Empty Properties

Andrew Wastling made this Freedom of Information request to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing
This authority is not subject to FOI law, so is not legally obliged to respond (details). This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

Response to this request is long overdue. Although not legally required to do so, we would have expected Rochdale Boroughwide Housing to have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Andrew Wastling
Delivered

Dear Rochdale Boroughwide Housing,

Please could you provide me with details of the current number and location of empty properties both residential and commercial which are currently classed as empty on an area by area basis across the Borough of Rochdale , Heywood and Middleton ?

1 ) In addition could you also provide me with details of how long on average these empty properties have been empty ?

2) Could you also tell me how many RBH tenants have been re-housed in the centre of Rochdale and elsewhere from the estates of Falinge and College Bank in the last twelve months ?

3) Could you tell me since the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic in March what percentage of your staff , on a grade by grade basis, have been either :

a) Working from home ?

b)Shielding during the epidemic ?

c) On long term sick , isolation or Furlough ?

d)How many working days has St. Alban's House been closed since April 2020 for face to face support for local members of the public ?

4) How many former rough sleepers, street homeless , sofa surfers or rough sleepers have been rehoused by RBH staff into new RBH properties over the last six months ?

Thank you I look forward to your written response in due course

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Wastling

Link to this Report
Customer Experience, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing

Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]themeData
Link: [3]colorSchemeMapping

Dear [FOI #682764 email],

 

Thank you for contacting RBH. Your e-mail has been received and will be
dealt with during office hours. For emergency repair calls only please
contact our out of hours service on 0800 027 7769.

 

Need Money Advice or help with Universal Credit –  don’t worry? We’re here
to help. Please call our dedicated Rent and Payment Team (Free phone) 0800
027 7769, Option 2. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm, or e-mail
[4][email address]

 

RBH Contact Centre

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

[5][IMG]  [6]Proud to support Alzheimer's Research UK, the charity chosen
by our Members.

Visit us at [7]rbh.org.uk or talk to us on 0800 027 7769

Sandbrook House | Sandbrook Way | Rochdale | OL11 1RY

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing Limited is a charitable community benefit
society. FCA register number 31452 R
Registered Office: Sandbrook House, Sandbrook Way, Rochdale OL11 1RY
Registered as a provider of social housing. RSH register number: 4607

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01D61235.F1F85A00
2. file:///tmp/~~themedata~~
3. file:///tmp/~~colorschememapping~~
4. mailto:[email address]
5. https://www.rbh.org.uk/
6. Proud to support Alzheimer's Research UK, the charity chosen by our Members.
https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/
7. http://www.rbh.org.uk/

Link to this Report
DPO, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing

Hello Andrew,

 

Thanks for getting in touch with us.

 

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing is not subject to the Freedom of Information
Act 2000 as it is not a publically owned company, nor a public authority.

Due to this we do not respond to FOI requests.

 

Thanks,

Kevin Morgan

Data Protection Officer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Andrew Wastling <[1][FOI #682764 email]>
Date: Saturday, August 8, 2020, 11:34:00 AM
To: FOI requests at Rochdale Boroughwide Housing
<[2][Rochdale Boroughwide Housing request email]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Empty Properties [RBH: 6DrrO2,
RBH: tr4NuU]

CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise
caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from
unknown senders.

Dear Rochdale Boroughwide Housing,

Please could you provide me with details of the current number and
location of empty properties both residential and commercial which are
currently classed as empty on an area by area basis across the Borough of
Rochdale , Heywood and Middleton ?

1 ) In addition could you also provide me with details of how long on
average these empty properties have been empty ?

2) Could you also tell me how many RBH tenants have been re-housed in the
centre of Rochdale and elsewhere from the estates of Falinge and College
Bank in the last twelve months ?

3) Could you tell me since the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic in March
what percentage of your staff , on a grade by grade basis, have been
either :

a) Working from home ?

b)Shielding during the epidemic ?

c) On long term sick , isolation or Furlough ?

d)How many working days has St. Alban's House been closed since April 2020
for face to face support for local members of the public ?

