Ingol Estate
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This is an afront to the decent hardworking law abiding resident Do you think this is acceptable? We don't |
Preston City Council with their existing letting policies are introducing a problem tenant on the Ingol estate every 7 Working Days |
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Lettings by 'Selectmove' on the Barry Avenue Estate 2004/5 |
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'Selectmove'
a better report |
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| From the day the Ingol Community Association was formed we have been tracking lettings that have been carried out by 'Selectmove' | ||
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We are confident that the figures we quote are accurate. The number of void properties let by 'smartmove on the Ingol Estate for the past 12 months is: |
63 |
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in only 8 properties |
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Of
these lettings we have had complains of
Antisocial Behaviour Serious Breach of Tenancies |
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12%
of lettings by 'Smartmove' have created problems for the residents
living on the Ingol Estate |
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This is a good report, a fantastic improvement Can you do better next year? fingers crossed |
Preston City Council with their existing letting policies are introducing a problem tenant on the Ingol estate every 45 Working Days |
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For
further information see questionaire page.......Back
to: the part we played |
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