Housing, accommodation and repairs during coronavirus

Last reviewed: 6pm, Thursday 8 October

Housing, accommodation and repairs during coronavirus

Changes to housing services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

On this page:

Paying your rent

Please continue to pay your rent and service charges as normal.

Ways to pay your rent:

Online - pay your rent and access your account online at MyAccount
By phone on 0300 300 0222
By direct debit/standing order. Call 0300 300 0222 and choose option 1 to set this up
Touchtone phone payment by debit or credit card (available 24 hours). Call 0300 300 0300 and choose option 2 followed by option
Using your swipe card to pay at PayPoint facilities and Post Office stores when making essential purchases.

Struggling to pay your rent?

If you are struggling to pay your rent, please let us know on 0300 300 0222. We can provide you with advice and support about benefits and assistance which may be available and can discuss an appropriate payment plan with you.

You may be able to claim benefits, if your employment circumstances have changed, or to access a Crisis Grant. Visit our Coronavirus benefits, money and debt page for more details of support available.

Housing neighbourhood services

Our housing neighbourhood offices are closed just now but we can still help with:

issuing new rent payment cards
setting up direct debits
addressing rent arrears
investigating noise nuisance
advising on benefits
addressing antisocial behaviour
Housing Application Enquiries
telling us about tenancy changes (including anyone moving in or out of your household)
telling us about a change in your circumstances
applying for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).

Call us on 0300 300 0222 or email your local housing office:

Lettings, moves and housing options advice

We have suspended normal letting activity. This means that we aren't issuing new housing offers and are postponing all non-essential viewings and moves. We can still provide you with advice on 0300 300 0222.

The Homexchange Shop is closed until further notice. For any enquiries, please contact the team on 0300 300 0222.

If you wish to end your tenancy, please phone 0300 300 0222 or email your local office:

If you had already told us that you want to end your tenancy but your move has been delayed, please get in touch to arrange a later termination date.

Homeless Services

See homelessness help and advice

Housing Support Services for the vulnerable

The Housing Support Team will continue to support you if you have difficulty living independently because of homelessness, learning disabilities, addiction, mental illness, age, convictions or domestic abuse. We can also accept new referrals.

We can help with budgeting, benefit claims, managing debt and settling into a new tenancy. Send us an email at referral@renfrewshire.gov.uk or call 0141 618 5795 during office hours.

Sheltered housing

Essential services are continuing to operate in our sheltered housing complexes. Tenants are being contacted each day to check they are well and have essential supplies. In line with social distancing guidance, common rooms and other public spaces are not available for use. Posters have been displayed at every complex with advice on how to use laundry facilities at this time. If you would like to contact your Sheltered Housing Officer, please continue to use your pendant.

Housing repairs, gas servicing and planned improvement works

Housing repairs

Our repair service continues to prioritise essential, emergency and urgent repairs.

You can report emergency repairs by phoning 0300 300 0300 (24 hours). Where possible, we will carry out a full repair within one day. If not, we will make the issue safe within the same timescale and return to repair it fully.

Non-essential repairs can now be reported and appointments made for a tradesperson or inspector to attend. Some repairs may take longer than normal to be attended and completed so we ask for your patience.

**Due to the current coronavirus level 4 protections, there are additional restrictions on the types of repairs that we can carry out**

Please be assured that the safety of our tenants and staff is our priority. We'll make sure that we maintain a safe distance from you; our engineer will wash their hands thoroughly during their visit; and they will ensure that they clean all affected surfaces before leaving your property.

If anyone in your household develops coronavirus symptoms or has been asked to self-isolate, please call and let us know so that your appointment can be rearranged.

Gas servicing and safety

If you are one of our tenants, we are legally required to carry out a gas safety check in your home, at least once a year, even during the coronavirus outbreak. It is important that you respond to our gas servicing letters.

When you receive a gas servicing letter, please get in touch on 0300 300 0222.

Some services were put on hold during lockdown because members of the household were shielding. As the shielding period ended on 31 July, we are now getting back in touch with these households to arrange the gas service.

We'll make sure that we maintain a safe distance from you; our engineer will wash their hands thoroughly during their visit; and they will ensure that they clean all affected surfaces before leaving your property.

If anyone in your household develops coronavirus symptoms or has been asked to self-isolate, please call and let us know so that your appointment can be rearranged.

Smell gas? Call 0800 111 999 (24 hours).

Planned improvement works

Along with other non-essential capital works, we have suspended all planned improvements to occupied properties for now. Where we have started work, contractors will carry out any necessary work to make sure your home is safe and secure until we are able to return to complete the work. For advice, please call 07770 347 350 or 07920 546 211.

High-rise flats

A reduced concierge and caretaking service is in operation but we are continuing to visit and check all high rise blocks each day. If you have any concerns about day to day building maintenance, fire safety or security, please contact 0300 300 0222.

Laundrettes

Council laundrette facilities are open as usual. As a tenant or resident, you can use the laundrette under the same terms as normal.

We have physical distancing measures in place to protect you when you are using them and ask you to follow these steps:

dirty laundry that has been in contact with an unwell person should be laundered separately where possible
make sure dirty laundry is kept bagged for 72 hours before taking it to the laundrette
don't shake dirty laundry to reduce the risk of spreading the virus through the air
use the warmest water setting and dry items completely
clean and disinfect anything used for transporting laundry as well as work surfaces and door handles
ensure you wash your hands thoroughly after handling dirty laundry.

Looking after yourself and your neighbours

In these difficult times, it is especially important to look after yourself and to look out for your neighbours.

If you are staying at home, it can feel more difficult than usual to take care of your health and wellbeing.

If you are fit and well, please check on older neighbours. Remember to follow physical distancing guidance and to make sure that they are safe and have access to food and medicines. If you are concerned about someone who is older or vulnerable, please contact us on 0300 300 1380.

If you need protection, or you're worried that someone else does, please call Police Scotland on 101 or 999, in an emergency. See Domestic abuse, protecting adults and children.

We ask you to be considerate with your neighbours at this time. They, or their friends or family, may be affected by the ongoing situation so please think about this before raising an issue with us. If you do have an issue, you can contact:

your Housing Officer on 0300 300 0222
Noise Enforcement Team on 07768 988186.
Wardens on 0300 300 0380 or email Wardens Service. We will provide advice and log calls but won't be able to visit in every case.

Where to find additional support

Scotland Trusted Trader has lots of helpful advice for homeowners who need to fix an emergency repair.

Advice Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire Citizen's Advice Bureau can give you advice on any housing issue you may have.

Our Energy Advice and Advocacy team can give you support on fuel debt, issues you have with your gas and electricity supplier and general energy advice. Contact the team on 07958 011104, 07789 652936 or 07825 193697 or email emu@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

A new national helpline Coronavirus Advice can help with advice on employment, personal finance, cancellations and consumer rights.

It is more important than ever to be alert and vigilant to potential scams. Visit our Consumer advice and protection page for advice.

To report incidents of non-compliance, you can call Police Scotland on 101.

Renfrewshire Council