4) How many former rough sleepers, street homeless , sofa surfers or rough
sleepers have been rehoused by RBH staff into new RBH properties over the
last six months ?

Thank you I look forward to your written response in due course

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Wastling

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[3][FOI #682764 email]

Is [4][Rochdale Boroughwide Housing request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests to Rochdale Boroughwide Housing? If so, please
contact us using this form:
[5]https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[6]https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the
latest advice from the ICO:
[7]https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

[8][IMG]  [9]Proud to support Alzheimer's Research UK, the charity chosen
by our Members.

Visit us at [10]rbh.org.uk or talk to us on 0800 027 7769

Sandbrook House | Sandbrook Way | Rochdale | OL11 1RY

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing Limited is a charitable community benefit
society. FCA register number 31452 R
Registered Office: Sandbrook House, Sandbrook Way, Rochdale OL11 1RY
Registered as a provider of social housing. RSH register number: 4607

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #682764 email]
2. mailto:[Rochdale Boroughwide Housing request email]
3. mailto:[FOI #682764 email]
4. mailto:[Rochdale Boroughwide Housing request email]
5. https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...
6. https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...
7. https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=ht...
8. https://www.rbh.org.uk/
9. Proud to support Alzheimer's Research UK, the charity chosen by our Members.
https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/
10. http://www.rbh.org.uk/

Link to this Report
Andrew Wastling
Delivered

Dear DPO,

Yes thank you for your speedy response

I was already aware of that but wanted an initial written response to forward it on to an investigative journalist & independent scrutiny body.

Thank you

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Wastling

Link to this Report
DPO, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing

Hi Andrew,

No problem at all.
Have a nice day.

Thanks,
Kevin Morgan
Data Protection Officer
Phone ext: 3920
E: [email address]

show quoted sections

Link to this Report
Andrew Wastling
Delivered

Dear Rochdale Boroughwide Housing,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing's handling of my FOI request 'Empty Properties'.

I am extremely concerned that RBH is an unaccountable organisation lacking transparency & or accountability in it's dealings with members of the public making reasonable requests for information from the organisation

Would it please be possible for you to notify me in writing of the following :

1) Why RBH is unwilling to respond to reasonable FOI requests from members of the general public even when not legally bound to do so ?

2) What was the initial rationale for establishing a local Housing provider that was not legally required to answer FOI requests from members of the public , and where & when was this rationale was established ,by who's agreement , authorisation & formal judicial housing legislation was this situation arrived at ?

3) What ,if any , are the currently established & recognised channels by which RBH as an organisation recognise information requests from members of the Public , the press or residents ?

Thank you for your expected co-operation

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/e...

Yours faithfully,

Andrew Wastling

Link to this Report
Customer Experience, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing

Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]themeData
Link: [3]colorSchemeMapping

Dear [FOI #682764 email],

 

 

Thank you for contacting RBH. Your e-mail has been received and will be
dealt with within 24 hours. 

 

 

Need Money Advice or help with Universal Credit –  don’t worry? We’re here
to help. Please call our dedicated Rent and Payment Team (Free phone) 0800
027 7769, Option 2. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm, or e-mail
[4][email address]

 

 

RBH Contact Centre

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

[5][IMG]  [6]Proud to support Alzheimer's Research UK, the charity chosen
by our Members.

Visit us at [7]rbh.org.uk or talk to us on 0800 027 7769

Sandbrook House | Sandbrook Way | Rochdale | OL11 1RY

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing Limited is a charitable community benefit
society. FCA register number 31452 R
Registered Office: Sandbrook House, Sandbrook Way, Rochdale OL11 1RY
Registered as a provider of social housing. RSH register number: 4607

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01D614C6.9D52D5A0
2. file:///tmp/~~themedata~~
3. file:///tmp/~~colorschememapping~~
4. mailto:[email address]
5. https://www.rbh.org.uk/
6. Proud to support Alzheimer's Research UK, the charity chosen by our Members.
https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/
7. http://www.rbh.org.uk/

Link to this Report