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Welcome to Blackpool Coastal Housing, the Arms Length Management Organisation created by Blackpool Council. Blackpool Coastal Housing manages Blackpool Council's housing stock of over 5000 properties.
The website is being relaunched over the next few months. In the meantime we will update the existing website as often as we can, if there is a page that isn't recently updated you would like more information on please contact us at enquiries@bch.co.uk and we will respond as soon as we can.
Latest News
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BCH "Time to Change" |
Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) customers are well prepared for changes to Housing Benefit thanks to months of work and its “Time to Change” campaign.
With around 4000 of BCH’s customers in receipt of Housing Benefit, the company
faced a huge task to manage the transition, which follows a change in
legislation by the Government, and comes into force on April 1.
However, after working since last July to communicate the changes, staff are confident that customers have been given the information they need.
BCH Chief Executive, Peter Jefferson, said: “This has been a mammoth task. Being prepared and working since last July to inform customers of the changes, we are reasonably confident that we can tackle any problems which come our way.
“I’d like to thank our customers for working with us on this difficult issue and commend our staff and colleagues in the Council’s Housing Benefit team for their hard work.”
In anticipation of the changes, BCH wrote to customers in July, October and November of last year, sending information along with a rent statement, and began to research the implications of the new under-occupation rules.
The company identified around 500 customers of varying age ranges who were likely to be affected and asked them to get in touch.
Many began to work with BCH straight away with some customers electing to move to a smaller property and others remaining in their properties and either reducing their outgoings, increasing their income or both.
Some people have been referred to the Council’s Housing Benefit Service to see whether discretionary payments can be made or other help offered.
Those customers that did not immediately contact BCH were contacted on the telephone or visited by staff who explained to many customers how they would be affected by the changes.
BCH believes the vast majority of households are now prepared to deal with the issue but wants to contact anyone in receipt of Housing Benefit in a BCH property who has not been in touch.
Mr Jefferson added: “We have gone to great lengths to study this issue, gather information on those likely to be affected and communicate the impact of the changes to them.
“The majority of customers have been fantastic in working with us to overcome any potential problems.
“However, despite our efforts, there may still be people who have not engaged with us who may get a nasty shock if their Housing Benefit is reduced.
“If anyone is worried about the changes they should call our team urgently.”
To contact the BCH Rents Team, call 01253 477942, email rent@bch.co.uk or Text Instead (with your name and address) on 07501 921 015 and they will call you back.
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BCH celebrate shining stars at annual awards |
This month, Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) held its fifth Community Involvement Awards to celebrate the hard work and achievements of customers across the town.
Over 80 community volunteers and guests enjoyed the awards ceremony complete with entertainment and afternoon tea.
The ceremony paid tribute to customers, to celebrate the dedicated contribution made by individuals, community groups and agencies in developing and strengthening local communities.
BCH received many nominations for the eight different award categories and the winners were:
Mature Persons Award: Brenda Giles
Community Group of the Year: Molyneux Drive Friends and Neighbours Association
Community Project of the Year: Community Volunteers at Cherry Tree Gardens
Agency/Partnership Award: Age UK Blackpool & District
BCH Staff Award: Hayley Jones
Highly commended: Ann Carter
Tony Fitzgerald Award: (In honour of a highly regarded retired colleague who passed away in 2011.) Ron Whitaker and John Scholey
Peter Jefferson, Chief Executive at Blackpool Council Housing, praised all those who attended the event “Now in its fifth year, the ceremony is established in our calendar as our way of recognising and thanking our dedicated customers for their ongoing hard work, support and dedication to make a real difference in their community.”
All those who attended the event have been thanked for their continued support, including the generous event sponsors: Read and Errington, Bamford Contract Services Ltd, Technical and Electrical Services, Heckford Advertising, Builders Supplies West Coast Ltd and Forrest.
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